Resurrection Sunday: Two Symbols of Hope and Joy

John 11:25-27 (NKJV)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Resurrection Sunday has always been special to me. My name, Anastasia Irene, comes from Greek and literally means “Resurrection peace”. The verses that my parents gave me when I was a baby are John 11:25-27.

I have always cherished the truth that because Jesus arose from the dead, we will be resurrected one day to live eternally with Him. However, this year, He has given me two new perspectives on resurrection.

The first symbol of resurrection is that of a kernel of wheat.

John 12:24

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

In John 12:24, Jesus is mainly predicting His death and resurrection, but this passage can also apply to our earthly lives. It speaks of His resurrection power available to us here and now. Each spring, as we plant the seeds into the ground and cover them with dark soil, it feels as though that would be the end. Yet, in His miraculous power, God causes new life to burst forth from that seed, and sprout, and grow into the fullness of its beauty.

Is there anything in your life that feels dead–a dream, a desire, a long-nurtured hope? What if those areas of our lives that we thought were dead are, in some amazing way, only the beginnings and are rooted in the resurrection power? Is God able to take what things we have buried and assumed gone forever and resurrect them in a whole new way? The astounding news is that He IS able, and He DOES and WILL! That which feels like the end in our lives is God’s way of burying a seed deep into our hearts; for one day, the growth from it will astound us!

Perhaps, He allows some things in our lives to die so that He can raise them up “for the glory of God” (John 11). If Lazarus had not died, Jesus would not have had a chance to display His glorious resurrection power and bring many sheep into His flock. Make a list of areas in your life that feel dead and pray Jesus’ resurrection power over each one.

The second symbol of the resurrection we experience on earth is that of a butterfly.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Just as a butterfly is freed from her cocoon, we become a new creation when we put our faith in Jesus! Our sinful inner man dies, and we experience God’s resurrection spiritually, even though our physical bodies still await redemption. Let’s live like we are resurrected by God’s mighty power! Give all your pain to God, and He will resurrect it for His glory! Amen!