Finding Jesus in the Garden: How Easter Invites Us Back to Eden

Send us Fan MailWhat does a gardener have to do with Easter? Everything, as it turns out. Moving beyond the familiar imagery of empty tombs and stone rolled away, we explore how John's gospel subtly portrays the risen Christ as a gardener – a profound theological statement inviting us back into Eden, but this time with Jesus tending the garden alongside us.Having journeyed through Lent using the Grace of Les Miserables as our guide, we reflect on the powerful garden imagery throughout scripture. From Eden's initial divine-human partnership, to Gethsemane's night of agonizing prayer, to Revelation's vision of restored paradise, gardens mark pivotal moments in our relationship with God. The Easter garden where Mary encounters the risen Christ completes this narrative arc, suggesting that resurrection isn't just about conquering death but about restoring us to our original purpose – co-creating with God.Easter begins a fifty-day season of feasting that follows Lent's period of fasting. This isn't just about returning to chocolate or social media, but about intentionally nourishing ourselves on God's loving presence in the world. How often do we get lost in fear and frustration about our world rather than looking for where divine love is already powerfully at work? The Easter challenge is recognizing Christ in our midst, accepting his invitation to tend the garden together, and sharing its abundant harvest of love, peace, and justice with everyone we meet. Christ has conquered even the worst humanity could do, transforming death into life and inviting us to live in resurrection joy – not just today, but every day.Support the show