A tree stands tall, dead, covered in ivy. At it’s side there is a stump of another tree. It is often an overlooked area and people pass it by on a daily basis.
I was focussing on the stations of the cross today and the two parts that really started to make me pause and feel for Jesus in this reflection was when Jesus died on the cross and when they laid him in a tomb. Colour seemed to drain out of the story. Nothing much happens as they are all just hanging around, either hiding or waiting to see what will happen.
40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.
The Romans guards and the Jewish leaders might have thought they had gotten the better hand of Jesus and his followers, making an example of Him. Causing Him excruciating pain through that long journey to death. Just like the people who cut down the tree thought they might have destroyed that life. But there is life anew springing up, there is life flourishing where they killed.
“The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 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.
I can not I think go through what Jesus went through, but He has been through all that pain so He can connect with us. This is God who wants to connect with us, and although He doesn’t usually speak with an audible voice He speaks clearly through other means.
I pray that we follow Jesus on His journey leading us to take our cross and follow him.
Help us hear you will Lord Jesus and guide us in our ways.
Amen
with blessings
Graham
365 Exhortations 