One smell of hyacinth moves me. For eons, just a whiff of the beautiful spring flowers brought an immediate smile to my face and stirred my heart with something almost like yearning. It’s hard to describe and may make no sense at all to anyone else. For a long time, I couldn’t understand what it was.
Then several years ago, I mentioned it to my mom. She smiled, knowing exactly what it was. My great-grandmother Loftis, who was the first one in our family to love Jesus, had a large flower garden. Every spring, hyacinth grew in it abundantly. That explained it! It was the best time of my young life before things became hard. One whiff of a hyacinth took me away to my great-grandmother’s peaceful garden. It still does.
Easter began in a garden: the Garden of Eden. Life was wonderful there until it wasn’t. Adam and Eve lived in perfection with the best of everything. They walked and talked with God every day. He gave them only one rule.
Sadly, they chose their will instead of His. I used to get terribly frustrated with them, especially Eve. Then I realized it would also be my story. We are all drawn to what is not good for us – to sin in general. Romans 3:23 states clearly that we are all sinners. I hope you’re not offended. I’m a sinner, too.
When Adam and Eve sinned, God promised a Savior (Genesis 3:15) Who would pay for our sins to make a way for us to go to heaven. All through the Old Testament, prophets and preachers proclaimed the Savior was coming.
After hundreds of years waiting, He did arrive, though not as expected. He was born in a stable, laid in a manger. Jesus the Son of God had given up all of heaven to take on human form for one purpose: to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).
He had a simple human life. Then at age 30, He began His life-changing ministry.
Healing the lame, blind and leprous, raising the dead, feeding the hungry, and teaching about His heavenly Father was not popular with everyone. The religious leaders – of all people – were jealous, stirring up trouble and searching for a way to kill Him.
In another garden (Gethsemane), Jesus, fully knowing what lay ahead, surrendered His own will to His Father. And so, it began. The horrific crucifixion that paid for our sin. The awful death Jesus suffered to make a way for us to go to heaven.
It’s a lot to wrap your mind around: the love, the sacrifice. John 3:16 tells the story in a nutshell: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” I’m a whosoever and so are you.
This Easter, read the story in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Remember the price Jesus paid and know you are loved. He came across heaven and earth just for you.