New Life Emerges

While speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life."

We just spent forty days in preparation for the dawning of this day. Our journey through Lent began in the depth of winter. Winter is a time when the earth remains dormant. New life seems a long way off. Yet inevitably, a warm sun prepares the earth to receive the seed. Gentle rains cause the seed to swell and new growth emerges. It is the annual resurrection of nature.

We watched Jesus arrive in Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. We saw him raise his friend Lazarus, cleanse the temple, and celebrate the last supper with his friends. We witnessed his trial and execution. It was winter and the eternal life Jesus promised seemed afar off. With the planting of his body in the tomb, all seemed lost.

Yet, as dawn broke on a dark world, new life emerged from that grave. The Light of the World had destroyed the enemy forever. Death no longer reigns. The seed that was planted late that Friday afternoon has burst forth in new life. Now we know what Jesus meant when he spoke to the Samaritan woman about "eternal life."

Because he conquered sin and the grave, the burden of sin is lifted from our backs, and rolls down from the hill at Calvary and into the empty tomb. He took on death and won. Because He lives, we too shall live. Hallelujah, He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Prayer:Lord of the Resurrection, because of your Son's willingness to drink the bitter cup of shame, and to take on death, his victory becomes our victory. How can we ever thank you for the life that is now ours? To be made sons and daughters of God himself, and to inherit your Kingdom is so much more than we could have hoped for. For this we thank you. Amen.