‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ Luke 24: 7

This winter has been the worst one on record here in the North East. Huge amounts of snow, cracked roofs, and sub-zero temperatures have made spring a far distant oasis in the midst of a frozen wintery tundra.

No, I don’t think snow is pretty. No, I don’t like how it makes the world cozy. I am tired of it. I want spring…I really want summer with its warm breezes, delicious smells, and beautiful flowers. I want all things hazy, hot, and humid!

Ok, I’m done my rant.

But I’ve done some thinking…with all this snow. And, as it melts and gives way to spring, I see new growth abound from the killing frost. I am deeply reminded, as it is Holy Week, of Christ’s death…his own winter.

Death is ugly. It is not glamorous, pretty, or sophisticated. But nothing worth anything rarely is. I walked around my yard and saw much destruction from the winter’s wrath. Broken branches, cracked siding, missing shingles all lay in the mud, discarded.

Much like Christ.

The one who was welcomed and cheered. “Hosanna!” Quickly, Jesus was thrown into the pile…”We have no king, but Caesar!” Scourged, humiliated, mocked, spit upon, and crucified. “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

Jesus knew his fate. He chose His fate. He didn’t have to, but He knew that the only way we could be born again was through the ugliness of his death. The only way our spring could come was through his winter. His brokenness, his laying down, his suffering would cause our rebirth into something beautiful.

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53: 4-6

So as we look forward to spring, let’s remember the true beauty of this season. May we never forget what Christ has done to give us life!

New life breaks through the dead of winter!