Spring Hope

Helen Francis

The joy of Spring is beginning to burst all around us and what an exciting, hopeful time it is. After the dark, cold, dead of winter, the lengthening daylight and spreading warmth is coaxing fresh green shoots to push upwards through the soil. Budding leaves and blossoms are opening to decorate stark black winter trees with vibrant colour.

There is new life everywhere, animals begin to emerge from hibernation, birds busy themselves with nests and chicks, lambs are running and leaping in the fields. To me everything is shouting loudly about resurrection, and about the abundant life that God is offering to us in Christ :

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture...
I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10: 9-10

With Easter set in this season, our focus is on the ultimate life giving act of Jesus, who came to die so that we might partake of that abundant life, whose resurrection breaks the chains of death and removes the fear.

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Hebrews 2: 14-15

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15: 20-22

Amazing, incredible love! Life after death! What glorious hope is pictured in this season.

Let's be full of rejoicing !