In a Garden
It all began in a garden.
Listen to John’s Gospel as Jesus leaves the upper room to begin his passion and death: “When Jesus had said this, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered.” Jn. 18:1
This is ithe garden where Jesus would pray a sorrowful prayer, be betrayed by one of his own, and arrested by enemies. In this garden, his disciples would abandon him.
It all began in a garden . . . . . and it all ended there too. Listen to John as Jesus’ body is taken to the grave: “Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they placed Jesus there . . . ” Jn 19:41-42
Not only is this the garden of burial, it is also the garden of new life. This is the garden Mary Magdalene came to early Sunday morning. After going to tell the disciples that the tomb was empty, she returned to this garden and stayed there alone. It is here that the risen Lord appears to her. She thought he was the gardener.
In fact, everything began in a garden: “Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and he placed there the man whom he had formed.” Gen. 2:8
The Garden of Paradise is where it all began and where we shall all be again with the Lord. Listen to the last chapter of Revelation, the Bible’s last words: “Then the angel showed me the river of life-giving water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God. On either side of the river grew the tree of life that produces fruit twelve times a year. Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever and ever. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.”
