The Garden after the Grave - The Crosswalk Devotional - April 6

The Garden after the Grave
By: Sarah Frazer

Bible Reading: 
“But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.” - John 20:11

Can you see her? There is a woman broken by death, unable to keep the tears inside. It was a heartbreaking scene.

For those of us who know the story, it is tempting to step into the story and just reassure Mary that Jesus had already risen. But let’s remember she did not know this. She has come to this garden looking for death. It says that she looked inside the tomb, expecting a body, not a miracle.

Although Mary stood in a garden, she did not expect life. Resurrection morning begins in a Garden, and so do the first few chapters of the Bible.

“And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.” - Genesis 2:8 (ESV)

As the story of Easter begins, we find Mary at a tomb in a garden. Do we expect to find God here? Mary did not. She was searching, weeping, and only able to see the darkness of death. She sees an empty tomb and two angels. The weeping does not end at the sight of the heavenly beings. Instead, sorrow wraps itself around her and clouds her view. She doesn’t see the empty tomb as hopeful, but mournful.

Immediately, Mary turns. Her grief doesn’t allow her to see the truth about the garden, the empty tomb, and the Man standing in front of her. John 20:14 says, “She turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.”

The beautiful part of this story is that Mary mistook Jesus for the Gardner. Little did she know, He was and is the great Gardener. Mary stood in the garden, blinded by tears and unable to see that resurrection was coming.

In the winter, our gardens lie dead, devoid of color and life. As we winter through the cold months, the ground beneath is not dead at all, but waiting. Just like Mary, we might need to remember that sometimes we stand in the place of new life, even if we are surrounded by loss.

Reading about this garden Mary stood in reminds me of the first garden. God created life in a garden, but sin entered there, and humanity was sent out. The Garden of Eden is now a symbol of what was lost: God’s presence, a sense of wholeness, and unbroken fellowship.

All of these things lost in the first garden were soon to be recovered in this second garden. In a moment, Mary’s tears turn to wonderment.

“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to him in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni! (which means Teacher).’” - John 20:16-17

Jesus meets Mary not in a spectacle of power and glory but in intimacy, reminding her of the relationship. When Jesus says Mary’s name, she suddenly recognizes him. It is in this moment that new life begins to bud in her heart. It is not a coincidence that the resurrection happens in a garden.

Gardens require a burial of the seed into the ground, waiting, and patience. Remember that a seed is not dead when it is buried. The amazing things about gardens are that during the winter they look like loss, emptiness, and sorrow. But in the spring, God brings life from what we see as death. Every spring, we are reminded that death was defeated and Jesus rose from the dead!

There is a great truth here because Jesus’ physical resurrection brings with it a great promise. The door Jesus opened for us after the idea that all things will be made new. Even now, we see this happening in our lives as God restores us, remembers us, and gives us rest. God met us first in the garden as Creator. Jesus met Mary in a garden as Teacher. One day, Jesus will return as King and meet us to take us home, making all things new.

“And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” - Revelation 21:5

Just like Mary, we can rest in the truth that death does not win, loss is not permanent, and God grows new life where we least expect it. The same God who planted both gardens is still tending our story today.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Can you take the story of the gardens and believe that life happens after the grave? What in your life feels dead and buried? How can you trust God with this truth: the grave is not the final chapter of your story.

Further Reading:
Genesis 2:8-9
Genesis 3:22-24
Isaiah 61:11
2 Corinthians 5:17
Revelation 22:1-2

Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional encouraged or challenged you in your walk with Christ.

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Sabine Wagner

Sarah E. Frazer is a writer, Bible study mentor, wife of Jason, and mother of five. With a background in missionary work, Sarah encourages the weary woman to find peace in Jesus. She is a regular contributor to the Proverbs 31 First 5 app writing team as well as a featured writer for Crosswalk.com. Her favorite place to hang out is Instagram at @sarah_e_frazer.

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Listen to the Jesus Calling Podcast!

Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young’s seasonal prayer devotional Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season. Today, we are featuring guests who speak to themes that all of us might be experiencing in this season of winter. As the days grow shorter and the night longer, we are offered a rare gift: permission to stop. This season can be a challenging time for many, and if you are struggling with low spirits, please know you are not alone, and help is available. This episode is an opportunity to honor your weariness, to resist the urge to rush, and to discover the profound healing that happens when we simply let ourselves rest in the stillness. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow Jesus Calling on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!