New life! | What does spring have to do with the Christian faith?

It is cold. The trees are bare. The days are short. There is hardly a flower to be seen. When it is winter, nature seems to be dead. How you can long for life then, new young life. Sometimes it takes a long time, but suddenly you see the first green leaves and flower buds appear. Wonderful, spring is coming!

Spring: lambs jumping in the meadow, blooming flowers, and fluttering butterflies. New life after a period of barrenness. Spring brings hope!

In the Bible, the book of God, we also read about winter and spring, about death and life. At first, everything was made very good and beautiful by God. For God is almighty! A wonderful beginning of the earth. But unfortunately, this did not remain so. Evil came through the disobedience of the first people against God. The consequences of this can be felt in our lives and around us. At some point, we all have to deal with trouble, sorrow, and misery. And ultimately, death comes to everyone, as punishment for disobedience against God. 

But the Bible tells more. The Bible contains good news! A message of spring, of hope, of life! God sent His Son to earth. His Name is Jesus, He is ‘The Life’, He came to overcome evil and to bring peace with God into the lives of people. How good is God! 

To earn life, it first had to become winter in Jesus’ life. He died on the cross. Jesus, who is the Life, was killed. But death did not have the last word. Spring has come! Jesus has risen from the dead. That is why He says in the Bible: I am the Resurrection and the Life; whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this? 

John 11:25-26 
Jesus said to her: ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life; he who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’