The Light That Sweeps Over The Garden

Wilderness and desert will sing joyously, the badlands will celebrate and flower—Like the crocus in spring, bursting into blossom, a symphony of song and color. —Isaiah 35.1-2

A sound behind her stirs

A scatter of bright birdsong through the air.

She turns, but cannot focus through her tears,

Or recognize the Gardener standing there.

She hardly hears his gentle question, “Why,

Why are you weeping?” or sees the play of light

That brightens as she chokes out her reply,

“They took my love away, my day is night.”

And then she hears her name, she hears Love say

The Word that turns her night, and ours, to Day.

—Malcolm Guite, from his book Sounding the Seasons

I wanna testify

Scream in the holy light

You bring me back to life

And it’s all in the name of love

—Martin Garrix & Bebe Rexha, In the Name of Love

His life is the light that shines through the darkness—and the darkness can never extinguish it. —John 1.5

We crucified Love.

But Easter tells us the story does not end with darkness or silence.

Death is reality. It’s just not the ultimate one.

The resurrection tells us that it is never too late. Every so often we will be surprised. The stone will be rolled back, the clouds will part, the sun will shine and darkness will scatter.

Easter says that my brokenness doesn’t have the final word.

The resurrection announces that whatever you thought was the tragic end—think again.

Easter declares that darkness and even death must bow to possibility.

Christ is risen! Love has won the final victory. All is forgiven. And now we rejoice.

It’s party time. Break out the donuts.