Last winter, the ornamental cherry tree in our front yard was severely damaged by a heavy, wet snow storm. I watched in horror as a large limb of the tree broke off. We all thought that it would never recover and really mourned its loss. It is really majestic in the spring when the soft pink flowers blossom - it takes your breath away, really. Well, today, Patriots' Day in Massachusetts, Spring is definitely here and different bushes, trees and bulbs are waking up from the long winter. It is always such a delight to see the different flowers, and to see the buds appear on those seemingly dead tree branches. I walked by the window this morning and looked out at the cherry tree, sadly anticipating the absence of its former beauty. However, this morning there was triumph in that tree, for in spite of its being broken, cherry blossoms were just blooming! I said, even though it is broken, it is still beautiful. Actually it is more beautiful in some ways. That damage, that breaking, did not stop the life within the tree from being expressed! I had to upload a picture for you to see. In the middle of the tree is the jagged stump of the limb that broke off this winter. At its base, you can see the limb that broke off - how huge it was and also you can gauge how much the tree lost. This caused me to think about the Christian life and the following verses in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18:
16 Therefore we do not lose heart; but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
17 For our momentary lightness of affliction works out for us, more and more surpassingly, an eternal weight of glory,
18 Because we do not regard the things which are seen but the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
There is footnote in the Recovery Version about being renewed in verse 16 that talks about resurrection life:
16-3 By being nourished with the fresh supply of the resurrection life. As our mortal body, our outer man, is being consumed by the killing work of death, our inner man, that is, our regenerated spirit with the inward parts of our being (Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8:10; Rom. 7:22, 25), is being metabolically renewed day by day with the supply of the resurrection life.
I also thought about Lazarus, who in John 11 had died and whom Jesus brought back from the dead and how both Mary and Martha missed seeing that Jesus was the resurrection and the life. There is a very touching footnote for verse 14 where Jesus says plainly that Lazarus had died:
14-1 In the Lord's salvation He does not merely heal the sick; He also gives life to the dead. Hence, He remained two days until the sick one had died (v. 6). The Lord does not reform or regulate people — He regenerates people and raises them out of death. Hence, the first of the nine cases in chs. 3-11 was a case of regeneration, and the last was a case of resurrection, revealing that all the aspects of Christ as life to us, as unveiled in the other seven cases, are in the principle of regeneration and resurrection. This last case was the actual changing of death into life.
Only the Lord can change death into life - how marvelous! The Lord gives life to the dead! He raised Lazarus. The cherry blossoms on that tree are a reminder to me that life triumphs over death! There is another great verse in 1 Corinthians 15:54:
54 And when this corruptible will put on incorruption and this mortal will put on immortality, then the word which is written will come to pass, "Death has been swallowed up unto victory.
Here's a great footnote about victory:
54-3 This chapter is on resurrection. Christ's resurrection was His victory over Satan, God's enemy, over the world, over sin, and over death. After His triumphal ascension to the height (Eph. 4:8) in His resurrection, God subdued all the enemies for Him (v. 25). Then, as One who is in resurrection, He will come to the earth with the kingdom of God (Dan. 7:13-14) to exercise God's power and subdue everything on earth. This will continue for a thousand years (Rev. 20:4, 6). The last enemy to be abolished is death. The swallowing up of death will result in the ultimate victory of the Lord's resurrection, that is, in the ultimate and complete victory that He has accomplished in resurrection for us who believe in Him and participate in His resurrection. This is the ultimate issue of His resurrection for His and God's eternal kingdom and for the eternal enjoyment of His resurrection life in eternity by those who believe in Him.
I often enjoy this hymn about resurrection life:
1Death cannot hold the resurrection life,
The life of God eternal manifest;
’Tis uncreated, indestructible,
’Tis Christ Himself, unconqu’rable, expressed
2 Death cannot hold the resurrection life,
Though all its force against it may combine;
Death only gives it opportunity
To show the boundless pow’r of life divine.
3 Death cannot hold the resurrection life,
The more interred, the more it multiplies;
All kinds of suff’ring only help it grow
And fruits of life abundant realize.
4 Death cannot hold the resurrection life,
Thru every block and barrier it breaks;
Conqu’ring the pow’r of darkness and of hell,
It swallows death and victory partakes.
5 Death cannot hold the resurrection life,
All of God’s fulness it will manifest;
God’s righteousness and holiness it yields,
His glorious image by it is expressed.
6 Oh, may I know this resurrection life,
In every kind of death its pow’r outpoured,
In my experience ever realize
This life is nought but Christ my living Lord.
So the breaking of that cherry tree was not its end - when we experience the breaking of our outer man, we have hope - blessed hope that our inner man is being renewed! The outward breaking is not the end - it is the means to being renewed.
Oh Lord, may we know this resurrection life and in every kind of death enjoy its power outpoured. May we all enjoy the death swallowing, and victory partaking life that indwells us.
Praise Him!
More about the upcoming surgery tomorrow after I meet with the doctors at BWH. Please pray for a speedy recovery from this cold so it will not interfere with the surgery schedule.
Much love,
Joanne
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