By Pastor Mark Woodward
Maple Leaf Parish Churches: Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston
(and Lenora)
Pictured here is a colorful butterfly depicted in stained glass on the front door of the Preston United Methodist Church. The butterfly is a powerful symbol of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It portrays the power of new life and that Jesus has risen from the dead. In this season of Easter, Christians celebrate the Good News of Jesus Christ! He is alive! He is not dead any more. We open our hearts to celebrate the Good News of God’s redeeming love given so freely in the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus!
We remember the life-changing biblical passage…. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the worldss, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17)
In essence this is the message of Easter! In the death and resurrection of Jesus we find the joy of eternal life! Charles Wesley’s great hymn from 1739, “Christ the Lord Has Risen Today,” speaks of the joy of resurrection and the redeeming power of God’s unending love.
“Christ the Lord has risen today, Alleluia! Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing ye heavens and earth reply, Alleluia! Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia! Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!” (p. 302 of the 1989 UMC Hymnal)
May the butterfly be an ongoing reminder for us of the joy and power of the Resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is alive and death is forever defeated. Whenever we see a butterfly flying around, may we be uplifted in the joy of new life in Jesus Christ! Praise be to God!
Photo by Mark Woodward