Butterflies and Jesus

In just a few days, we will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. I love the freshness, the sense of newness and the hope that Easter morning brings.  The hope of a new day, a new season, a new life. So what does a butterfly garden have to do with Easter?

Everything.

When a caterpillar becomes a butterfly it essentially goes to a tomb (a cocoon) and through a process called metamorphosis, it changes from a worm-like crawling creature, into a beautiful winged insect. Webster defines metamorphosis as “a major change in the appearance or character of someone or something.”  When caterpillars change into butterflies something very special takes place. They become a completely new creature.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”  When Jesus died on the cross that dark Friday afternoon, everyone who knew Him lost all hope.  The man they thought would be king had just died a humiliating,  shameful death.  Their “king” had just been crucified, a punishment reserved for only the lowest criminals.  That Friday, all hope was lost.  But God had another plan for Jesus’ death.  Jesus told them He would die and that He would be raised to life plan but they didn't believe.  They had no idea that Jesus had a purpose for dying that day and it was God’s plan all along.

When Jesus rose victoriously from the grave that first Easter morning, He was transformed. His beaten, bruised and shredded body that died on the cross that Friday morning was now a beautiful resurrected body.  His followers could have hope again. Jesus did exactly what He said he would do. By dying and coming back alive again we too can have hope that He will be true to His word and return one day to gather His believers unto Himself once again.

Just as God orchestrates the change of the caterpillar, He also transforms us –from the inside out.  When we believe on what Jesus did for us on the cross and by allowing the shedding of His blood to take away our sins, we are transformed. We are no longer the old creature, we become a new creation.  Jesus makes all things new.

This is how it looked before we moved in.

I plan on spending a lot of time in our new garden.  Every time I see a butterfly or a caterpillar, I will be reminded of the new life I have in Christ.  That through Him, the old creature is gone and ten years ago (April 3, 2004) I became a new creation.


Ready for an update?  I just love how the garden is coming along. Ahhhh Spring!

I'm not sure what is going on here.  Is that how to use a hoe?

Painted some flowers on the bird bath.

Love the mulch!