In the cool of the morning, at break of day,

A woman wept where her Saviour lay.

The tomb stood empty, the stone rolled wide,

While sorrow clouded her tear-filled eyes.

She heard a voice whisper, soft and near,

“Why do you weep? Why are you here?”

She turned, uncertain, no longer alone

And saw in the garden a man unknown.

She mistook Him first for a gardener there,

Hands rough with toil, earth-stained with care.

Yet what greater truth could ever be told?

The Gardener of souls, tending His fold.

With voice familiar, He called her name,

And light burst forth like dawn’s first flame.

No longer a tomb, but a garden bright,

New life had sprung from death’s dark night.

And still He walks where hearts lay cold,

Breaking the ground, restoring the soul.

His hands, though pierced, are strong and true,

He tends the earth — He tends you.

Heavenly Father, who planted Eden in the midst of the wilderness, tend my soul this Easter season. As new growth and life burst forth from the cold, sleeping earth in springtime, I ask that you bring forth new life in me. Clear away the sticks and leaves that clutter my heart and bring forth newness and freshness in me. 

As Christ emerges from the grave, I entrust myself to the wisdom of the Great Gardener. Uproot what doesn’t belong, fertilize what is weak and prune what is good, that it may flourish and become increasingly abundant.

Holy Spirit, who breathes life into mud, restore my soul. Fill the air with your presence that with every breath I may be filled with your power, comfort and love. 

God, Strengthen and sustain me each day and give me the wisdom to live wholly dependent on You. 

Amen.

I know what you’re going to say. And yes, I know that phrase was not Elizabeth Reynolds, but of course John Lennon and Paul McCartney. It sounds like a very simple implication. That in order to be able to ‘do’ life, overcome challenges, get along with one another, achieve our dreams and goals and accomplish the great plan God has for our lives, all we need is love.

And when I think about it… I believe it’s true. But that word – LOVE – (if you weren’t already aware), let me warn you, is loaded! In other words, it goes deep. It entails much! Have a read of the famous Love Chapter from the famous writing of Paul… First Corinthians 13:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

This thing called love is simple, and yet it holds so much complexity. It’s been estimated that more than a hundred million love songs have been recorded. And you can imagine how many more throughout history haven’t been recorded.

The Kids Club team are focusing on part of this passage this term, exploring the nature and different facets of love listed in verses 4-8. Because each facet is a universe of its own wisdom and truth of old to think deeply about.

There are many different types of love and, as we know, the Greek language has four different words to try and reflect this explanatorily. Love is deep and deserves deep examination.

Regarding verses 1-3, it is not to say that we should have love instead of the other things mentioned. But the point here is, that if you have love, because of the very nature of love that verses 4-8 describe, then all these other things can be naturally displayed. They burst out of love like water from a spring. But of themselves, as they are acts that are bound to the matters of this life on earth, they will pass, as verses 8-10 explain.

Verses 11 and 12 are interesting. The former is quite well known I believe, and often quoted. Here, Paul is talking about our knowledge of God now, as opposed to our knowledge of God when Jesus returns. We now see the world like a child, but this will change to a more fuller knowledge and understanding. Less naïve and irrational. More complete and mature. We will see clearly. When this time comes, Paul says that we will know fully, instead of in part. In the way that God knows us now!

It almost reminds me of that other famous love passage:

There's nothin' you can do that can't be done; Nothin' you can sing that can't be sung; Nothin' you can say, but you can learn how to play the game; it’s easy... There's nothin' you can know that isn't known; Nothin' you can see that isn't shown; There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be
It's easy…

Wait, sorry, should have explained. Not a Bible passage. This is from the Beatles’ song All Your Need Is Love.

These lines always make me stop and think, with a hard, furrowed brow… what does that actually mean? There are too many double negatives! It befuddles me. But from what I think I’ve worked out, there's nothin' you can know that isn't known, just means if something isn’t knowable, you can’t know it. Or… you can know all there is to know… or, no… you can’t know anything, that wasn’t already known before… maybe. I don’t know. There’s also nothing you can see that isn’t shown. This is a little easier. I think everything we see, has been shown to us. I also think I shouldn’t try to analyse Beatles lyrics. But despite that, this line reminds me that by grace, and by His infinite love, God shows us things. He reveals His secrets and mysteries. Some in this life, and all in the next. There’s nothing to be known that He doesn’t want you to know! (I can put my name to that one.)

John and Paul (Beatles) perhaps wanted us to know not to be too ambitious or strive for knowledge and achievement, not to work too hard doing, making, saying or knowing, but that we should focus on loving others. (Also, they wanted lines to rhyme and sound good together.)

Paul (apostle) wanted us to know that we shouldn’t concentrate on who’s religious acts or prophetic powers are better, whether we have great faith, whether we give up things and make sacrifices, speak in tongues or have all knowledge, because these things will pass away. What will remain at the end, is love. And so we must have love.

And it is all we need, because with love we are enabled, empowered, inspired… to speak prophetic words, understand mysteries and knowledge, to have faith enough to move mountains, to give and make sacrifices. We can manage all these good things because we have love. And, as 1 John 4:16 says:

God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. So, in effect, our lives have so much more meaning in everything we do, because we have God. So, if I may suggest, let our song line be: All you need is God.

I bet the next words you hear in your head are …the wondrous cross. Am I right? Or maybe it’s just me and you thought: When I survey…

…my backyard I realise it needs some serious T.L.C.

…this large stretch of land, I can determine its features and decide we can build a luxury swimming pool afterall.

…ten or more people I find I’m not the only one who likes to add jobs I’ve already done to my to-do list just so I can tick them off straight away and feel a satisfying sense of accomplishment.

Like many English words, ‘survey’ has various meanings. To investigate opinions/experiences of others, to examine/record an area so as to construct a map, plan or description, or to look closely at or examine someone or something. I think the old hymn about the cross of Jesus Christ was most likely referring to this latter definition. But we could look at it from these other angles too.

If I look closely at or examine the cross of Jesus, I don’t just observe the shape, the colour, the woodgrain. I do, however, examine what meanings it reveals. The cross reveals, above all, the character of God… His unconditional, sacrificial love for lost sinners. It reveals His perfect justice that ensures the fitting consequence has been actioned for the gross crime taken place against the God of universe. It reveals His great compassion and mercy shown by not allowing this consequence to fall on us. And is also reveals His great power – His capacity to pass this judgement and give this mercy. It reveals His healing power, His forgiveness, His sovereignty, His authority over all creation. How can a piece of wood reveal so much? I encourage you to look up the lyrics of the hymn When I Survey The Wondrous Cross and reflect on this meaning and capture the mind and heart of God.

But how can we ‘survey’ in other ways that will draw us closer to an understanding of God?

I think next of surveying an area of land. What real estate could we consider on a spiritual level? I think of my heart, of course. Perhaps I should also survey my heart – to record it, construct a map, a plan or description of it. Measure it. Is there indeed a ‘weed’ problem? Are things taking root in there that shouldn’t be? Is there enough space for the things that should be there? If we’re looking to ‘install’ or ‘build’ a long-lasting personal relationship, is there the right kind of soil, space and dimensions for the foundations we wish to build? Are the right attitudes there? Is there discipline there? Is there an adequate amount of openness to God’s word and voice in order to sustain the constructure that is to be developed? And what is the estimated cost of living that life? What resources do I have that I can give to this project?

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul my life my all

Every time you come to pray, worship or read the Bible, make a survey of your heart. Perhaps record it in a notebook for reflection and future reference. Then talk to the Land Developer and check that your heart is a suitable place for Him to dwell.

Now, how about taking another type of survey… Can we investigate the opinions and/or experiences of a group of people by asking them questions? We could survey 1000 people and find out how many of them believe in God, follow Him daily, have a personal understanding of Him. That will certainly give us some quantitative information. But I would encourage you to, on a regular basis, seek the more qualitative data in people around about us. Sit down over coffee and discuss in depth about how God has been working in their lives. How God has revealed Himself to them lately. What blessings or challenges has God given them and how has their personal relationship with Him changed over time. Allow their testimonies to build you up in faith. It will give us not only some understanding about God, but a deeper understanding about each other. Our brothers and sisters in Christ are placed around us so that we can do life together. Give and receive support. Share experiences, joys, and fears.

God and everything about Him requires surveying. So, survey creation. Survey the acts of love in people around you every day. Survey your responses to things that happen in life… We should become expert ‘God-surveyors’ to really grasp His love for us and the life we want to live in response to that.

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight…

I don’t think we’d get many people arguing when we say Christmas is about love. Perhaps not too many arguments if we say ‘God’s love’. But I think the complaints start coming when we say Christmas is about a Man. A Man who came to demonstrate God’s love in a completely real, tangible, relatable way. A Man not of this world, and so very special. So special in fact, that creation did some very peculiar things when He was born. So special that wind and waves obey Him, as well as the suns and planets of the universe. In fact, He spoke them into being in the first place.

He existed before He was born and lived after He died. The timelines of Earth point to Him. More than 300 ancient prophecies point to Him. Even other world religions point to Him. He is the most famous Man in history. No other man (or woman) even comes close. He, of course, is Jesus.

He caused such a stir upon Earth, right from the moment He was born. Countless people have suffered because of Him, beginning with several baby boys in Bethlehem.

When He came, He was not a Man, He was a Baby. And this confused many people, (still confuses people today). I wonder about the conversations among the Jewish people at the time.

‘But how is a baby going to deliver us from the Romans?’ says one.

‘I thought that perhaps some of the prophecies about a baby were a metaphor,’ says another.

‘Babies grow up.’

‘Yes, but… this is not what I was expecting. Are we to wait another thirty-odd years?’

‘We have waited thousands of generations. What is thirty more years?’

‘But this can’t be the Promised One. How will he have any influence when he’s from such a lowly family? So confined by the same Roman prison we are all in?’

But there were some who understood. Simeon, for example, eagerly waiting for the Messiah. When Jesus was brought to the Temple, Simeon was there, took the Baby in his arms and said,

“Sovereign Lord, now let Your servant die in peace, as You have promised. I have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of Your people Israel!”

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight…

Israel had been promised a Redeemer. A King with a Kingdom that would last forever (2 Sam 7:13 / Dan 7:14). A ruler Whose origins are from old (Mic 5:2). Someone to crush the enemy’s head (Gen 3:15). Someone to perform miraculous wonders (Is 35:5-6). A bringer of justice (Is 42:1-4). Someone who will set captives free (Is 61:1). And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. (Is 9:6-7)

God filled the spirits of these prophets with knowledge and praise for Him. God filled the hearts of those who would read those prophecies with hope. God filled the sky with blinding light and angel song on the night He was born. God filled Mary’s heart with burning joy as she cradled Him. God filled His followers with the Holy Spirit. He fills our lives with hope, peace, and joy everyday when we open up our hearts to Him.

For generations, the world waited in anticipation. Waited in hope… eager, yearning, longing, aching. And then… one night… He arrived. Most of the world didn’t quite understand it yet. But the angels knew, the stars knew, the shepherds, the wisemen, perhaps even the animals in that place knew. Mary, Joseph, and Simeon knew. And how much more ought we to ‘know’, that Jesus is the hope of this world. Through God’s Word, His big picture has been revealed to us – the whole plan from start to finish!

The world was weary. The world is weary. We are all weary at times. But are you rejoicing?

Hope is here! Rejoice! And again I say, “Rejoice!”