Lent Devotion | Day 35

John 19:41-42 (NLT)

The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

In a garden man fell, and in a garden Jesus rose. In a garden we know that something must die in order to give life to something else. The seed must die in order for the plant to have life. Leaves die and their decay enriches the soil. In the Garden of Eden, wholeness died and gave life to sin and brokenness. In the garden of the tomb, Christ’s dead body was planted to rise again and give abundant everlasting life to all who walk with Jesus as Lord and Savior. In the garden of our own lives, we get to choose whether to follow Adam and Eve to the tree or follow Jesus to the grave.

We can choose to indulge our own entitlement. Or we can choose to die to self and surrender our will and our way to the One who died for us first.

Lord, don’t let me be deceived, show me how I have indulged entitlement intentionally or unintentionally. Teach me your ways that I may walk with you from the grave into abundant life.