Jesus in the Spring

As we look out our windows in North Carolina we see that Spring has arrived. The winter chill is almost gone and flowers are beginning to come out of the ground. I love the daffodils and forsythia with their brilliant yellow color. I anticipate the tulips, azelia, fruit trees, redbud and dogwood trees. Portions of my garden are in and the entire world is coming alive around us.

Tulips in the spring garden at the Biltmore Estate

As I look out my window I think about Jesus and his disciples in the Spring. The month of March is generally near the end of the rainy season. Fields would be at their greenest and many flowers would be blooming. The barley harvest would be anticipated or occurring and farmers would be looking forward to wheat which comes in just after Passover.

Our Passover Haggadah which explains the entire Seder

The Spring festival, Passover is one of the most mentioned holidays in the BIble. Passover is mentioned multiple times in the Gospels and forms the background of many other Old Testament and New Testament passages. The Lord’s Supper was a Passover meal and the early church used these as a pattern for other meals. Jesus is considered the Passover Lamb whose blood was placed on the doorposts.

Sarah at a Doorway in ancient Katzrin, Israel

The only reference we have of Jesus during his childhood was during the Passover. Luke says, “Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.” (Luke 2:41-42) We know that Joseph sacrificed a lamb and Mary prepared a feast for the family. Other family members or friends probably celebrated Passover with Jesus. These Passovers turned into memorable events.

Our Spring book which shares Passover through the Bible

When Jesus’ parents left Jerusalem at the end of the Passover recorded in Luke 2, Jesus remained behind. Joseph and Mary traveled for a day before they realized Jesus was not with them (the reason can be found in Spring: Connecting WIth God), so they returned to Jerusalem and searched for three days to find their son. They found him “sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” This is like the wise son of the taught about in the Passover Haggadah.

A typical street in Jerusalem

John recorded another warm spring night fifteen years later when Jesus once again came to Jerusalem for Passover. John records on that night Nicodemus came to ask Jesus a question. Jesus, looking out into the spring night said, “You must be born again.”

Nicodemus asked, “How can someone be born when they are old?”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

The Sea of Galilee from Capernaum

The next year, Jesus’ second year of ministry, he celebrated Passover at the Sea of Galilee because it was too dangerous to go into Jerusalem. People gathered to hear the great teacher, and again there were questions. They asked, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” and “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you?” and other questions. Jesus explained to them he was the bread which came down from heaven. On that Passover, in all four Gospels, it is recorded that Jesus fed 5,000 people.

The Garden Tomb in Jerusalem

The next year, in Jesus’ third year of ministry and on his final night he once again celebrated Passover. It was spring.

Spring is a great time to celebrate the festival of Passover. The book A Christian Passover in the Jewish Tradition can guide your family or Sunday School class in this celebration. If you would like someone to lead a Christian Passover for you, please contact me.