‘And they walked with God in the Garden,
in the shade of the evening’

I dream about it sometimes - just before waking up: how we used to wander in the cool of the evening in Eden; and God walked with us… Walking together; drinking in the beauty of the place - an easy relationship: no need for words. Gently breathing in His love for us.

But then the serpent slipped into our lives and nothing was ever the same again. He whispered insinuations into our hearts, cast our relationship with God in an ugly light…. seduced us into eating the fruit. And we listened… Why did we listen?

The warmth and colour went out of our world. When God came walking in the garden that evening, we hid - we couldn’t look him in the eye. All sorts of dark and confusing thoughts teemed in our hearts. Everything was ruined - we couldn’t stay there and we’d driven a wedge into our relationship with God.

Now, we eke out an existence tilling the dry land. But just sometimes, in the moments before dawn, I am back there. It is so beautiful; lush and green. And yet it’s still not the same: I can feel God’s sorrow and His longing for us…

‘Once we walked with God in the Garden,
now we walk alone’

‘And God brought them out of Egypt
and out of the bonds of slavery.’

I’m getting on a bit now, but I was in my twenties when we set off on this journey - out of the slavery of Egypt - away from our oppressors with their harsh laws.

God was showing His special love for us by bringing us safely out of Egypt: We followed the advice of Moses and the Angel of Death passed over our houses and spared our first-born children.

And such wonders we saw! The Red Sea parted at Moses’ command so that we could get away, with Pharaoh’s army hot on our heels; a pillar of cloud to lead us through the desert by day and a column of fire to show us the path in the darkness…

But my son - who was just a child when the Angel passed over - is now a father himself… that’s how long we’ve been wandering in this wilderness.

You’d think we’d have learnt by now to be grateful to God for bringing us out of Egypt.

We stopped at Sinai whilst Moses sat in God’s presence and heard His commandments for us. You’d think we’d show him more respect and consideration, but it wasn’t long before someone set to, collecting gold to melt down into a large calf that the people could worship.

- the People who have a special relationship with God, but if we carry on like this, disregarding Him, I can’t see that we’ll ever reach the Promised Land…

‘We’re supposed to be the Chosen People;
God’s Holy Nation.’

‘He was pierced for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities.’

Things had been strange at supper and Judas slipped off before the meal had ended.

Afterwards, we went off walking in the evening light and finished up in Gethsemane. Night had fallen and Jesus seemed preoccupied: slipping off to pray and asking us to keep watch.

When I think back, I’m ashamed - you see none of us managed to stay awake. You’d think we might have done that for him at least… And he kept coming back and finding us asleep… And Jesus seemed so sad and upset - not his usual self at all. But although we should have been looking out for him, we simply couldn’t stay awake

When he’d finished we set out to return to our lodgings, but Judas arrived with guards…

It all happened so fast, but none of us had the courage to put up much of a fight - except Peter, perhaps.

And within the space of a day it was all over. He’d been set before the Sanhedrin and before Pilate, the Roman Governor and he was condemned to death.

I caught sight of some of the others in the crowd, but none of us could really do anything: we just had to watch as they beat him, and set a great cross on his back to carry out to that hill they call Golgotha.

And that’s where it all ended: they drove great nails into his hands and feet and hauled the cross upright.

And there he hung for three hours before he finally gave up the ghost. And the world turned black, desolate and lifeless…

‘And she came to the place they had lain Him;
- the place they had lain Him.’

I got to the garden just as the sun was beginning to warm the air a little.
I’d had quite a walk in the chill grey dawn light; but it matched my mood. Everything seemed pointless, desolate and empty. All I could think of doing was coming to be with Jesus. Everything had been so rushed on the Friday night and I wanted to make sure that he was properly at rest.

I do remember being struck by the beauty of the garden - here was a place of death and tombs and yet it seemed strangely vibrant and lush in the strengthening sun.

And then I saw it: the tomb where we laid him so gently as the light began to fall. The soldiers had sealed it up with a great round stone on the Friday night, but now this was dislodged...

A cold chill came over me - were we even going to lose his body? I suddenly felt weak - and the tears began to spill over silently.

And then a voice, warm and gentle:
‘why are you crying?’

I looked up, my sight blurred by my tears - was this the man who tended this beautiful garden?

And then he said my name - and with such tenderness…
And suddenly I was laughing and wanting to hold him close.
We had found each other again.

And we walked together for a while in the garden and everything was right between us…

‘Now we walk together in the garden,
at the dawn of a New Day...’

And ever since that time, so long ago in Eden, I have wanted to walk with you and for you to walk with me.

To each of you the invitation is there - to take up your cross and follow me, but also to walk with me in the beauty my risen life…