The Butterfly's Journey

From caterpillar to larva

Butterfly pollinating a thistle

The Butterfly begins as a caterpillar. 

It then forms a larva, a cocoon.

Within this protective barrier,

Wings will begin to form soon.

But it must go through a transformation,

An internal journey will take place.

In order to become beautiful,

It must submit to God's shaping grace.

It will have to fight to become strong enough,

To flutter its wings, and then to fly;

It will almost surrender to exhaustion,

And feel like it’s about to die.

But with one more beat, one more pull,

It will be blessedly set free.

Suddenly, it will become the stunning creature--God intended it to be.

Some thought that as Jesus entered the tomb, it was like a cocoon, because they watched His place of burial be sealed by a stone. He was wrapped in graveclothes that were woven around His bruised and beaten body. But I wonder whether, when He was resurrected, His transformation was like that of a butterfly. Perhaps God's glory entered the darkness, spinning radiance around Him, to reveal splendor and majesty upon His risen Son.

When Jesus first appeared to Mary, she did not recognize Him. It was not until He spoke to her and touched her that she called Him Lord. I'm guessing she felt a few butterflies in her stomach as she realized her Savior was walking with her. And I wonder if her countenance, also, looked a little like she would take flight.

When we receive Jesus as Lord, we, too, begin a journey. We allow Him to come into our hearts, and we are, in a sense, cocooned in His presence. We have to fight to stay in His Will; we have to struggle sometimes with our priorities and busyness in order to keep God in first place. But if we truly seek Him, He will transform us and teach us how to fly.

We may feel at times like our faith is crawling along like a caterpillar ... but if we trust in God's abiding faithfulness, and attach ourselves to the Vine, He will give us the courage and strength we need to fulfill His perfect plan for our lives. And at the end of our journey, each of His children will be given a new body, transformed, perhaps we'll even reflect the beauty of the butterfly.

To believe the impossible, in the rainbow, or the promise (or see the transformation of the butterfly), we must apply the resurrection to our circumstances. We must believe that the journey will bring about spiritual changes in us. We must have faith that He is shaping and renewing His Spirit within us, bringing us into His holy presence. That is a thing of beauty to behold!

Dear Lord, keep me tucked,

In Your tender care,

Give me grace for every struggle,

And let me know You're always there.

Give me wings like the butterfly,

To show Your love and might,

And make me somehow beautiful,

Before Your sight.

Amen.

"Mary, however, stood outside the tomb sobbing, crying, and kneeling at its entrance. 12 As she cried, two heavenly messengers appeared before her sitting where Jesus’ head and feet had been laid.

Heavenly Messengers: 13 Dear woman, why are you weeping?

Mary Magdalene: They have taken away my Lord, and I cannot find Him.

14 After uttering these words, she turned around to see Jesus standing before her, but she did not recognize Him.

Jesus: 15 Dear woman, why are you sobbing? Who is it you are looking for?

She still had no idea who it was before her. Thinking He was the gardener, she muttered:

Mary Magdalene: Sir, if you are the one who carried Him away, then tell me where He is and I will retrieve Him.

Jesus: 16 Mary!

Mary Magdalene (turning to Jesus and speaking in Hebrew): Rabboni, my Teacher!

Jesus: 17 Mary, you cannot hold Me. I must rise above this world to be with My Father, who is also your Father; My God, who is also your God. Go tell this to all My brothers.

18 Mary Magdalene obeyed and went directly to His disciples. The hope of resurrection has often been a topic on the lips of Jesus. Now it is taking shape. Confusion gives way to conviction as Jesus appears alive over the next few Sundays. One by one He convinces His followers that God has raised Him from the dead.

Mary Magdalene (announcing to the disciples): I have seen the Lord, and this is what He said to me . . . (VOICE)." John 20:11-18

by: deborah goshorn-stenger 2 Pause and Praise Creations ©