New friends were so kind to give me a gorgeous bouquet of lilies the other night after my concert. The fragrance of these blossoms is incredibly sweet and brings in the hope of spring to the kitchen where they sit in a vase. I've always loved lilies, and have wondered at the imagery throughout Scripture of these incredible flowers. We read about them in Song of Solomon, Hosea, and the Gospels.
The ancient writer, Pliny, considered the lily the tallest flower that grows and next to the rose in splendor, yet all the while, hanging it's head low... As we near Easter, we can see the face of Christ in the lily. The Son of God's extraordinary greatness shines forth in magnificent glory, yet He is the perfect model of humility, taking on human flesh to experience life among our brokenness and offering His life in suffering so we might be healed and live eternally. This dichotomy is wrapped up in the mystery of the gospel, as we read in Philippians 2:6-8, "Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up his divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross."
As we begin to see blossoms and signs of Easter, let our hearts be awakened to this mystery and beauty of Christ. Next time you see a lily, as spring dawns, still your heart for a moment and remember the majesty and humility of Christ. The glory and the sacrifice.
