Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Philippians 3:21 He will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
THE EASTER BUTTERFLY
There is a church in Jackson, Missouri. In this church is a stained glass window featuring a caterpillar and a butterfly. Huh? A caterpillar and a butterfly? These may seem like silly choices for stained glass windows, but there is a deep and meaningful symbolism behind these windows.
In the life of the butterfly, some see the life of the Christ. The butterfly went from caterpillar, to chrysalis, to butterfly. Jesus went from life, to death, to glorious resurrection.
In the caterpillar stage of His life, Jesus suffered a great deal. Jesus suffered so much that in the Psalms He says, "...I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people." (Psalm 22:6)
A chrysalis appears lifeless as it undergoes its change. Jesus WAS lifeless in the tomb. We read: "So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb." (Mark 15:46)
The butterfly then, represents the resurrection of our Lord. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified, He has risen! He is not here!" (Mark 16:6) Just as the butterfly breaks forth, stunning us with its beauty, Jesus broke forth from death and burst out of the tomb.
But the beauty of the Butterfly symbol is even deeper, for the butterfly symbol also represents OUR resurrection. For the scriptures say, "If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with Him in his resurrection." (Romans 6:5)
The caterpillar is still himself when He emerges from the chrysalis, but oh the difference! We will still be ourselves when we exit this life and enter heaven, but oh! The difference! For Jesus has promised that He "will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." (Phil. 3:21) The full extent of the glory that we ourselves will experience? We can only imagine.
