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Jenna Sanderson reflects on the resurrection story through the imagery of two gardens: Eden and the empty tomb. Drawing on Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Jesus in John 20, she explores how Easter answers the sorrow and separation of Genesis 3 with restoration, new life, and the hope of being seen, forgiven, and loved by God.
Photo by Shuttergames on Unsplash
A Garden in the Morning Shadow
The morning began in the way the world began so long ago for Adam and Eve: in a garden.
In the darkness of early morning, the beauty of the garden is hidden in the shadows, but it lingers in the earthy scent of olive trees mingling with the sweet fragrance of daisies and anemones.
Mary Magdalene’s footsteps are heavy with emotion as she and the other women make their way toward the tomb. Thoughts tumble through the confusion in her mind.
She knew Jesus had spoken of His death. Yet fear still grips her. And beneath it all, a deep and piercing sadness.
Grief at the Tomb
Anguish sinks in as the women come face to face with the open and empty tomb. Mary knows she needs to get to the disciples and tell them what she has seen (John 20:1–2).
Peter and John run to the tomb with desperate hope, clinging to the possibility that Jesus’ body has not been stolen. Mary follows behind. When Peter and John leave the garden, still struggling to make sense of what they have seen, Mary stays (John 20:3–11).
She is met by two angelic beings, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of where Jesus had lain. “Woman, why are you crying?” they ask (John 20:12–13).
She feels the warmth of the morning light through the opening of the tomb as a gentle, familiar voice behind her asks, “Woman, whom are you seeking?” (John 20:15).
Gardener Speaks Her Name
Assuming the man is the gardener, Mary answers, still turned away from Him, “If you know where my Master is, please take me to Him” (John 20:15).
“Mary!” Jesus’ voice is full of joy (John 20:16).
In that moment, everything begins to clear.
Photo by Konstantin Dyadyun on Unsplash
Echoes of Eden
Jesus calls out to her just as we might imagine God calling in Eden, where humanity first walked with Him in the garden (Genesis 2:8–15). What joy Adam and Eve must have known before that painful day when sin entered the world and relationship with God was broken (Genesis 3:1–24). The divine Gardener’s joy in walking with His image-bearers in the beauty of the garden was marred by sin.
Yet even in judgment, God spoke a promise: that the offspring of the woman would one day crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15).
On Friday, Mary watched the cruelty of evil do its worst to Jesus. Today, she sees the risen Christ overthrowing the destructive plans of Satan forever through His victory over sin and death.
A New Beginning in the Garden
Everything has changed, and Mary knows it.
Two gardens. Eden represents the loss of relationship with God because of sin and brokenness. This garden tomb represents restoration, a new beginning, and a new life with God where sin has been forgiven and its penalty fully paid.
Mary marvels at her own restoration story. She has a new identity and a new purpose. Jesus sends her to tell the others what she has seen, making her the first witness to the resurrection message (John 20:17–18).
Being in the presence of Jesus has healed her in so many ways. She knows what it is to be seen, forgiven, and loved by God Himself.
From Sorrow to Joy
The words of Psalm 30 echo her experience: “You have changed my sadness into a joyful dance; you have taken away my sorrow and surrounded me with joy” (Psalm 30:11).
What began in a garden with loss now opens in a garden with life. The empty tomb is not only proof that Jesus is risen. It is the beginning of a new creation, where sorrow does not have the final word and death itself has been defeated in Christ.
About the Author:
Jenna Sanderson:
Jenna Sanderson is a young woman who loves Jesus and is passionate about helping others go deeper with God. Although she lives with the challenges of cerebral palsy, she never lets that stop her from trusting that God has good plans for her life.
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Jenna Sanderson reflects on the resurrection story through the imagery of two gardens: Eden and the empty tomb. Drawing on Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Jesus in John 20, she explores how Easter answers the sorrow and separation of Genesis 3 with restoration, new life, and the hope of being seen, forgiven, and loved by God.
Photo by Shuttergames on Unsplash
A Garden in the Morning Shadow
The morning began in the way the world began so long ago for Adam and Eve: in a garden.
In the darkness of early morning, the beauty of the garden is hidden in the shadows, but it lingers in the earthy scent of olive trees mingling with the sweet fragrance of daisies and anemones.
Mary Magdalene’s footsteps are heavy with emotion as she and the other women make their way toward the tomb. Thoughts tumble through the confusion in her mind.
She knew Jesus had spoken of His death. Yet fear still grips her. And beneath it all, a deep and piercing sadness.
Grief at the Tomb
Anguish sinks in as the women come face to face with the open and empty tomb. Mary knows she needs to get to the disciples and tell them what she has seen (John 20:1–2).
Peter and John run to the tomb with desperate hope, clinging to the possibility that Jesus’ body has not been stolen. Mary follows behind. When Peter and John leave the garden, still struggling to make sense of what they have seen, Mary stays (John 20:3–11).
She is met by two angelic beings, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of where Jesus had lain. “Woman, why are you crying?” they ask (John 20:12–13).
She feels the warmth of the morning light through the opening of the tomb as a gentle, familiar voice behind her asks, “Woman, whom are you seeking?” (John 20:15).
Gardener Speaks Her Name
Assuming the man is the gardener, Mary answers, still turned away from Him, “If you know where my Master is, please take me to Him” (John 20:15).
“Mary!” Jesus’ voice is full of joy (John 20:16).
In that moment, everything begins to clear.
Photo by Konstantin Dyadyun on Unsplash
Echoes of Eden
Jesus calls out to her just as we might imagine God calling in Eden, where humanity first walked with Him in the garden (Genesis 2:8–15). What joy Adam and Eve must have known before that painful day when sin entered the world and relationship with God was broken (Genesis 3:1–24). The divine Gardener’s joy in walking with His image-bearers in the beauty of the garden was marred by sin.
Yet even in judgment, God spoke a promise: that the offspring of the woman would one day crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15).
On Friday, Mary watched the cruelty of evil do its worst to Jesus. Today, she sees the risen Christ overthrowing the destructive plans of Satan forever through His victory over sin and death.
A New Beginning in the Garden
Everything has changed, and Mary knows it.
Two gardens. Eden represents the loss of relationship with God because of sin and brokenness. This garden tomb represents restoration, a new beginning, and a new life with God where sin has been forgiven and its penalty fully paid.
Mary marvels at her own restoration story. She has a new identity and a new purpose. Jesus sends her to tell the others what she has seen, making her the first witness to the resurrection message (John 20:17–18).
Being in the presence of Jesus has healed her in so many ways. She knows what it is to be seen, forgiven, and loved by God Himself.
From Sorrow to Joy
The words of Psalm 30 echo her experience: “You have changed my sadness into a joyful dance; you have taken away my sorrow and surrounded me with joy” (Psalm 30:11).
What began in a garden with loss now opens in a garden with life. The empty tomb is not only proof that Jesus is risen. It is the beginning of a new creation, where sorrow does not have the final word and death itself has been defeated in Christ.
