When Sakura Blooms

Now is the season Sakura which is the flower that represents Japan. Sakura is the flower that Japanese people love. In fact they are said to represent Japanese people because they bloom together and fall together. The light pink flower is modest, gentle and beautiful, and the strength that they all bloom together after long cold winter might be the desire of the Japanese people.

When the flower falls like snow, people think that the short life of Sakura has ended. However, that’s not the end of Sakura tree’s life. Rather, it is from that time the growth of the tree begins. There will be new sprouts coming out making the tree grow after all the flower has scattered. The flower of Sakura tree is not all there is to the tree.

Jesus’ cross seemed like the Sakura in some ways as it blooms and scatters in such a short time. God’s flower of love, the cross, which was the most beautiful in history, has brought an end to human’s long history of sin and let us know that winter has ended. After that, with spring rain of God came, and new sprout of life through the Holy Spirit started growing the tree of Christ, which is the Church.

Japanese people put in the feeling of “success” in the word “Sakura blooms.” However, to God, there is beginning growth in the word “Sakura scatters.” Indeed, as the result of the growth, there will be fruit and when God is pleased with that, there is success.

It is the blooming season of Sakura, yet soon the flowers will be gone and scattered. However that is the beginning. Has your season of blooming passed by? You do not have to reminisce the days of blooming, because the season to bear fruits has begun in your life already. Yes, do not focus on the things of temporary but fix your eyes on our eternal God!

Pastor Takeshi