For Christians, Easter brings forth the resurrection of Jesus and represents the hope that springs eternal with his coming.
With all that has transpired in the past year, the narrative significance of starting anew certainly calls for inspired celebration.
Though restoration and renewal are both fitting archetypes – especially on Easter where Jesus assumes a divine prerogative – I wanted to reflect beyond spiritual abstractions and really intimate my feelings towards his ultimate sacrifice.
Unanswered Prayers Are Part Of God’s Will
In Matthew 26:36 – 46, a sorrowful and troubled Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane while his disciples wearied from waiting, fell asleep. His face to the ground, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Even in deep agony as his eventual crucifixion drew near, Jesus did not resist, and instead sought to surrender his fate to God through prayer, thereby realizing the will of his father.
So often, prayer becomes a symbol of desire from which we may have our wishes manifested or suffering availed through our call to God. A better job, a broken heart on the mend and recovery from illness are all part of our trials and tribulations in life.
Before resenting our unchanged circumstances, we must recognize that an unanswered prayer does not mean God’s absence and instead respect that our wishes are not within his will for us.
God’s Love Is Eternal And Redeeming
As my gaze falls upon Jesus upon the cross, his scars bear witness to an eternal redeeming love for humanity.
Agonized but still undeterred by the harrowing prospect of death on a cross, Jesus’ acquiescence to God’s will is truly an incredible sacrifice. All to forgive us for our sins.
Was there perhaps another way? One that would forgo the pain of torture – a crown of thorns placed atop his head, the incessant mocking and finally being nailed to a cross?
Knowing that there was no other option, and believing that his sacrifice would be our salvation, Jesus endured without compromise. At an incalculable price, the Son of God paid willingly as a supreme demonstration of his love. Only through such a sacrifice can we begin to even understand the fullness of healing and redemption.
The power of his love brings hope, that in the face of the bleak panorama of our world, amid violence, hate, predation and injustice, we too can confront these forces as Jesus did.
Jesus’ Rebirth Is As Spiritual As It Is Physical
The image of Jesus on the cross and his wounds bearing nail marks communicates his physical passing. However, Jesus’ return is as much a spiritual rebirth as it is a physical one.
When he died, Christ became the very definition of sin. This transformation wrecked Jesus with guilt and pain, because it made him the essence of what God despised.
And so, he exclaimed, “My God my God, why have thou forsaken me?”.
By placing himself completely under the judgement of God and transitioning into sin, thereby not only physically leaving our world, but a spiritual divorce from his father, Christ endured the ultimate sacrifice with deep pain.
The depravity of our sins and the finality of his task must have driven Jesus to great pain. Yet, not only did Jesus beg for our pardon before he expired on the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing”, he returned to us with overflowing love.
So, Jesus’ resurrection on Easter is rightfully celebrated as the greatest victory – one in which he won over sin and over death itself –good news which came on the third day.