Celebrating Easter During a Crisis

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pt 1:3).

With so much going on in the world around us right now, it’s easy to focus on the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the problems it’s causing. When I’m not careful about the media I consume, I get lost in the dire news predictions. My attention moves from God and what I know is true about him to fear and uncertainty.

Even though I want to focus on God, I let the chaos around me take my attention. In fact, I realized I had almost forgotten about Easter when I opened my YouVersion Bible app and saw the Easter Bible study plans there. Continue reading “Celebrating Easter During a Crisis”

Lent: A Season of Sacrifice

“The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen…” (Matthew 28:5)

Easter, unlike Thanksgiving or Christmas, is not celebrated on a single day. Instead, the Easter season begins with Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and reflection that leads to Easter Sunday. Continue reading “Lent: A Season of Sacrifice”

The Hope of Easter

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead…” (1 Cor 15:20-22)

Today is Easter, the most important day of the year for Christians. Today, we celebrate the true meaning of Easter, which is found in the following truth: Jesus overcame death. He was humiliated and offered as a sacrifice on the cross. He died and rose from the grave, confirming he was the Son of God. Continue reading “The Hope of Easter”

Holy Week: From Acclamation to Devastation

“The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” Mt 21:9

This Sunday, April 14, begins Holy Week. Applauded and acclaimed on what is now known as Palm Sunday, Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem on a donkey. By Friday, he’d received a sham trial and then was beaten and ultimately crucified. Saying he had a terrible week would be a gross understatement. But because of his willing sacrifice, we have the hope of eternal life today. Continue reading “Holy Week: From Acclamation to Devastation”

The Spiritual Discipline of Fasting

“But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Mt 6:17-18)

As Easter draws closer, we look for ways to deepen our spiritual life and draw closer to Jesus. Fasting is one spiritual discipline we can use to do this.

When fasting, we give up something we enjoy – food, liquids other than water, social media, TV or movies – and we use that time to study Scripture and pray.

Fasting can be done any time, not just at Easter or as part of Lent. Some people fast before making a big decision (see Acts 13:2-3; 14:23). Some people fast at the beginning of the year to reset their minds as the new year begins. Continue reading “The Spiritual Discipline of Fasting”