[Jesus] told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations.” (Luke 24:46-47)

During Holy Week, we were reminded that the culmination of this season is Easter Sunday, when we observe Jesus’s resurrection. From Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to the Lord’s Supper to the betrayal by Judas just a few days later, Holy Week is a whirlwind of ups and downs that mimic our own lives today.

As we celebrate Easter this year, remember the true meaning, 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.

Easter signifies new beginnings, for in Christ, all things are made new (2 Corinthians 5:17). And not just a new renewal—but a resurrection for each of us.
Easter represents the hope we find in Jesus, in his death and resurrection. As Christians, we believe that he lives today, and we have hope—hope for grace to be saved from our sins, and hope for eternal life with him.

Through Jesus, the slate has been wiped clean. We have the chance to leave behind the pain and regret of the past and to move forward into the hope we have in Jesus. This doesn’t mean we’ll have an easy life, but he will be with us. And through it all, our hope for an eternity spent with Jesus never wavers.

Dear Jesus, thank you for suffering and dying on the cross for me. Thank you for forgiving my sins and preparing a place for me with your Father in heaven. Help me to share the hope I’ve found in you with those I meet each day. Amen.