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)

Christmas and Easter are both big celebrations for Christians. Even those who don’t believe celebrate these holidays, too, but in much different ways than we do.

As a child, I didn’t understand the importance of Easter. The church I grew up in was more focused on what you wore than on passion plays or sunrise services. I remember scrambling to arrive at church early so we could find a seat and wearing a new dress (I loved to dress up). I couldn’t figure out where all the people came from. I knew everyone at church, or so I thought.

When I was a teenager, I joined a youth group in a different denomination and attended a sunrise service. I’m sure I went because my friends were going, but I was also genuinely curious about their traditions. Decades later, I still remember that service and the awe I felt when I understood the true meaning of Easter and that without Easter, Christmas would have been just another day.

I can look back and see my growth over the years. When I was a young adult, my mom’s friend invited us to a passion play at her church. I didn’t know what that was, but we went, and I was floored to see Christ’s death depicted in such detail. Until then, it had been an abstract notion. To consider that Christ’s death had been so brutal, so vicious, was a real eye-opener. I hadn’t wanted to acknowledge the brutality of it because it was too difficult to think about.

But thinking about difficult things helps you grow, and so I didn’t turn away any longer. In considering Jesus’s death on a cross and what that was really like, I grew to know him better. That he sacrificed his life for me—not just dying but suffering unimaginable pain and torture in the process.

Today, I’m thankful I had a chance to learn about the meaning of Easter in small steps because I don’t think I could have taken it all in at once. Even now, I’m amazed God sent his Son to die in my place and that Jesus willingly made that sacrifice. I’m thankful Jesus died for me and for you and willing went through all he did so we could have eternal life with him. I’m thankful for his resurrection, because without it, all he did would have been in vain. Our hope is in Jesus and his  resurrection and all it stands for. This Easter, I pray I won’t take his sacrifice for granted.

Dear Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross and suffering in a way I could never fully imagine. Thank you for your resurrection and for giving me new life through you. Amen.