This Easter

Hello, hope we all had a good weekend? The first quarter of this year is almost over.

Yesterday marked the commemoration of the Easter week on the Christian calendar. It starts with Palm Sunday and ends on the next Sunday, Resurrection Sunday. Easter represents the last week of Jesus before He died on the cross, and resurrected again. The significance of this is, Jesus died to bring redemption to man, and He being raised from the dead means, He is Lord and has victory over death.

Today, my focus is looking at some events during that time to learn some lessons.

“On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” John‬ ‭12:12-13‬ ‭

1. They didn’t know what they were celebrating- these people celebrated without understanding the meaning of what they did. Hosanna means “save now”. These people saw Jesus as a savior and a king of Israel. They cried for salvation in hope of been saved from Roman captivity, hence their zest. Jesus didn’t come to save them from Roman captivity, hence his name “savior”- he came to save them from their sins. He didn’t come to set up a kingdom, hence his name “King of kings”- his kingdom is not of this earth. Easter has lost its meaning due to commercialization. We get excited, and the meaning of it is lost in translation.

“So he got up from the table and took off his robes. Picking up a linen towel, he tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he was wearing.” John‬ ‭13:4-5‬ ‭

2. Leadership is by serving- Jesus just had press and publicity upon his entry into Jerusalem, yet when he finished eating with his disciples, whom he led. He demonstrated humility by washing their feet. He was also a teacher, but stripped himself of his garments and his prestige to do a job which was reserved for servants. During this time, it is perhaps time to redefine leadership in the spirit of Easter. It is about serving people.

“When the disciples who were with Jesus saw what was going to happen, they asked, “Shall we use our swords, Lord?” And one of them struck the High Priest’s slave and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “Enough of this!” He touched the man’s ear and healed him.” Luke‬ ‭22:49-51‬ ‭

3. It is a time of forgiveness– the last miracle of Jesus before his crucifixion was done on an enemy, who came to arrest Him. This week, we are also celebrating forgiveness by letting go of any grudge, hurt or bitterness. The essence of Christianity is love, and it often shows in our relations with humans when we can forgive at will.

“But we are able to see Jesus, Who was ranked lower than the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honor because of His having suffered death, in order that by the grace (unmerited favor) of God [to us sinners] He might experience death for every individual person.” Hebrews‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭

4. Death is defeated- the good news out of this week’s celebration is, Jesus died so that we don’t have to die. Receiving Jesus into your life means He died for you, so that you don’t experience death, which in a biblical sense, is separation from God in the hereafter. His death abridged our relationship with God, and defeated the power of death. When a Christian dies, “though he is absent from the body, he is present in the Lord”. That to me, is good news!

So I hope in today’s reading, you have gained some context to the Easter season. Wish you a good week and a blessed upcoming new month.

Look forward to reading your comments as always, and also responding. Please like and share today’s post. Subscribe to this blog if you haven’t.

Till, I come your way again…

Peace & Love