“Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there.” – Clarence 
W. Hall
“The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances.” – Robert Flatt
“To a Christian, Easter Sunday means everything, when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” – Bernhard Langer
Yesterday we celebrated Easter, Christianity’s most important holiday. The meaning of Easter, for millions of Christians, is that of honoring and recognizing Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead, and His glorious promises of eternal life for all who believe in Him. Easter Sunday is commemorated in churches throughout the world by everything from intimate reflective services to elaborate pageants and theatrical productions.
Many churches observe Holy Week, where the Christian faithful follow Jesus’ activities through the last week of His life, the eight days leading up to his resurrection, as outlined by the biblical narratives called the Gospels.
The liturgical week begins with Palm Sunday, when the Bible explains Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem on a donkey as his followers laid palm fronds in front of his path as a sign of reverence.
Palm Sunday is followed by Holy Monday. Few details are given about Tuesday or Wednesday but Thursday was the Jewish feast of Passover, so Jesus and his disciples celebrated with a meal. Many churches take Holy Thursday to re-enact the Last Supper.
Good Friday commemorations pick up at that point. It may have been after midnight when the soldiers arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and took him to his first trial before Jewish leaders. On Good Friday, Catholic churches follow Jesus in his daylong journey through the trials, beatings and death by crucifixion. This tradition is known as the 12 Stations of the Cross.
On Holy Saturday, the church focuses upon Jesus burial. Holy Week culminates on Easter Sunday, when Jesus rose from the grave and revealed himself to his disciples. It is believed that through that resurrection, Jesus created a way for Christians to have eternal life, as well, by accepting his sacrifice as the final forgiveness of their sins.
Whatever the method of celebration, the miraculous message of Easter is one of hope, and newness of life.
With that in mind, I would like to pose a question. Now what? What does Easter mean to you today? How does the message of Easter translate into your daily life? What does that look like? The powerful message of hope and redemption that was celebrated so elegantly yesterday will have no impact on you or the world around you unless it is tangibly demonstrated today, and every day of the year. It must be walked out in the every day trenches of life; on our jobs, in our classrooms, in our neighborhoods and especially in our homes. Our world is desperately in need of hope and newness of life. Is your life an example of that message?
Matthew 28:6 says, “He is not here, for he is risen.”
He is risen, now what?
