Easter

Jesus warned the disciples more than once about the future suffering He would endure. He told them He would die and rise again on these three instances:Matthew 16:21; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:31-32Matthew 17:20-23; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:43-45Matthew 20:17-19; Mark 10:30-34; Luke 18:31-34Hours before Jesus’ arrest the twelve shared the Passover meal with their Master. He relayed to them that the meaning of the cup was His blood of the New Covenant. While at the table, He told them a betrayer sat nearby. They were concerned about this sad fact for a little while, but a short time later they were so focused on themselves they argued about who would be the greatest (Luke 22:24).Another time upon hearing these words about what lay ahead for their Lord, Peter scolded His Savior for saying such a thing. Jesus rebuked Peter for using Satan’s words to get His focus off the fulfillment of God’s will (Matthew 16:22-23).Despite Christ’s warnings, His followers, like the rest of Israel, waited for a Messiah with military might. The Israelites conquered other nations and entered the Promised Land through war. Their history involved conquering and being conquered. Centuries later, when the Romans ruled over their country they assumed their long-awaited Messiah would rescue them through armed conflict.The Master Teacher tried to prepare His companions for what lay ahead. But they couldn’t even stay awake to pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane.After His death and resurrection, they received messages telling them He was alive, but they refused to consider the truth.Here are 4 reasons why they doubted the reports.Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Boonyachoat

As we approach Easter Sunday, the local church will be visited by many families. The church usually enjoys its highest attendance on Easter Sunday and the Sunday closest to Christmas. The traditional increase will possibly be even more visible this year as we ease into normalcy following many absences from the pandemic fears for over two years. Those in attendance will include the regulars, visitors from out of town, holiday visitors, and those merely just visiting. The holiday visitors are those who have a membership or familial attachment to the church, but for whatever reason do not regularly attend other than Christmas and Easter. These “irregular regulars” make it a point to make the biannual visit to the local church on Easter Sunday and/or around Christmas. They are commonly referred to as “Christmas poinsettias,” “Easter lilies,” or the “Chreasters” – Christians who only attend on Christmas and Easter.Even though we attach such labels, we must be mindful that God does not love the Easter lily any less than those who warm a pew every Sunday. However, we as the church must prepare for the presence of the unchurched and the backslidden on Easter Sunday. In anticipation for any church service, the regular attendees are to be in prayer for attentive hearts and receptive ears of those present Easter Sunday. Further, much prayer should be offered for the pastor that he is given a convicting message to the lost who are visiting and for those who have strayed away from the church. The Easter Sunday message is important as it may be the last message many will hear for another eight months. It is too easy for the regulars to take the Easter Sunday service for granted and become distracted by the dresses, suits, egg hunts, and family gatherings to follow. This feeling of misplaced comfort gives us a sinful confidence that this service is merely a bonus and a Super Bowl coronation for us since we have been present all year long.Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/DedMityay

One of the most significant aspects of Easter is the Passover lamb, which had great spiritual significance in biblical times and continues to represent important and powerful aspects of our faith today.

Holy Week is observed every year by Christians around the world. From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, believers can take time to remember the events leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Sarah Hamaker shares with us eight worship songs and hymns that will help to prepare us for Easter this year and beyond.

In this video, Sarah Hamaker gives us six Scripture-based Easter prayers to prepare our hearts to celebrate Christ's resurrection.

Rather than giving valueless, fleeting attention to gifts, candy, eggs or Easter Bunny surprises this year, let us focus on the greatest comeback of all time—the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In this video, Rachel Baker describes how it is not religion that draws us into God's Kingdom - it's having a lowly and humble heart of faith.

Rachel Baker walks us through how the doctrine of the trinity shows up in Holy Week by examining John 17:20-23.

Find a devotional reading with related scriptures and prayers for each day of Holy Week. May these devotions to God guide your mind and heart in the days leading to Easter and the glorious Resurrection of Christ!

Many years ago, due to an illness that resulted in a hospital stay, I missed the first two weeks of tenth-grade chemistry. During that essential time, my fellow classmates learned the foundations of chemistry—the 118 symbols and the elements they represented. When I returned, still weak and feeling a little groggy, the teacher went over previously learned information in rapid-fire succession, then paused and said, “Does the class understand?”I raised my hand. “No,” I answered. “I don’t.”My fellow classmates groaned, but I couldn’tunderstand because I hadn’t had enough time to “get it.”When Jesus Taught the BasicsDuring His ministry, Jesus taught His disciples and others—sometimes straightforward and at other times using made-up stories and what must have seemed like riddles. I have to wonder if often the disciples asked one another, “Did you understand that?” We know from Scripture that they were often left amazed and confounded by the Teacher’s parables and lessons. There were times, such as when Jesus told the disciples about His upcoming death, burial, and resurrection, (see Luke 18: 31-34) that the disciples simply didn’t, as we say today, “get it.”But on one evening, sitting in an upper room while eating a special holiday meal, words became hardly necessary . . . and yet, because the disciples could not fully comprehend, Jesus had to explain His actions with words. . .and then, later, His words with an ultimate action.Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/rudall30

Growing up, you may have visited a farm and heard a donkey braying. Did it ever strike you as odd that the Bible says Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey? Why did he pick this particular animal?

But the true meaning of new life comes as a wooden cross on a hill called Calvary with Jesus Christ.

Our conversion changes everything in our lives! The Holy Spirit changes what we value, our purpose for living, and our motives, which affects our actions, choices, and, ultimately, our relationships. Our faith permeates every facet of our lives. And one of the areas where the transformation in us will be visible is in the way we see and interact with our spouse.

Have you ever asked how old was Jesus when he died? The answers scholars give may not be what you expect, but is fairly clear.

God, who is good, had a plan to save an otherwise lost people through Jesus, and Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are all a part of that plan on many different levels. Another aspect to consider is that Jesus had to die in order to be resurrected. And indeed, the resurrection is everything.

Two sisters remind us of the real reason for the season with this beautiful duet of Easter ‘Hallelujah.’

Here are eight prayers to take you – and me – through Holy Week.

This beautiful service called Palm Sunday is one week prior to Easter. It is an incredible tradition, but why do Christians celebrate Palm Sunday? What is the purpose of raising branches?

As a new Christian, the movie came highly recommended to learn about Good Friday and Easter, but I wondered, “Why is it called Good Friday when it’s the day Jesus, brutally died?”