Weekly Devotional: Celebrating the Joy of Easter

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

For Christians, Easter represents Jesus Christ’s victory over death. His resurrection is proof He is the Son of God, and it is the reason we can find hope in an eternity spent with Him. During Easter, we celebrate what we believe to be the biggest moment in history.

Before celebrating Easter Sunday, however, many observe Good Friday. On this day, we remember how Jesus was persecuted and put to death. Jesus was crucified and took on the sins of the world, even though He was blameless. Because of this, many people wonder how this day could possibly be referred to as “good.”

In order to understand the good news of the gospel, we must first understand our sinful nature and our need for a Savior. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Without Jesus, we are hopeless. Our sinful nature causes us to fall short of His glory, and the punishment we deserve is death.

But there is good news! While Jesus suffered a terrible death, it was God’s plan to save us from our sins. Because Jesus conquered death, this made a way for all who believe in Him, and He reigns for eternity. If we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus, we can receive forgiveness and salvation.

We are not meant to keep this good news to ourselves. Jesus died for the sins of the world, and the gift of salvation is available to all who believe. As Christians, we are called to tell others about God and His great love for us.

Mark 16:15 says, “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’ ” In this passage, Jesus is talking to His disciples after they had not believed Mary when she told them of His resurrection.

During this season, I encourage you to share the joy of Easter with others. Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, and reflect on the sacrifice He made on the cross. In telling others of His goodness, we can bring Him glory.

At Grand Canyon University, Christian principles are integrated across learning, work and service. To learn more about GCU, visit our website.