The Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is so important that Easter is a season in the life of the church. Long after the Easter egg hunt is over and the last chocolate bunny has been consumed, the point remains: Jesus breaking the bonds of sin and death results in hope for us.
Easter is a season of hope that lasts for 40 days and ends with Ascension Day (May 29), which celebrates Jesus' bodily ascension into heaven.
In what or in whom do you place your hope? I invite you to rethink Easter, and the point God made through Jesus.
This is what hope looks like through his eyes: "So the poor have hope and injustice shuts its mouth." (Job 5:16); "No one who hopes in you [God] will ever be put to shame." (Psalm 25:3); "Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him." (Psalm 62:5) Hope seems to be intertwined with waiting, resting, rejoicing, working for justice and trusting in God's Word. Hope is tied to Jesus, who has opened up a new and living way for humans who are born to die a physical death, but can join Jesus in this new life, which will remain unbroken forever.
So we have a person in whom we can place our hope, not just in an idea or an ideal. One who has proven trustworthy: Jesus. May God give you "eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." (2 Thess. 2:15-17)
