Sacrificial Love
When I was a child, I thought Easter was about egg hunts, new dresses, and baby chicks. I did not yet understand that it is about the death and resurrection of Jesus—and how much that cost Him.
When I walk into church on Easter Sunday, I see little girls in their prettiest dresses, white patent leather shoes, and lace socks, and boys in their finest pants and shiny shoes, some with bow ties at their collars. It ushers in memories of long ago—including a sweet memory of my younger brother at that same age. I am grateful that these parents bring their children to church and give them the opportunity to begin understanding what this holy day truly means.
Here is something I find fascinating. The word "Easter" appears only once in the entire Bible—in Acts 12:4 in the King James Version—and many scholars believe it was actually a mistranslation. The original Greek word used there is Pascha, meaning Passover. In that passage, Peter has been arrested by Herod's soldiers and is awaiting trial after the feast. Herod, as a Jewish ruler, would have understood exactly what Passover meant—the night God passed over the homes of His people in Egypt, sparing them through the blood of a sacrificial lamb. That is no coincidence. Jesus is our Passover Lamb. His blood, shed on the cross, is what saves us. The symbolism God wove from the very beginning is breathtaking.
What that sacrifice cost Him is difficult to comprehend. Jesus—God made flesh—came to earth and demonstrated perfect love through His teachings, His compassion, and His miracles. Then He walked willingly into suffering we can scarcely imagine. He was mocked and spat upon. A crown of thorns was pressed into His skull. He was abandoned by His friends. He was stripped of His clothes, nailed to a cross with spikes like those used to nail railroad ties, and pierced with a sword. He endured it all. And yet—God did not leave the story in defeat. On the third day, He raised His Son from the dead, and everything changed.
That resurrection made a way for everyone—Jew and Gentile alike—to know Jesus and follow Him as Messiah. And with that gift came everything. We are the Lord's delight. We are His joy and His reward. Through Scripture, He speaks life over us. He gives us strength to endure, power to overcome, and a voice full of mercy and kindness. He listens. He weeps with us. He never leaves us in our darkest moments. His faithfulness has no end. We received all of this because God's Son came to earth, died, and rose again. No one can love us like this. It is called perfect love.
So what is our role? Simply to receive it. We accept Him as our Savior, receive the Holy Spirit, love as He loves, and follow where He leads. His deepest longing is that we would have a daily, growing desire for relationship with Him—just as Jesus pursued relationship with the Father while on earth. That is how we are made to live.
This month, as we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, let's fix our eyes not just on the cross but on the empty tomb—and on everything that glorious morning made possible. It is by faith and grace that we receive His free gift of life and all the blessings that come with it.
Let's Pray
Lord, words fall short of the joy I feel knowing that You love me perfectly. Your words, "It is finished," carry more meaning than I can fully comprehend—not only the end of Your suffering, but the beginning of my freedom. You brought life to me in more ways than I can count. You taught me that through the Holy Spirit, I too have the power to be an overcomer. Thank You for Your sacrifice. Thank You for the free gift of salvation. I receive it with a grateful heart.
Amen.
