From Cross to Crown: Our Living Hope
As we observe Good Friday and Easter in April 2025, let us think about the important story of Jesus Christ.
The Passion
Our journey begins on Good Friday, when we solemnly reflect on the Passion of Christ ‒ the immense suffering that Jesus, the Son of God, willingly embraced to fulfill His mission. Betrayed, falsely accused, whipped and made to wear a crown of thorns, He bore the weight of humanity’s sin.
At the cross, we witness the ultimate act of love. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Ephesians 1:7 further affirms that through Jesus’ sacrificial death, we receive redemption and forgiveness of sins.
Like the Passover lamb that saved the Israelites, Jesus, the Lamb of God, saves the world from its sins. (John 1:29) The first Christians understood that Jesus’ suffering mirrored the Passover (Matthew 26:1-2). They knew he was the real Passover Lamb.
The Silence of the Tomb
After Jesus died on the cross, His body was put in a tomb that was closed with a big rock. It was a quiet and uncertain time, like the times in our own lives when things are dark, and we do not know what will happen next.
Personal reflection:
I have had those dark times when it felt like life stopped, like when I lost an important career chance shortly after I was given the employment contract, all because of an untimely event in the company. It was hard to see any hope then. But I have learned that even when things are quiet and still, God is still working. That silence, though tough to deal with, reminds us to think and trust that God is still in control in uncertain times even when we can’t see it … (continued below)
The Resurrection
On the third day, something amazing happened and broke the silence: Jesus came back to life! The tomb was empty. This is the most important part of what we believe. It shows that life is stronger than death, light wins over darkness, and there is always hope over despair.
1 Peter 1:3 says that Jesus’ resurrection gives us a living hope.
Personal reflection (continued from above):
… When “living hope” shifted from theory to experience, it was the feeling of a weight gone, like sunrise after darkness, a present reality, not just a future dream.
With God’s invisible hand at work, I was smoothly led onto a different career path. This unexpected new path has been rewarding and long-lasting, and it has also given me the freedom to explore my faith, serve others, develop my writing hobby; and now, I look at the sunset ahead with gratitude for the journey.
Why Easter Matters
The journey from Good Friday to Easter carries a profound message of redemption. Through His sacrifice and resurrection, Jesus paid the price for our sins and opened the way to eternal life.
The Apostle Paul said that if Jesus did not come back to life, then our faith is useless and we are still guilty of our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17). But Jesus did rise from the dead, and because of that, we will also have new life.
Romans 6:5 states, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” We look forward to the day when “we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20-21).
Conclusion
The true celebration of Easter stems from unwavering faith in Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection. This hope, from the cross to the crown, defines the heart of our redemption. As followers of Christ, we are called to live out the reality of the resurrection in our words and actions, bringing light to the darkness and hope to the hopeless.
Let us renew our commitment to follow Christ, embrace the message of redemption, and share it with others. May the journey from Good Friday to Easter inspire us to draw closer to Christ and to live lives that reflect His love and grace. Amen.
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