A greedy friend

An angry mob

An appeasing ruler

A repentant thief

An obedient Son

A world in need

A tomb empty

When people think of Easter, the things listed above are probably not the first things that come to mind, but each element existed on the first Easter. They all played an essential role on a day in history that changed the world for eternity.

Thousands of years later, though the circumstance may be different, each of these things still exists. Somewhere a greedy friend exists, an angry mob is taking to the streets, a ruler is handing out judgement only to appease, a criminal is repentant of his crime, and the world is still in need.

The good news?

The tomb is still empty, and the obedient Son is on the throne. Easter may not be the most celebrated holiday in the world, but its significance can’t be overstated.

It’s a day marked by a life given so others could live. A Resurrection so that death could no longer hold power. A message of forgiveness, salvation, and reconciliation shared so the whole world could know.

Without Easter, the Gospel message is incomplete.

The singularity of the Good News is Christ’s death and Resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15:17, Paul says, “If Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” Without the Resurrection, there is no Good News, and without the Good News, we have no hope.

But thank the Lord for Easter! We have hope because He is risen!

Easter is the Good News of the Gospel—Christ came, He dwelt among us, He died in our place, He rose from the dead, and He is coming again.

We have hope! We are not lost in our sins and separated forever from our Creator. Because of Easter, we live, and we can live a life of abundance—not abundance in material things but in eternal things. Through Christ, we can live a life free from the fear of death, a life steeped in everlasting hope and abundant joy.

Easter was first; it was foremost; it is the basic bedrock truth of the Gospel.

That is Good News worth sharing and celebrating.

May the good news fill you with hope and unexpected blessings as you celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior today and every day.

Happy Easter!