Easter: Grace That Changes EverythingSample

Day 4: The Way of the Cross

The Easter Story is like a play in two acts. Act One is when Jesus dies on the cross, and Act Two is when Jesus rises from the dead. We celebrate Easter in a similar way. Typically, when we think of Easter, we think of Easter Sunday. That's when we go to church, gather with family, and maybe do an egg hunt. That's all about Act Two.

But Act One of the Easter story also gets its own day - Good Friday. Good Friday is when we remember what it cost for Jesus to restore our world. The cost included things like betrayal, false arrest, wrongful conviction, assault, public humiliation, and finally death.

The author of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for our sins not only because he himself was perfect but also because he suffered to the fullest extent that any human could. It is not some cold, distant deity who saved us but a God who chose to enter our own experiences of brokenness, fear, and shame.

No matter who you are, you probably have felt the sting of someone giving you advice without taking the time to understand your situation or feel your pain. Jesus is not that person. Whatever you're going through, the Easter story promises that Jesus is ready to go through it with you.

In the same way, the Easter story also gives us a guiding principle for how we should love others. When approaching someone else's brokenness, fear, or shame, the most loving thing we can do for them is feel their pain and walk through their experience with them. Humility and empathy are always the first steps to restoration.

Next Step:

Watch this video, The Way of the Cross, and think about these questions:

1. What does it mean to you that Jesus has personal experience suffering in the same ways we do? Spend some time thinking about how Jesus might identify with your own experiences.
2. For the next week, challenge yourself to listen to people without giving advice (unless they ask for it directly). Simply focus on taking them seriously and understanding their point of view. Then, consider what effect that might have on your relationships.