Spring has arrived, and with it comes the unmistakable evidence of new life. Green blades of grass push upward from the soil, and flowers begin to break forth from the darkness of their hidden places. What a beautiful picture of what it means to be made new. I could pause right here and take in a true Selah moment: one filled with awe and wonder, as I meditate on the goodness of the King of Glory and such a revelation.
More than two thousand years ago, a different kind of awakening happened in a quiet field. Shepherds, simply tending their flock, were suddenly confronted by an angel bearing a message of extraordinary hope: “For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: For today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10–11). In the darkness of the night, heaven announced the birth of the promised One, born of a virgin, sent to save, and known to us as Jesus.
Now in springtime, as leaves unfold on the trees and the world brightens with renewal, creation itself reminds us of the hope His coming brought. I can think of no better season to remember the life, death, and resurrection of the Savior of the world. The One who was born came for a purpose: to die for your sin and mine. In America we observe Easter, but historically this holy remembrance is connected to Passover. Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples was not only the beginning of a new covenant for believers; it was also a Passover meal.
As a Jewish man, Jesus celebrated Passover faithfully. His triumphal entry into Jerusalem occurred as He came to observe the feast, and His final meal before His arrest took place in that context. Later, Paul, called to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, explained how Jesus fulfilled the meaning of Passover. A Roman Jew who knew the Law deeply, Paul recognized its completion in Christ. He wrote, “Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch of dough—you are, in fact, without yeast. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. So then, let us celebrate the festival… with the bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:7–8).
Paul’s metaphor recalls the ancient practice in which the Israelites used the blood of a spotless lamb to protect themselves from the Angel of Death during the final plague in Egypt. By calling Jesus our Passover Lamb, Paul stresses the sacrificial nature of Christ’s death and the protection it brings from sin and eternal separation. Through Him, believers receive spiritual liberation, salvation, and newness of life.
The apostle’s call is clear: followers of Christ are to live with sincerity, truth, integrity, and heartfelt devotion, not empty ritual. Honoring Jesus’ sacrifice means embodying His teachings and allowing His transforming love to shape our thoughts, words, and actions.
We now enter the season when Jesus was offered up for the sins of the world. Long before crucifixion existed, Psalm 22 foretold the suffering of the Messiah. Jesus Himself quoted its opening cry from the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1). Though many stop at His death, Scripture also foretold His resurrection. Psalm 16:10 promises, “You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.” Isaiah 53 likewise reveals that after suffering, the Servant would “see His offspring,” and the Father would “prolong His days,” assuring that He would see light again.
Even outside Scripture, historical documents speak of His resurrection. Records preserved in Turkey tell of Pontius Pilate writing that Jesus appeared to him after rising from the dead, prompting Pilate’s repentance. Just as ancient kings recorded important events in chronicles, as seen in the book of Esther, so these accounts served as preserved testimony. In that same place in Turkey, are rabbis of Jesus' day professing that the grave was empty and that Jesus was no longer dead, but seen by many. This was written by the hand of the a Sanhedrian who had everything to lose in admitting that Jesus was alive again, yet the records do not lie.
Today we live in the unfolding story that follows the resurrection, awaiting Christ’s promised return. When I consider His suffering, His beatings, mockery, and death on the cross for my sin, my only response is worship. He rose from the tomb and offers new life to all who believe. There is no true hope, no genuine reflection, and no lasting peace in this world apart from His sacrifice and His glorious resurrection. His coming gives us forgiveness, redemption, and eternal life. And to this precious gift, my heart can only respond: Selah.
When I remember all You have done,
By sending Christ, Your only Son,
I stand in awe of your marvelous grace
And long for the day I will see Your face
For now I will tell of this wondrous truth
Your birth, your death, your resurrection too
For many have yet to find their place
Prepared for those who walk in grace.
-Jane E. Morin
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