Easter Devotional: “Recovering Biblical Hope”

Christian hope is different from worldly hope because it is based on the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

The Apostle Peter said, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3)

Reflecting on Jesus’s resurrection can help us gain perspective on restoring our hope amid life’s troubles, tragedies, and tribulations.

Three days after Jesus’s death and burial, several women go to His tomb. But when they arrive, the last thing they expect is to find it open and empty. They definitely didn’t expect a resurrection.

As they tried to understand what had happened, two angels appeared. The women were overwhelmed and fell to the ground. The angels then delivered the very first Easter message.

“Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5b)

This must have confused them, since the Romans were never known for making mistakes when it came to executions.

The angels then outlined the main theme of each Easter message and sermon to come.

“He is not here, but is risen!” (Luke 24:6a)

The resurrection of Jesus was the last thing they expected.

When we hear about a tragedy, we find it hard to understand what happened, often feeling frozen with uncertainty and confusion.

But like these women, when we meet our risen Savior, Jesus Christ, our hope is renewed, and we can better understand the tragedies that occur.

A Christian’s hope isn’t a dead hope; rather, it’s a living hope because it’s anchored in Jesus Christ, who is alive. It’s a hope that energizes the spirit, strengthens weak confidence, and invigorates and inspires the soul to achieve greater things.