Easter Sunday Devotion
by Alexis Waack
He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Hallelujah! Holy Week is one of my favorite parts of the church year. It is a week to see God’s love on display through Jesus and understand the lengths he was willing to go for the salvation of the world. We get to walk through Jesus’ final moments. We get to dwell on what he did for us. We have been dwelling on Paul’s words from Philippians 2 this week. He writes a beautiful outline of Christ’s humiliation and exaltation.
Philippians 2:5-11 reads, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death–even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
This section of Scripture shows us how Christ fulfilled all the prophecies of the Old Testament. He fulfilled the law for us. Christ became a servant and humbled himself for you and me. He set aside his glory and became a man. Then, he allowed himself to be arrested and killed. God raised him from the dead and glorified him in heaven and on earth. We can celebrate and thank Christ for all he has done for us and our salvation!
The events of Holy Week all lead to this day. The praises of Palm Sunday, the somber nature of Maundy Thursday, the agony and sorrow of Good Friday. It is all building up to the joyous day of Easter! Easter is a day of celebration. We celebrate Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. We celebrate Christ’s actions that fulfilled prophecy. We celebrate his perfection in our place. We can celebrate everything he did because it was for you and me. We can celebrate all of these things today and every day. Do not let your Easter celebration end when you go to bed tonight. You can start each day sure in the knowledge that your salvation is complete. Go forth in this sure hope of your salvation. Look forward to the eternal joys of heaven! As you celebrate this glorious Easter message, remember that Christ did all this for you.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you! Thank you for your son, Jesus. He is the Savior of the world! Remind me every day of the things he did for me. Help me to celebrate the joyous Easter message every day! In your name, Amen.