Today is Tuesday of Holy Week. On this day, Jesus faced his critics in a daylong series of debates (cf. Matthew 21-23). Perhaps their most famous exchange came when his opponents asked our Lord, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” (Matthew 22:17). This was a very hot cultural button in the day.
According to a new Pew Research Center survey, American churchgoers are more comfortable now than they were last year with attending in-person worship services during the pandemic, but still, many plan to staying home this Easter.
Each year as Easter approaches, pseudo-scholars, newspapers, and cable networks make headlines claiming to offer the real story about Jesus. Their accounts assume that much of the Jesus story contained in the Gospels, especially anything miraculous is largely a myth created and propagated by, first, His followers, and then, Church leaders seeking to expand their power. Despite the skepticism, few suggest that Jesus never existed. Online, of course, that is a different story. So, what if you find yourself in a conversation with someone who says: “No one really knows whether Jesus existed or not.”
On Sunday, Pope Francis delivered an Easter message of hope for those affected by the coronavirus, challenging world leaders to work together for the common good while addressing the pandemic.
In an Easter statement, President Trump encouraged that “No matter the circumstances, we will always celebrate Easter as a time of rejuvenation, rebirth, and a renewed sense of purpose and faith.”
He continued, “The coronavirus will not stop Easter. Even in the darkest hours, God’s abundant love and mercy are unwavering."
A Texas church found a creative solution in order to still host it's annual Easter egg hunt amid the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of meeting in person, in order to maintain social distancing recommendations, the church decided to host this year's egg hunt virtually, with the help of the popular video game, Minecraft.
Christians can have joy in a fallen world because the risen Christ is risen in us.
The best-known verse in the Bible declares, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, my italics). In the moment we make Christ our Lord, we have eternal life. Not just when we die—right now.
He says to us in John 16:33b, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (NIV). Jesus spoke those words to his disciples prior to his death on the cross on Good Friday. He was claiming victory even before his suffering. He was looking ahead to his resurrection.
And because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, we can claim victory over our suffering as well.
In light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic we are living through, the message of Jesus as a servant who willfully confronted death and suffering is all the more relevant to us. We can learn from his example as we minister to those who are suffering in these two ways:
Joel Osteen is teaming up with celebrities Kanye West, Mariah Carey and Tyler Perry to host a virtual Easter church service this weekend.
