Amid the kites vibrantly colouring the sky and the aroma of fish cakes filling the air, this festive Easter weekend is remembered by Christians globally as we contemplate the significance of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This historic event shifted the trajectory of the human race. In this devotional, I am excited to explore the reality of the Cross in the lives of those who believe in Christ and the magnitude of His sacrifice.

“Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:18-19)

Good Friday, the Cross: what could be good about a day that remembers the brutal way Jesus suffered on the journey to the Cross? The answer is in his motivation to do so.

Luke, chapter 15, records three parables taught by Jesus, the most notable being the Prodigal Son. “I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants. And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

In this passage, we see a son who positions himself as a servant in hopes of negotiating a place back in his father's home, believing he is not worthy of being his son, but recognises that his father's home is the best place to be.

However, the beautiful thing about this passage is how the father’s heart was always postured to his son. He was looking out for him, running to receive him before he could plead his case and restore him to his original status as a son.

He did not require him to do anything but believe he was forgiven and receive the reconciliation. This passage is the Cross. Before Eve distrusted God’s word, and before Adam chose human companionship instead of obedience, God was running towards His children with a plan of salvation.

All three parables in Luke 15 contain the same message: God loves, values, and cherishes us. He could not imagine Heaven without us, so He set out to redeem His sons and daughters and give us a way home.

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Sin had to be dealt with, but sin was not the reason Jesus allowed himself to be put on the cross. His love for us is why he followed the Father’s plan. “Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.’” (Matthew 26:42) Jesus taking on and becoming sin and putting it to death in his body is how sin was dealt with.

Easter Sunday, the Resurrection: Christ rested in the grave on the Sabbath and resurrected on the first day of the week. “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:12-14, 12)

In the Word, we discover that the reality of the Father’s sacrifice, “giving us His only begotten son,” and Jesus’s selfless sacrifice on the cross, is this: through the Cross, we are saved, forgiven, set free from the penalty, power, and double-minded prison of sin.

Jesus’s life exemplifies the love, freedom, and authority one may experience living in the Father. His death was the ultimate expression of love for His beloved creation, and his resurrection completed the conflict of ages.

It is also an invitation and source of empowerment for all those who believe to participate in the reconciliation and the restoration of identity as sons and daughters of God through Christ.

It is impossible to condense the gospel's good news into one devotional thought. If you would like to learn more, a resource that has been invaluable to me is the Love Reality Ministry.

You can access their content via Instagram @love____reality, online https://www.lovereality.org, or YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@love_reality