On of my favoite Easter songs is Because He lives by Gloria and Bill Gaither.   The song proclaims that because Jesus lives, believers can face the future without fear, knowing He holds their future and that life is worth living. Verse 1 says, "God sent His son, They called Him, Jesus; He came to love, Heal and forgive; He lived and died To buy my pardon, An empty grave is there To prove my Savior lives!"  The empty tomb is part of the evidence that Jesus is truly risen from the dead.

Christianity - A strange religion to the rest of the world.  Your leader and founder killed as a criminal. Easter – a strange holiday – celebrating the death of the Savior. Why is it called "Good Friday" when it seems like one of the worst days in history?

1 Corinthians 1:18, 23-24 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

What sounds like foolishness is actually God's wisdom.  What appeared to be weakness was actually God's power.  What looked like defeat was actually victory.

Jesus gives His followers hopeful and helpful promises: 
All who come to me I will never ever cast out.
I will never leave or forsake you.
And here, in John 14, "I Will Not Leave You As Orphans.  I will come to you."
The promise of the Holy Spirit is the very presence of God in our lives.

Jesus is leaving.  He's returning to heaven.  He’s preparing His disciples for life after His departure and for what is about to happen. One of you will betray Me.  Peter will deny me.  Where I am going you cannot go now. Troubling.  Discouraging.  Confusing.  Jesus speaks words of comfort and explains why His leaving is a good thing.

Jesus predicts His betrayal and the betrayer.  Even more shocking than one of the inner circle betaying the Son of God, was the truth that this was the path to glory!

Who will wash the feet? Jesus and His disciples had been walking in sandals on dirt roads.  Their feet were dirty (perhaps smelly) and they were about to recline to eat.  Someone needed to wash their feet, but who would stoop to such a lowly job. None of the disciples wanted to do it.  Afterall, it was a task for the lowest slave, not an exalted follower of Jesus. Jesus had taught them that to be great you must become the servant of all. Now He would show them what that looks like in His kingdom.

Scott Adams, the creator of the satirical comic strip Dilbert, died on January 13, 2026, at the age of 68.  Shortly before his death, he wrote this: "many of my Christian friends have asked me to find Jesus before I go. I'm not a believer, but I have to admit the risk-reward calculation for doing so looks so attractive to me. So here I go: I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and look forward to spending an eternity with him. The part about me not being a believer should be quickly resolved if I wake up in heaven. I won't need any more convincing than that. I hope I'm still qualified for entry.”
His message has caused a lot of discussion about death-bed confessions and what it means to have saving faith.  In John 12, Jesus gives a warning against unbelief, superficial faith, and the judgment that is coming for those who reject Him.

Jesus enters Jerusalem hailed as the King of Israel and its long awaited Messiah.  His entrace was the fulfillment of prophecy and the beginning of the week of crucifixion.  He came in humility to be humbled on the cross.

Is you love for Jesus genuine?  If so, there should be evidence that it is real.  John 12 gives us examples of those who loved Jesus and those who were just pretending.

The Jewish leaders were upset at the growing popularity of Jesus after He raised Lazarus from the dead.  They were afraid that Jesus' followers would make Him king and the Romans would come and take away their temple and thier power.  What would they do to stop Him?  Kill Him to save the nation.  What they intended for evil, God meant for the greatest good!