Emmanuel Family Reader

          A Journey Through the Cross and Resurrection

By Timothy A. Edward

Holy Week is a sacred time to reflect on the state of mankind - our fallen nature and our need for divine help to move forward in life. When we look at the world today, with its tragic picture of wars, destruction, untold misery, disease, and death, we see how humanity continues to experience the rippling effects of sin and brokenness.

The Garden of Gethsemane

The journey of Good Friday and Easter begins in the Garden of Gethsemane. If we pause to meditate, we can almost see Jesus kneeling in prayer, sweating blood as He cries in agony: “Father, if it pleases You, take this cup from Me.” It was here that He won the battle in surrender, choosing to carry the heavy burden of Calvary. He paid the ransom for a debt He did not owe, to forgive and pardon you and me, the ones He loved so deeply.

Inseparable Truths

Good Friday and Easter are inseparable. The cross reveals both the depth of human sin and the immeasurable love of God, while the resurrection gives hope and meaning to faith. Without Easter, Good Friday would be only tragedy. But three days later, the tomb was empty - Jesus was alive! The resurrection is the most important event in human history, giving meaning to the Cross and proving that Christ lives today.

The Cross: A Symbol of Faith 

Have you ever wondered why the cross became the symbol of Christianity? As a child, I often noticed my mother’s necklace bearing a cross, and now I see my aunts, my wife, and nieces wearing similar ones. These simple emblems remind us that we belong to a family of faith - one that believes in the power of the Cross.

At Calvary, Jesus purchased our redemption and provided a righteousness we could never earn ourselves. The cross stands as a sign of His immeasurable love and sacrifice. Yet without the resurrection, the cross would be incomplete – its’ meaning fully revealed only in the empty tomb. Together, the cross and resurrection proclaim the heart of the Christian faith: forgiveness, victory, and eternal life.

The Price and the Proof

Jesus paid in full for the salvation for every man, woman, and child who would ever live. But salvation must be received personally through faith in Him. In Greek, the word for salvation – sōtēría - means deliverance, preservation, safety, and wholeness. The Cross is where the price was paid, but the resurrection is the receipt that the debt has been canceled.

Stories of Faith

I am reminded of a story of a dying woman who asked to be bathed and clothed in clean garments. She then held a cross in her hands and declared, “This is what I believe,” before passing into eternity. Her testimony reflects the hope and assurance that the cross and resurrection bring to believers.

The Prayer of Forgiveness

Among the “Seven Last Words of Christ,” Jesus prayed: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). The Greek text uses the imperfect tense, suggesting continuous action - He kept on saying it, not just once. Scholars believe He may have repeated this prayer as He was led to Golgotha, while being nailed to the cross, and as He hung there. Even today, as He intercedes for the world, His prayer of forgiveness continues.

The Eternal Intercession of Christ  

As we observe Holy Week, we are reminded that Jesus’ sacrifice was not only for the people of His time but for all humanity across history. The cross reveals the seriousness of sin, while the resurrection assures us of victory and eternal life. In 2033, the Church will celebrate the 2000th anniversary of Christ’s resurrection - a milestone that underscores the enduring power of the gospel. Christ rose to intercede for us all, and He continues to plead before the Father on behalf of a broken world. Good Friday and Easter together proclaim the greatest truth of all: God’s love never fails, and His salvation remains available to all who believe.