Opinion: Resurrection major message of Easter

This Good Friday we are looking forward to Sunday and the significance of Jesus’ overcoming death and the grave. Some great and noteworthy spiritual truths emerge from the characters surrounding the resurrection story.

Before Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem, he told the disciples to go into the village, find a donkey and its colt, and bring them to him. The disciples did just that. When they got to Bethpage, the donkeys were there just like Jesus had said. The disciples realized again that they could take Jesus for his word because it was just as Jesus had said it would be. (Matthew 21: 1-11)

It was a heartwrenching night when later that same week, Jesus and his disciples were having the supper in the upper room. Hours later, Jesus would be arrested and shoved and dragged before authorities and trumped up juries for his conviction. But the sadness that prevailed in that upper room must have permeated the air. Added to that, the disciples did not know about the events that would take place in less than 12 hours.

But an unusual thing happened in that upper room. Jesus got out the basin and towel and began to wash their feet. Here, the Son of God, the Messiah, the Promised One, the Alpha and Omega, was kneeling down like a simple and humble servant to wash the feet of the disciples.

At first the disciples balked. This job was left for the lowly house help when a visitor came to someone’s house. But Jesus, in his greatest act of servant leadership, knelt down at the feet of each of the disciples and washed their feet, drying them with the towel. The Son of God had lowered himself to wash their feet, thus demonstrating the act of serving others. The disciples become conscious of the fact that as followers of the Christ, we are never to think ourselves above others — we are to serve in love. (John 13:13-15)

The characters in the Easter story pale with Jesus Christ, the central character of the resurrection story. On the first day of the week, Christ arose. “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb ... the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly, Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:1-8)

Jesus himself said: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies,” (John 11:25). The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most significant spiritual truth in the marvelous message of Easter and for all time.

Judy Brandon is a Clovis resident. Contact her at:

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