“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:29
The Resurrection of Christ is the greatest Christian festival, filled with joy and hope. Christ conquers death and gives those who believe the hope of eternal life. Yet behind this celebration lies another story, without which the picture is incomplete. Before the Resurrection come the crucifixion and the story of Good Friday. It is here that the foundation of faith and the grounds for hope are born for so many Christians—for those who have not seen, yet have believed. Christ offers himself neither for praise nor for suffering’s own sake. He sacrifices himself for the salvation of humanity and of each individual person. Although filled with suffering, his sacrifice is an expression of self-giving love.
In the crises of our lives, this story reminds us of an important truth: love sometimes requires sacrifice. People who consciously choose to help others thereby choose a path of self-giving. Soldiers who defend their people sacrifice their time, their health and sometimes their lives. Rescuers helping those in danger, risking their lives in a fire or under the threat of another missile strike, also make their sacrifice. Doctors and teachers who follow their calling give their time and strength to help others. Parents who give up many things to provide for their children are likewise examples of self-giving. Sacrifice has no value simply in itself. Its value depends on who offers it and for whose sake.
The festival of the Lord’s Resurrection is a unique moment in which the story of love’s sacrifice meets the powerful hope that arises from Christ’s resurrection.
May the Lord bless us with this hope of the risen Christ! And may it become our light amid the darkness of this world!
Pavlo Shvarts
Bishop of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine
