Weekly devotion: Resurrection Hope in a Wounded World
Alleluia! He is risen! This Easter we rejoice in Christ’s resurrection and pray for the dedicated Christians who minister to vulnerable people in today’s Middle East.
At Easter, we celebrate the cornerstone of our faith – the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the triumph of life over death and hope over despair. Across the Middle East, in the places where Jesus’ ministry and persecution unfolded, Christians are gathering to proclaim the enduring message: ‘He is risen!’ The resurrection is a symbol of hope that, in this difficult year, brings light into the darkness of war.
During Holy Week, many of you have joined us in praying daily for an end to the violence and for the safety of displaced people. We continue to pray for peace and for the work of our Christian partners as they bring humanitarian aid to those in need.
The hope of Easter is a declaration that suffering does not have the final word, and that God’s presence does not waver, even in the most desperate situations. As we celebrate, let us stand with our Middle Eastern sisters and brothers, asking God to protect and encourage them. May the risen Christ fill them with fortitude, and may his resurrection hope sustain them through the shadow of conflict.
Bible reading
But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’
Matthew 28:5-7
Thought
Christians have had 2000 years to contemplate and discuss Christ’s resurrection, but imagine the immediate confusion and terror of the women at the empty tomb. Their grief is intensified by shock – has the grave been robbed? Who is this strange figure in gleaming white clothes, and where is the body of the loved one they think they have lost?
Before they can truly grasp the good news, the angel gives them the simple command that we can endeavour to follow at all times: ‘Do not be afraid.’ Then comes the life-changing truth – ‘He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said.’
For Christians in the Middle East today, these words resonate deeply. In the turmoil of war and humanitarian disaster, of course fear is close at hand. Yet the Easter message confronts that reality with hope. Christ’s resurrection is a promise that even in the worst circumstances, God is at work – as he said.
The angel also gives a calling: ‘then go quickly and tell.’ The good news of Easter is to be lived and shared, especially with those for whom hope seems distant.
Ask yourself: How does the hope of the risen Christ influence the way you meet fear, both in your own life and in your prayers for others?
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
On that first Easter morning, you met fear with hope, and sorrow with joy. We thank you that your victory over death still speaks to our turbulent world today. We commend to you our sisters and brothers in the Middle East as they live through this time of war. We pray for peace and for the region’s recovery when the conflict ends. Help us to hear afresh the words, ‘Do not be afraid,’ and to live in the light of your resurrection every day.
Amen
From Wilderness to Resurrection Hope
A series of reflections from the Holy Land with Revd Su McClellan.
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