An Easter collection of articles, devotionals, and eCards for Resurrection Day. Copyright https://www.crosswalk.com 2026, Crosswalk.com Thu, 08 Jan 2026 04:00:38 -0500 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/why-christians-need-a-maundy-thursday-faith-long-after-easter.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/why-christians-need-a-maundy-thursday-faith-long-after-easter.html Noelle Kirchner https://www.crosswalk.com/author/noelle-kirchner/ Have you considered walking away from the church due to disillusionment or pain? Many have gone through the phenomenon known as “dechurching.” If the answer is yes, then even after Easter, Maundy Thursday has a message for you.The word “Maundy” derives from the Latin word mandatum, which means “mandate” or “command.” On Maundy Thursday, Jesus gave his disciples a final commandment before he was betrayed, arrested, and condemned to suffer on the cross. Jesus instructed, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). Any commandment of Jesus is not to be taken lightly. Still, certainly the last one that he gave holds special significance. Show this love to himself, he shared a symbolic meal with his disciples and washed their feet. He shared a Passover meal, signifying Jesus’ role as the final Passover Lamb. It is also called the Last Supper and lays the biblical precedent for the sacrament of communion.While a lot happened on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter typically get the most attention. To be sure, both days are essential. Good Friday is good because Jesus took our place. His one sacrifice on the cross was powerful enough to reconcile humanity back to God because of who Jesus is, and it’s a gift that we benefit from when we believe. Easter is a celebration of Jesus’ victory over death, a triumph that becomes our own when we also believe. So through belief, we are forgiven and receive enduring hope and salvation through what transpired these days. Here are five reasons why the message of Maundy Thursday is important and especially worth honoring in the wake of Easter. It’s precisely what the church needs right now.Photo Credit: ©Thinkstock/RomoloTavani Wed, 07 May 2025 15:15:00 -0400 2026-01-08T04:00:38-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/easter/silent-saturday-is-a-day-you-overlook-but-shouldnt.html https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/easter/silent-saturday-is-a-day-you-overlook-but-shouldnt.html Amber Ginter https://www.crosswalk.com/author/amber-ginter/ For we know that joy comes in both the mourning and the morning... Jesus' death and resurrection illuminate this balance. Fri, 18 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0400 2026-01-08T04:00:38-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/ways-to-live-out-holy-week-every-week.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/ways-to-live-out-holy-week-every-week.html Dr. Audrey Davidheiser https://www.crosswalk.com/author/dr-audrey-davidheiser/ As I write this, we are in the midst of Holy Week. That is why the question popped into my mind: What if we treated every week as Holy Week? How would that look?Hear me out. Marking the week that opens with Palm Sunday as holy is appropriate. What Jesus did for us deserves highlighting, again and again, for all eternity. After all, it’s fitting to commemorate our Savior’s weeklong journey toward the cross. Setting aside a particular week to do so every year is the least we can do to sanctify this moment in time. So, I’m not calling to abolish the official Holy Week. Never.In addition, by suggesting we could treat each week as though it were holy, I’m not suggesting we crucify Jesus over and over again. I don’t intend to go against Hebrews 6:6, for example. It’s enough for the sinless Son of God to suffer and die once.The objective of my proposal is to live through the other 51 weeks of the year by keeping the events of the Holy Week in prominence.How it looks in your life may be different than mine. What’s important is not the letter of the law, but the spirit of it (2 Corinthians 3:6). So, as you read the following list, follow your conscience. Don’t try to tick all the boxes for the sake of blind ritual.What can you do to elevate each week as though it were holy? Here are 8 possibilities.Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Tutye  Thu, 17 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0400 2026-01-08T04:00:38-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/elizabeth-delaney/easter-holiday-still-motives-high-church-attendance-in-america.html https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/elizabeth-delaney/easter-holiday-still-motives-high-church-attendance-in-america.html Elizabeth Delaney https://www.crosswalk.com/author/elizabeth-delaney/ Despite declining in-person church attendance overall, Easter remains one of the most highly attended services, alongside Christmas and Mother’s Day, largely due to tradition, family, and a desire to acknowledge Christ’s resurrection. While many still believe in the Biblical account, younger generations struggle with its significance, presenting an opportunity for churches to clarify the life-changing implications of Jesus’ resurrection and address unmet spiritual needs. Wed, 16 Apr 2025 15:15:00 -0400 2026-01-08T04:00:38-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/mental-health/reasons-jesus-sacrifice-on-the-cross-can-silence-our-fear-and-anxiety.html https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/mental-health/reasons-jesus-sacrifice-on-the-cross-can-silence-our-fear-and-anxiety.html Noelle Kirchner https://www.crosswalk.com/author/noelle-kirchner/ Have you been feeling crippled by anxiety lately? Have you felt the subtle grip of fear or overwhelming waves of panic? If so, you are not alone. Statistics say that anxiety is on the rise. Jesus often taught using images and metaphors. For instance, he employed the images of a shepherd, vine, sower, and vineyard owner to help his followers understand who God is. However, no image is more powerful in helping us understand than the cross.Belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a central tenet of the Christian faith. During Lent and Holy Week, we reflect on these historical events and hope to understand the power of Christ’s sacrifice better. Its power met me face to face when I saw Michelangelo’s “Pieta” at the Vatican. Michelangelo captures Jesus’ lifeless body resting upon Mary’s lap with such emotion that I start crying. The ancient, cold stone captures a burning truth that can meet you in your trial today. Here are seven reasons why Jesus’ sacrifice holds power:Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/kckate16 Wed, 16 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0400 2026-01-08T04:00:38-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/5-ways-jesus-used-meals-to-teach-heal-and-connect.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/5-ways-jesus-used-meals-to-teach-heal-and-connect.html Elizabeth Delaney https://www.crosswalk.com/author/elizabeth-delaney/ In the Old Testament book of Exodus, chapter 12, God instituted the Passover meal among the Israelites. There's a great deal of symbolism in the Passover meal that may not have been fully understood by most of the Israelites until many years later when Jesus walked the earth. In general, not only was the Passover meal intended to be a memorial of one of many miracles that God did to deliver the Hebrews out of Egypt, but God also wanted the Hebrews to use it as a teaching tool for their children and the generations to come.In Exodus 12:26 it very specifically states, "And it shall be, when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?' that you shall say, 'It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.'"During the time when Jesus walked the earth, he took advantage of meal times to teach and connect with people. Here are a few examples of what that looked like.Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/ Rey Proenza Tue, 15 Apr 2025 16:05:00 -0400 2026-01-08T04:00:38-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/prayers-to-set-your-heart-on-jesus-this-easter.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/prayers-to-set-your-heart-on-jesus-this-easter.html Vivian Bricker https://www.crosswalk.com/author/vivian-bricker/ Easter is a day when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, we have been given the opportunity to place faith in Him. By putting faith in Him, we are given forgiveness of sins, redemption, and eternal life (John 3:16-17). Similar to any other Christian holiday, we can lose focus on Jesus. Many of us get easily caught up in the materialism of Christmas and forget to notice Jesus, yet not many of us talk about how hard it can be to focus on Him during Easter. Bringing our hearts back to Him and leaning into a closer relationship with Him will ultimately help our eyes be reset on the Lord. If you have noticed you have been having difficulty setting your heart on the Lord this Easter season, here are six prayers to help.Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/udra Tue, 15 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0400 2026-01-08T04:00:38-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/should-christians-celebrate-passover.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/should-christians-celebrate-passover.html Cally Logan https://www.crosswalk.com/author/cally-logan/ Throughout Scripture, God instituted holy days reserved for feasting, celebrating, worshipping, or fasting to serve as reminders that God is Sovereign ultimately and the One True God. Today, the Church rarely participates in the Hebrew calendar of these feasts and festivals outlined throughout the Old Testament, including Passover. That begs the question: As Christians and followers of Christ, are we still called to celebrate Passover as well?Photo Credit: Getty/Marina Moskalyuk Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0400 2026-01-08T04:00:38-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/was-jesus-really-scourged-with-39-stripes.html https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/was-jesus-really-scourged-with-39-stripes.html Barbara Latta https://www.crosswalk.com/author/barbara-latta/ Jesus endured intense suffering during His arrest, scourging, and crucifixion. His sacrifice was for the salvation of humanity. Let's reflect on His love and victory over death! Fri, 11 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0400 2026-01-08T04:00:38-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/christianity-questions-answers/what-did-jesus-do-each-day-during-holy-week.html https://www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/christianity-questions-answers/what-did-jesus-do-each-day-during-holy-week.html Dr. Roger Barrier https://www.crosswalk.com/author/dr-roger-barrier/ Dear Roger,What did Jesus do each day during his last week?Sincerely, AnnaDear Anna,Jesus’ last week began on Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday was so named because the people waved palm branches in honor of the Messiah and then laid them down to cushion His ride as Jesus rode into Jerusalem.Palm Sunday also began the most premeditated, calculated week in the life of Christ.The Gospels are not biographies. Each shares a few words about His birth, one sentence to describe Him from ages 18 to 30, and then concentrates two-thirds of their content on a short 3½ years. The final third of every Gospel deals with one week in the life of Christ.I want to take us on a journey through the last week in Jesus’ life, so I have listed the major activities on each day.Photo Credit: ©iStock / GettyImagesPlus / 1971yes  Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:00:00 -0400 2026-01-08T04:00:38-05:00