Easter Awakening

Today in my morning devotions (YWAM Prayer Diary) I started what theologians call the “History Books.” There are 12 that begin with Joshua and end with Esther. 

Eugene Peterson (The Message) says in his preface that, “history is attentive to the conditions in which people encounter and experience God ” and that history is important because “the only reason for paying attention to people and events is to stay alert to God.”

This past Easter weekend I hope we were all attentive to people and events–which were amazing.

Let’s call it an Easter awakening.

Easter Awakening

Easter has always been the center of the “Church Calendar” because it contains the greatest events of history–the agonizing death and glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. These historical realities are also easy to pinpoint date-wise because they took place during the time of the Jewish Passover.

According to many sources, it’s possible that we celebrated Easter, 2026 on the exact day–April 5–that Jesus walked out of the tomb to prove He was the Creator, Savior, and King of the Universe.

For that and many other reasons, it was a very special weekend.

First, some personal reflections.

We began the Easter celebration in Port Orchard, Washington, by walking a seven-foot wooden cross through town on Good Friday. It was the 33rd annual “Crosswalk” and I’ve only missed two. (During Covid the walk was canceled, but God led me to prayerfully do it alone carrying a hand-held cross). 

We prayed at twelve (stations), people honked as they drove by, and we ended at the waterfront singing “Were You There When They Crucified my Lord.”

Deeply moving. 

On Sunday I noticed that church parking lots were packed as I drove to special services at South Kitsap High School (the fifth biggest in the state). Our local church held four gatherings there with over 2000 people. That’s ten percent of our town of 19,000 besides all the gatherings at 45 other churches in South Kitsap.

Worship was powerful and the message of Jesus life-changing. Our pastor reminded us that one-third of all human beings on earth (2.8 billion) were seeking the Savior this Easter. 

God was awakening the planet to the majesty of his Son.

St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church, about a half-mile from the high school, was jammed-packed with cars on the streets and and available grassy spots. That seemed to be the case in many places as this headline describes. Catholic Churches Packed for Easter as Conversions Skyrocket.

Yes, God was moving through “people and events” this Easter. 

Here are a few other “Easter signs” that stood out to me.

Rescue of the Downed Flyer in Iran

It was amazing. Ret. Gen. Frank McKenzie (former CENTCOM Commander) described it this way:

It takes a year to build an aircraft — and it takes 200 years to build a military tradition where you don’t leave anybody behind! That’s what it’s all about: the value of human life. That’s what animates us, that’s why so many Americans were marking down social media, checking to see what the story was, and if the officer had been rescued yet. That’s something the Iranian regime doesn’t comprehend because its concern is power, not those lives. This is one of the reasons we’re proud to be Americans. And our warriors have to be encouraged to know that we would go to such lengths for them.

It is a testimony to the rest of the world that the rescued pilot said, “GOD IS GOOD” over the radio. We cherish life because humans are made in God’s image and Jesus died for all mankind.

Artemis II Circling the Moon

Victor Glover, Artemis II Commander, shared these powerful words on Easter Sunday from space:

I believe these [Easter] observances are important. As we are so far from earth and looking back at the beauty of creation, I think for me, one of the really important, personal perspectives that I have up here is that I can really see earth as one thing. And you know, when I read the Bible and I look at all of the amazing things that were done for us who are created, it’s… you have this amazing place, this spaceship. You guys are talking to us because we are in a spaceship really far from earth, but you’re on a spaceship called Earth that was created to give us a place to live in the universe — the cosmos — and maybe the distance we are from you makes you think what we’re doing is special. But we’re the same distance from you, and I’m trying to tell you, just trust me, you are special.

In all of this emptiness, this is a whole bunch of nothing this thing we call the universe, you have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist, together. I think as we go into Easter Sunday, thinking about all the cultures all around the world. Whether you celebrate it or not, whether you believe in God or not, this is an opportunity to remember where we are, WHO we are, and that we are the same thing and we [must] get through this together.

Holy Week Message

Franklin Graham Easter Sermon  (30 minutes) reminds us of the simplicity of salvation. “God so loved the world.” His words will encourage you.

What Easter Demands of Us

Rod Martin, founder of Martin Capital, tells us what must be done in response to Easter:

I am not one to “take someone’s word for it.” I have built an entire career on facts, logic, science, and reasonable inferences therefrom. Many of those inferences seemed counterintuitive at the time, but were correct, precisely because of the other three.

That’s exactly how I came to faith. Christ miraculously redeemed me, but in His kindness to meet each of us where we are, He presented my skeptical heart with the historical case for believing in Him. That was exactly what I needed to see, and it opened the door to the intimate, personal relationship with Him that’s available to all who place their trust in Him.

If Jesus is Lord, then you must deal with Him. You cannot ignore Him. You cannot brush Him off as a wise man or moral teacher. He claimed your allegiance. He died for your sins. He rose again to offer you eternal life.

The choice is yours.

You can say He was a liar, but liars don’t speak with the moral clarity of the Sermon on the Mount, or die forgiving their murderers. You can say He was a lunatic, but lunatics don’t articulate logically-consistent brilliance, or found the greatest movement in human history. Or you can say He is Lord — and fall at His feet in worship.

That is what Easter demands of you. Not a basket of candy. Not a sunrise service with pretty music. But a verdict. As Jesus asked His disciples, so He asks you: “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

What will you say?

This Easter, don’t just enjoy the holiday. Examine the evidence. Confront the reality. And respond to the risen Christ. He is not just a figure of history. He is alive. He is King. And He is calling you home. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

May the Easter awakening continue to explode all over the world.