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“Happy Birthday, Easter!” my two-year-old grandson proudly exclaimed. He had tuned in to the excitement of the day without having a clue what it was about. He repeated it with assurance, happy to be a part of the party. My grandson got it right. We celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus every year. He doesn’t yet know about the great significance of Jesus rising from the dead, but he will learn.

The Resurrection is central to our faith. Without it, Jesus is just another good teacher or prophet who was martyred for his revolutionary beliefs. With the Resurrection, we stand in awe of the exalted Savior, the Son of the living God. Jesus gave His life to set us free from the consequences of sin by defeating death. The Resurrection is the victory of Jesus!

Last week as I prepared the Easter message, one question kept circling in my mind. “How would life be different if I remembered the Resurrection every day?”

I love Jesus and have walked with Him for over four decades. I spend time every day with Him in prayer, and by reading, studying, and contemplating God’s Word. I rely on the Holy Spirit to empower me to live faithfully for the LORD. My desire is to follow His example in the way I treat others and make decisions. Yet, sometimes I forget about the Resurrection.

How can this happen? I am so ingrained in living FOR Jesus that I lose sight of THE REASON I can live for Him in the first place. I switch on the Jesus-autopilot button and go about the day. The Resurrection moves to the back of my awareness.  

If I remembered the Resurrection every day, I would live in awe and wonder of Jesus.

I would walk in peace, not worried or anxious about anything, because “God raised the LORD and will also raise us up by his power” (1 Corinthians 6:14).

I would walk in confidence, knowing that “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

I would walk in faith, empowered by the knowledge that “he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

I would walk in love, following Jesus’ commandment to “Love each other in the same way I have loved you” (John 15:12-13). His divine love was demonstrated by His Crucifixion and Resurrection.

The Resurrection of Jesus imparts His life to all who receive the good news. “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). 

Happy birthday, Easter. I have learned a lesson from my grandson: Childlike wonder and assurance. But I know the why behind it – the glorious Resurrection of Jesus which gives us His life every day.