By Luke Sills
Easter Sunday is a day of joy, hope, and victory. It is the day Christians around the world gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Yet, as we celebrate the empty tomb, we cannot forget the cross that preceded it. In Matthew 16:21–28, Jesus speaks openly to His disciples about the necessity of His suffering, death, and resurrection. It’s a passage that not only points us to the heart of Easter but also calls us to examine our own response to the gospel.
The main truth is simple but life-changing:
We would not have eternal life if Jesus had not died on the cross and risen from the dead. But since He did, we must take up our cross and live for Him.
1. Jesus Had to Be Crucified and Resurrected
When Jesus told His disciples He “must go to Jerusalem” to suffer and die, He wasn’t speaking of a tragic accident or an unfortunate twist in history. He spoke of a divine necessity. The cross was not optional—it was God’s plan from eternity past (Acts 2:23).
From Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 53) to Jesus’ own words (Luke 24:7), Scripture consistently reveals that His suffering and resurrection were central to God’s redemptive work. At the cross, Jesus bore our sins, endured God’s wrath, and satisfied divine justice so that we might be forgiven.
Paul reminds us, “The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). Without the cross, there is no forgiveness. Without the resurrection, there is no hope.
2. The Cross Reminds Us That God Knows More Than We Do
Just moments after Peter boldly confessed Jesus as the Christ, he tried to correct Him. “This shall never happen to you,” Peter said when Jesus spoke of His coming death. Peter wanted a Messiah who would conquer Rome, not one who would be crucified.
But Jesus rebuked Peter sharply: “Get behind me, Satan!” Why? Because to avoid the cross would have been to reject the Father’s will.
Like Peter, we sometimes think we know better than God. We want salvation without sacrifice, blessings without obedience, and crowns without crosses. But the cross shows us that God’s wisdom often runs counter to our expectations—and His way is always best.
3. To Live for Christ, You Must Take Up Your Cross
Jesus’ call is not simply to believe in Him but to follow Him—and that means taking up our own cross (Matthew 16:24). In other words, we must deny ourselves, surrender our will, and live in obedience to Him, even when it costs us.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” That death is not always literal, but it always involves dying to self.
Colossians 3 paints a vivid picture of what this looks like—putting away sin, clothing ourselves with compassion and humility, forgiving others, and letting the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. It’s not about earning salvation; it’s about living in a way that reflects the One who saved us.
Peter’s Story and Ours
Peter’s journey is a reminder of God’s patience and grace. The same man who rebuked Jesus and later denied Him three times was restored, forgiven, and used mightily in the early church. According to tradition, Peter would one day face his own cross—crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die in the same way as his Lord.
His story reminds us that even when we stumble, Christ offers forgiveness. The same invitation is open to you: repent of your sins, trust in Jesus, and follow Him.
The Empty Tomb Demands a Response
Easter is not just a celebration of what happened two thousand years ago; it’s a call to action today. If Jesus bore your sin and conquered death, then He is worthy of your life.
Christian, take up your cross. Live for Him. The tomb is empty, the King is alive, and a crown awaits all who follow Him.