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Why Easter is so powerful to me

Nicole Russell   Paste BN

I took my 11-year-old son to see “The Chosen: The Last Supper, Part 1” in theaters recently. He had a lot of questions about the movie’s portrayal of Jesus Christ as a rabbi and as the Messiah, a man who became a perfect sacrifice for all humanity.  

Second to Christmas, Easter is my favorite time of the year, both as a Christian and a mom. Without Easter, Christ’s birth means little. Without Easter – when Christians remember Christ’s crucifixion and celebrate his resurrection – there is no miracle that differentiates Christianity from other religions and Jesus from other religious leaders.  

Christ’s death and resurrection, over 2,000 years ago, ignited the most popular and influential religion in the world. There are nearly 2.6 billion Christians alive today, and Christianity continues to grow.  

In America, Christianity has shaped our politics, laws, culture, education and the arts. It has influenced the way we view women, children and the most marginalized. Globally, Christianity has influenced class systems to change, normalized the adoption of children, delivered medical care to the “least of these” and inspired renowned artists and musicians to create masterpieces. 

Christianity has spearheaded change and inspired beauty, but it has come at a cost. In part because it is controversial and in part because Christians are human too.  

President Donald Trump exemplifies this dichotomy. I am asked all the time how I can support Trump, a man who has mistreated women but who also claims to be a Christian. I can’t speak to his personal faith, but of course I condemn his behavior toward women. I also support many of his policies. Is this hypocritical? I don’t think so, but I understand that some people do. 

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I know that often my faith, politics and life collide. That explains why some Christians support the United States accepting illegal migrants. It also explains why others are pro-life. Both are rooted in Christ’s emphasis on human rights. Yet, these groups are often on opposing political sides.  

I took my son to see “The Chosen: The Last Supper” in a theater because we’ve watched the first several seasons of “The Chosen” TV series, and we both love how the show portrays Jesus. He’s perfect, yet human. Kind, yet righteously angry at times. Focused, but also occasionally funny. I also love the way the show portrays Jesus because I think we who call ourselves Christians are often not as much like Christ as we want to be. 

I’ve tried to let my faith guide my choices in life, but I screw up a lot. Collectively, Christians have changed the world for the better, but we also don’t always hit the mark.  

The only one who does every time is Jesus – and it’s why Easter is so powerful to me.  

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