Many Christians look at Christmas as the most important religious date to celebrate. But without the cross, Christmas would have no meaning. Billy Graham once said, “The heart of the Christian Gospel with its incarnation and atonement is in the cross and the resurrection. Jesus was born to die.” Today, we hope you will be encouraged by this short devotion by Billy Graham on the heart of Easter.

The Key Moment in History

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:25-26

On that first Easter morning, something happened that had never happened before in the history of the human race – and would never happen again: someone came back from the dead, never to die again.

What difference does that event make? It makes all the difference in the world to us! For one thing, the resurrection proved beyond all doubt that Jesus was who He claimed to be: the Son of God sent from heaven to save us from our sins. Because He rose from the dead, our salvation is secure.

But Jesus’ resurrection also tells us that there is life beyond the grave. This world is not all there is; when we die, we continue to live – either in the place of utter darkness the Bible calls hell or in the place of endless joy the Bible calls heaven. And now Jesus opened the way to heaven for us, by His death and resurrection. Because Jesus rose from the dead, death has been defeated and heaven awaits us. Hallelujah!

Wisdom for Today

Praise You, Lord. That those who trust in You are no longer slaves to the fear of death. The grave has no hold on us, and death has now become gain, resulting in eternal life in heaven.

From “Wisdom for Each Day” by Billy Graham

“Once you have been to the cross, you will never be the same.” —Billy Graham