“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, 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)

Neuroscientist Tali Sharot argues hope is so essential to our survival that it is hardwired into our brains. And in fact, hope can be the difference between living a healthier life versus one trapped by despair. Likewise, Dr. Shane Lopez, the psychologist who is regarded as the world’s leading researcher on hope, claimed that hope isn’t just an emotion but an essential life tool.

Studies show college kids who possess hope get higher GPAs and are more likely to graduate. Athletes full of hope perform better on the field, cope better with injuries, and have greater mental adjustment when situations change.

In one study of the elderly, those who said they felt hopeless were more than twice as likely to die during the study’s follow-up period than those who were more hopeful.

It’s pretty clear: hope is powerfully catalytic in order to thrive and even stay alive. And that’s exactly why the resurrection of Jesus created a dynamic and profound shift in human lives. Jesus’s victory over death transformed the human life from fear and foreboding to hope and confidence. Because He lives, we too shall live.

Quite plainly, hope is alive today because Jesus is alive.
1 Peter 1:3 states:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Yes, hope is alive today because Jesus is alive. So what does that mean for you?

It means that wherever you go, hope is there. Wherever the earth shakes, the seas roar, the fires rage, the wind blows and evil attacks—even there—you can stand firm with the hope that remains confident and steadfast. And whenever the time comes for your last day here on this earth—yes, even in that day, as you pass through the valley of the shadow of death—you can fear no evil, for He is alive.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, we celebrate this incredible victory over death. Our greatest enemy is now underneath Your feet. And you have conquered our sin. You’ve conquered the grave. You have conquered the devil. And we thank You for this freedom that You have won for us, and for the hope that it brings us—that no matter what we may be facing or going through, there is nothing that will be able to separate us from our love.

We thank You for going to the cross, and we praise You and worship You for Your resurrection from the grave. Because You live, we live also—and we do so with a living hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

JOURNEY THROUGH THE HOLY WEEK
Join Rev. Chris Singer for a series of daily Scripture readings, reflection, and prayer each day of Holy Week.
Easter Sunday Reading