April 3

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, — 1 Cor 15:3 BSB

There have been great days in human history—days of triumph whose victories enriched the world, days of honor whose brightness lightened the world, days of great deeds that lifted humanity to higher, divine heights, and days of heroic, selfless love that filled the air with sweetness. But the day of all days, the one that bore the most fruit and blessing in the world’s story, was that holy Friday when the Son of Man gave His life on the cross to save humanity.

There could have been no resurrection without the dying on the cross. Christ had to die before He could offer eternal life to all. The touch of the cross is upon every hope in Christian faith. The light that softly illuminates the world streams from the cross. The sorrow of Calvary is what softens human hearts and makes life gentler and sweeter. The power drawing all people upward is the Christ who was lifted up.