Easter: A Time of Hope Around the World

“He has RISEN”

By Steve Russo

This season holds deep meaning for many, including myself. It symbolizes renewal, fresh beginnings, and the promise of eternal life. What makes it extraordinary is witnessing people worldwide come together as billions celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter stands as a powerful reminder of why this holiday is so significant. Beyond the ringing of church bells and cherished family gatherings, it marks a moment that transformed everything, leaving an everlasting impact on the world.

Why Easter Matters

The story grabs you—four Gospel writers (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20), each telling how it went down that Sunday morning. They paint a compelling picture of an empty tomb and Jesus showing up alive to people who'd watched him die days before. John 19:17-19 (ESV) says: 17 “And he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."

Paul cuts straight to the chase in 1 Corinthians 15: "Without Christ's resurrection, your belief is meaningless because you remain trapped in your sins." There is no sugar-coating there—everything hinges on this one event. As recounted in Mathew 28, the story of the resurrection was witnessed by hundreds of first-account witnesses. Matthew 28:5-7 (ESV) says: 5 “But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead ….”

Good Friday hits hard. It should. But Easter Sunday? That's when history was changed for eternity! Death lost. Life won. For those who believe, like me, it's not just some ancient story—it's a promise we bank on.

How the World Welcomes Easter

What intrigues me is how different cultures honor Easter morning. Here's what I've seen and heard from people who have lived in various cultures:

In the Streets of Rome

A good friend who visited Rome for Easter told me about St. Peter's Square. Picture thousands of people from every country you can name standing shoulder to shoulder as the Pope leads Mass. In Florence, there is a tradition called Scoppio del Carro. People light up a cart loaded with fireworks and other pyrotechnics and watch as it lights up the sky; the sight is truly spectacular. Compared to our Easter Bunny, it sounds out there, but it's been their way of marking Easter for centuries.

Under Greek Stars

In Greece, the celebration starts at midnight in a dark church, and everyone holds unlit candles. Then, boom—the priest calls out, "Christos Anesti!" (Christ is risen!), and the light spreads until the whole place is lit. Then, it's time to head home, crack some red eggs (symbolizing new life), and feast on lamb—simple traditions with deep meaning.

Dawn in the Philippines 

A Filipino relative explained their Salubong ceremony to me. At Easter sunrise, the entire community shows up to recreate Mary meeting her risen son. They said even the tough guys get choked up watching it. Sometimes, you need to see something played out to understand the real impact.

Brazilian Passion

My good friend Alfonso told me about Nova Jerusalem's Passion play. The whole town turns into Jerusalem, and they act out the Easter story from start to finish. There is no holding back. It is raw and unfiltered. It's intense, and the impact is generational.

Spring Mornings in America

Here at home, we do our own thing. A lot of people attend a sunrise service. Standing there in the cold, waiting for dawn—just like those women at the tomb. Later, there's egg hunts and the whole Easter Bunny business. Nothing wrong with that. But that quiet moment at sunrise? That's real. That’s beauty. That's the peace we are promised!

Finding Hope Together

Here's what hits me about Easter: it brings people together, no matter where you're from. Whether in Greece with those candles, Italy with the fireworks, or at your local church at sunrise, you're part of something bigger. All these places celebrate Easter in their own way, but they all point to the same thing—that morning when death was defeated, told in those Gospel accounts that still pack a punch and are worth your own investigation if this story speaks to you. As recorded in the Gospel of John, it is: John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Different cultures and traditions share the same core truth—light beats darkness, life beats death. That's Easter. It's what keeps people coming back year after year, worldwide.