Easter Morning 2020

Remember Tony Campolo’s inspiring Easter message? “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Comin’!” Unfortunately, it’s Sunday and the worldwide death toll from coronavirus is expected to top 100,000 Easter Sunday with over 1,600,000 confirmed cases in 209 countries. Oxfam, a group of nine relief organizations, warned the financial implications “could push up to a half a billion more people into poverty around the world” and “set back the poverty fight by up to 30 years.”

There’s no minimizing the fact that COVID-19 has brought unprecedented physical, emotional and financial suffering to the entire world. This Easter Sunday, people will celebrate Christ’s resurrection “sheltered in place” observing “social distancing.” And like the women at the tomb, many will feel “very frightened but also filled with great joy” (Matthew 28:8).

But there is more to celebrate than “Sunday’s comin’!” Jesus is coming! Although the usual suspects are proclaiming this is the end of the world and his coming is imminent, we do have the sure hope that it’s one-day sooner than yesterday. Here’s a video I pray will give you hope this very different Easter. It’s Sunday, but Jesus is coming!

Here’s a text version of the message written in 1995. (Obviously, the statistics shared in the video and post have been eclipsed by this global pandemic.)

If you found this helpful, please share on your social networks. Thanks! And have a very meaningful—even if very different—Easter!