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Christ Died and Rose Again: How Easter 2020 Encourages Us About COVID-19

Peace Muchiri

As we think upon the cross, that Christ conquered death, so will He conquer COVID-19. During this Easter season, His empty tomb, that He rose again, tells us that we won’t be rendered incapable of finding a cure for this disease. 

Maundy Thursday which commemorates the Last Supper reminds us to ask us for all our transgressions to be washed away so that these may not stand in the way of His healing touch. In addition, Maundy Thursday teaches us that servanthood is Christ in His element. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet as the ultimate act of humility. Perhaps if we emulate Him and humble ourselves before God COVID-19 will be quashed eternally. God loves humility. Also, foretelling His death on this day meant that He knows what lies ahead and we can depend on Him when we know not what the future holds as with this virus. 

To reiterate, we can draw encouragement from Jesus’s crucifixion and death on Good Friday. In His nail pierced hands, we find healing. He can heal those who are afflicted with COVID-19. He was crucified to bear our iniquities and once again, at this time, we should ask for His forgiveness for all our sins if we are to be free from COVID-19. The Bible tells us: But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). 

Holy Saturday or Easter Eve observes the day that Jesus’s body lay in the tomb. Like His disciples who mourned that He was dead yet he would rise again, we may mourn for our loved ones taken by COVID-19 yet there is hope that those left behind will be triumphant over this illness. Those COVID-19 has taken away also remind us to live in ways that are pleasing to the heart of God. Entombed as He may have been, Jesus wanted His disciples to live in ways that would honor the heart of God.     

Easter Sunday signifies that Jesus is the resurrection and the life and following this COVID-19 bows to His very blood. When this enemy is no more, humankind will boast in His coming back to life restoring hope and faith. Death could not hold Him neither will COVID-19 hold us. He is risen. “As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. Don’t be alarmed,” he said. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here…” (Mark 16: 5-6) He is the author of life and so we can lean on Him as desiring that we do not die of this illness.