Dear beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,
Easter greetings to you from the Council for World Mission!
As we approach celebrating the Resurrection of Christ across the world in different nations and cultures, we are united in the same hope—the hope for Life. Easter is not just a day to remember Jesus’s resurrection; it is a day that gives us hope for life. It is the declaration that death does not have the final word. On this day, the chains of sin were broken, despair was overcome, and new life was offered to all of us and all of creation.
This is the ultimate triumph of God’s love—a love that restores, redeems, and resurrects. But in a world marked by suffering and injustice, what does the Resurrection mean for us today?
We live in a time of deep wounds. Around the world, poverty, war, oppression, and ecological destruction devastate lives and communities. Over 700 million people struggle in extreme poverty, many of them children and women. The very earth groans in pain caused by human greed and exploitation. From conflict zones to silent cries of despair in broken families, our world bears the scars of injustice.
What does Easter have to say to this wounded world? For me, the Resurrection is a call to “rise to power.” It is not the power as the world defines, but the power of love, justice, and restoration. The power of resurrection is not found in dominance or self-interest but in humility, service, and self-giving love. It is a power that lifts up the lowly, heals the broken, and transforms the world.
Jesus’s resurrection appearance to Mary Magdalene is a prime example of such power. In a society that often silenced women and marginalised them, Jesus chose her to be the first witness of the resurrection. This is not a minor detail in the resurrection narrative. It is a declaration that in God’s kingdom, the unseen are seen, the oppressed are lifted, and the voiceless are given voice. Christ’s resurrection is a call to rise in power above the systems of oppression and injustice.
As followers of the risen Christ, we, too, are called to rise. To rise above fear, above divisions, and above complacency. The world tells us that power belongs to the rich and the strong because of their wealth and influence, but Jesus shows us that true power is found in compassion and courage.
As a Taiwanese person sharing this message, I see this message as something that resonates deeply with our Taiwanese identity. Taiwan has known struggle, resilience, and the fight for dignity. We are a people who understand what it means to rise—not through force, but through perseverance, through the power of hope, and through a spirit of unity. The values of solidarity, care for one another, and standing firm in the face of challenges are embedded in our culture. The message of resurrection affirms these values, calling us to be instruments of healing in a world that longs for restoration.
As Christ bore the wounds of the cross yet rose in glory, we, too, can rise above our wounds, both personal and collective. Every act of love, every stand for justice, every effort to care for the earth is part of this rising to power.
Dear sisters and brothers, let this Easter be more than a celebration. It must be a commitment. A commitment to rise with Christ in our daily lives, to embody His love in our homes, our workplaces, and our societies.
In doing so, we boldly proclaim: Christ is indeed risen! Hallelujah!!!
Amen.
Dr Natalie Lin
CWM Moderator