Sometimes life is full of tragedies…such as war, rumors of war, death of the innocents, daily bad news, countless and senseless tragedies. We can feel defeated and in despair. I get it.

My thoughts have returned this week to Palm Sunday and the events of that Holy Week more than 2,000 years ago when Jesus entered Jerusalem. Then, I think of the tragedy and horror of the crucifixion. I feel torn by my own guilt because I understand the full truth of that event for the world, myself, and eternity. It is our sin that put Christ on that cross. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. There must be an accounting for sin. It is a tragedy.

Thanks be to God, the story of Jesus does not end in the tragedy of a death by crucifixion and our eternal death in hell, which is the price for our sin. The good news is that the morning is coming when the heavy stone rolls away and Jesus Christ steps out of the tomb, resurrected, triumphant even over death itself. Through His sacrifice, our sin is forgiven and our relationship with God is fully restored. We believe, as written in the Gospel of John,

Looking out the window of my office on campus I can see the ornamental cherry trees flowering around Fraley Circle. I look forward each year to these spring days when those pink, fluffy blooms remind me of life's big truth: The cold and barren winter gives way once again to the beauty of life's renewal. Darkness lasts but for a time. Morning is coming. Good news. He has risen!

Tragedy turns to triumph with Jesus Christ in your hearts.

He has risen. He has risen indeed!

In Christ,
Colonel David L. Coggins, USMC (Ret.)
President
Fork Union Military Academy