As we approach Easter, we are surrounded by familiar symbols-perhaps none more recognisable than the cross. We see it on churches, in artwork, and worn as jewelry. For many, it has become the defining symbol of Christianity – and, especially at this time of year, of Easter.
But in the first century, the cross meant something very different.
It was a symbol of death—slow, painful, and public. It was a form of punishment reserved for criminals. Above all, it was a sign of shame, something to be avoided at all costs. No one would have admired it. No one would have worn it. It was a brutal and humiliating end.
So how did this symbol of shame become the central symbol of the Christian faith?
The answer is found in the Bible, in Colossians 2:13–15, where we read that God “made you alive together with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge against us, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
It is a surprising claim: the cross, which looked like a place of death, shame and defeat, is in fact a place of victory. Let’s take a closer look at what God’s Word says about the cross.
First, the cross is where our debt was canceled. The passage speaks of a “record of debt” that stood against us. In simple terms, we all know that something is not right—not only in the world, but within ourselves. We are broken and unable to make ourselves whole, and also guilty before a holy God. Our sin is so great that it cannot be simply be ignored or excused, but must be dealt with. Jesus’ death on the cross paid for our sins once and for all, removing the debt against us.
Second, the cross is where “God [has] made you alive with Christ,” the passage says. Jesus’ death is not only about forgiveness, but about new life and healing. The Bible teaches that sin leads to death and separation from God. But through Jesus’ death, life has been given and restoration can begin. Where there was hostility, there can now be peace. Where there was brokenness, there can now be healing. Where there was distance, there can now be closeness. What was disordered can begin to be made whole.
Third, the cross is where evil has been defeated. Paul writes that God “disarmed the powers… triumphing over them.” At the cross, evil has lost its power, guilt has lost its hold, and death no longer has the final word. What appeared to be the ultimate weakness was in fact a victory. Why? Because Jesus Christ bore our sins and nailed them to the cross. There is no one able to condemn us, and evil’s power has been broken. And the proof of this victory is the resurrection. The great proclamation of Easter Morning, “Christos Anesti—Christ is risen” is a decisive victory over sin and death.
This is not simply an idea to admire from a distance. The Holy Scriptures present it as something to be received. It is for those who recognize their need, who turn to Christ, and who trust in what He has done. This is true faith.
So this Easter, when you see the cross, remember that it is not just a symbol of traditions, nor simply an ancient instrument of suffering. It is the place where sin is paid for, where new life is given, where healing begins, and where evil is overcome.
What was once a place of shame has become, for those who trust in Christ, a place of love, life and restoration.
Happy Easter!
Rev. Antonis Mastris
Church Representative
Board of Directors
Gardens play a key role in the Bible. As we prepare to celebrate Easter, let’s consider three significant gardens that reveal what Easter means.
The first Garden is at the very beginning – Eden. Eden was humanity’s first home. When Adam and Eve opened their eyes for the very first time, they were greeted with a world of beauty, life, and above all, of God’s glory – in other words, His presence. God lived with them there, and walked with them underneath the shade of its trees. He told them to cultivate the garden, so that life would spread out from it across the world. God told them to enjoy all the fruit the garden provided, except from one tree – the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God’s requirement for Adam and Eve was that they trust Him, or experience separation from Him, death itself. Soon after, God’s enemy Satan appeared as a snake, and Adam and Eve trusted him and not God. They ate from the forbidden tree. Their distrust and disobedience to God are called sin. Sin infected all of creation, and all of us. A garden brimming with life and potential was now broken by death and sin. Instead of life spreading forth from the garden, it became a place of death. But just as all hope seemed lost, God made a promise: Eve would one day have a Son, a descendant, who would crush Satan and spread life once again. The second garden comes, thousands of years later, in Jerusalem. It contained the tomb Jesus was buried in after his death on the cross. As his friends and family laid him to rest, they wept bitterly – for Jesus, they believed, was the Son who would spread life again. With his burial, that hope had disappeared. This garden, too, had become a place of death. But it did not stay that way. Two days later, his friends came to the garden to find that Jesus’ body was gone. St. Luke tells us that two men appeared before them and said, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but he has risen.” Jesus had been raised, physically into a new kind of life which Satan, sin and death could not touch – an eternal life.
You see, through his resurrection, Jesus had defeated Satan, and was beginning to spread the eternal life He now had to a broken world. This life begins in the hearts of those who trust in Him, as He, little by little, transforms them into the people God created them to be.
This is the life God offers to all who trust in His Son Jesus. And yet, we all still die, and the effects of sin are still felt in our bodies, in our hearts, and in our world. That is because this new life will not be fully ours until the third Garden comes – the Garden St. John the Evangelist speaks of in the book of Revelation: it will be, like Eden, overflowing with beauty & life. It will be filled with God’s glory – we will walk in His presence once again. But it will be greater than Eden, because Satan, sin, and death will have been thoroughly destroyed. This Garden will last forever. Jesus’ resurrection has made life in this Garden possible – as St. Paul says, because “Christ has been raised from the dead,” one day all those who trust in Him will also be raised. If we believe in Him, the Resurrected Son of Eve and Son of God, we can have the same kind of life that He has now: an eternal life, with no more pain, suffering, or death. That is why His resurrection is the most important reality we can celebrate and share with each other, and with our world.
Christos Anesti!
Rev. Antonis Mastris
Church Representative
Board of Directors
Why is Good Friday Good?
In a few days, we will celebrate Good Friday, the day on which Christ died. Why is it called ‘Good Friday’? After all, a terrible and unjust act happened on Good Friday. In the Gospel of St Matthew, 27:51, we learn that when Christ died, “the veil of the temple was torn in two.” The meaning of this torn veil can teach us why Good Friday is good.
In the Old Testament, one of the most important functions of the veil in the Temple was to block access to God’s presence. Only the high priest, and only once a year, could enter the Holy of Holies. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest passed into the Holy of Holies through the veil with fear and dread. This fear and dread was understandable. God is holy and we are sinners.. Access to God was denied because of the sins of the people. But now, the veil, which forbade access to God, was torn. All of us are allowed to enter the presence of God!
What happened? Did God’s character suddenly change? Has God grown soft in his old age? No! Christ died and our sins died with him. Christ died so that our sins can be forgiven. He was raised so that we can walk in newness of life. His death cancels the penalty of sin; his life nullifies the power of sin. Now, we who believe in Christ can enter the Holy of Holies freely and without fear because our sins are forgiven. We have access to God through Christ.
As we celebrate Good Friday, let us mourn for the state of the world. Let us look upon the evil and suffering of this world and weep. Our world is full of pain and difficulties. But into this world of suffering entered our Lord Christ. He took upon himself the pain and evil of this world and through his sacrifice, he offers us forgiveness and access into His presence. Therefore, let us also celebrate. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, God is with us forever. That’s why Good Friday is so good!
Rev. Dr. Zachary Kail
Member of the American Academy Board of Directors
Where can we find rest?
This Easter season, the world around us seems weary. With economic pressures, threats of violence, and an uncertain future, we have reached a point where we need rest and relief. The story of Easter teaches us that true rest is only found in our Lord Christ.
In the Gospel of St. Matthew11:28-29, Christ encourages His weary disciples: “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” In what ways does our Lord give us rest?
First, Christ gives us rest now by bearing our burdens. In His death and resurrection, Christ took upon Himself the burden of evil and He conquered it. He understands the hardships which we go through because He Himself has gone before us. Therefore, He can sympathize with us and bear our burdens. When we are weary, let us bring our burdens to Him, and He will give us rest. Let us not be afraid to come to Him. While Christ is Lord of all, He is also “gentle and lowly in heart.” He will hear us as we pray to Him. The story of Easter helps to confirm this truth. Christ loves us so much that He died and rose for us. Therefore, He is always willing to bear our burdens when we come to Him in faith.
Second, Christ gives us rest in the future by offering us an eternal home. We always feel most at rest when we are home, surrounded by those whom we love and who love us. The story of Easter teaches us that the world belongs to Christ. In His resurrection, Christ inherited the earth. But Christ is not greedy. When we trust in Him and follow His example in faith, Christ shares his home with us. We eagerly await the day of the creation’s liberation and renewal, in which our bodies will be raised, as He was raised, and we will live in our new, eternal home with Christ. Then, we will have true and everlasting rest.
When the worries of this world make us weary, let us be encouraged and renewed. The story of Easter teaches us that we can find true rest in Christ!
Rev. Dr Zachary Kail
Member of the Board of Directors
American Academy Larnaca
The Story of Easter: A New Beginning
Without a doubt, Easter is the most important Christian holiday. Why? What does the resurrection of Christ mean? The resurrection of Christ takes place at the end of the four gospels. But it is the beginning of a new story. The story of God’s new creation begins with the resurrection of Christ. When we believe in Christ, we participate in this story. The power of the resurrection floods our hearts and teaches us two important lessons.
First, Christ’s resurrection teaches us to hope. As wars and violence surround us, it is easy to despair; it is easy to think that there is no hope for a world so often marred by cruelty and brutality. Christ’s resurrection, however, teaches us to hope that a far greater power reigns in this world. Even as perpetrators of evil lust after control, the resurrection of Christ assures us that the power of love will ultimately overcome the love of power.
Second, Christ’s resurrection teaches us to love. God’s power displayed in Christ’s resurrection can transform our hearts so that we learn to live according to Christ’s image and example. By His power, we begin to love our neighbour as ourselves. By His power, we reject the hatred that so saturates this world. By His power, we learn to listen to others humbly. By His power, we deny our narcissistic impulses to live only for ourselves.
God’s new creation begins in our hearts, but it does not end there. When Christ returns, we will be resurrected from the dead. We will live with our Saviour in a beautifully transformed world. The Apostle John describes this new world: “God will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death will be no more, neither will there be mourning nor crying nor pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” That is why the words “Christ is Risen!” are so important. The resurrection of Christ confirms the resurrection of all who believe in Him. As we celebrate the resurrection of Christ this Easter, let us thank God for the privilege we have of participating in the story of new creation!
Rev. Dr. Zachary Kail
Member of the American Academy Board of Directors
