By Jacob Peenikaparambil
Indore, April 4, 2026: Belief in the resurrection of Jesus is one of the central tenets of Christianity, and Easter is the celebration of this profound faith. Christians believe that just as Jesus rose from the dead, they too will rise to eternal life after death.
Beyond its doctrinal significance, Easter offers three practical insights that are relevant not only to Christians but also to people of all faiths—and even those without religious affiliation.
Transformation through Resurrection
First, the resurrection of Jesus reminds us of the need for ongoing personal transformation—a movement toward total renewal in human life.
It calls for transformation from hatred to forgiveness and reconciliation; from selfishness to altruism and compassion; from negativity to positivity; from greed to generosity; from exclusiveness to inclusiveness; from arrogance to humility; from fundamentalism to openness; from imitation to creativity; from hypocrisy to authenticity; from secrecy to transparency; from cowardice to courage; and from despair to hope.
Truth cannot be buried
The second insight is that truth cannot be buried forever; it will inevitably come to light. Political parties, organizations and individuals alike must remember that the lies they create and promote will one day be exposed.
As Abraham Lincoln famously observed, “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”
Transcending narrow identities
The third insight is the call to transcend narrow or limited identities.
Before his death, Jesus was known primarily within Palestine and its surrounding regions—within a specific cultural and religious context. After the resurrection, however, he came to be embraced universally, inspiring people across cultures, languages and nations.
Human beings possess multiple identities—religious, national, linguistic, professional and social, among others. Even within a single religion, there may be numerous sub-identities.
While such identities are natural and necessary in a social world, they often become sources of conflict. When any one identity is absolutized, it can lead to division and violence.
The resurrection invites us to transcend these lower identities and focus instead on the highest ones: our shared humanity and the divine presence within every person.
Grounded in values
According to the teachings of Jesus, these two are inseparable—two sides of the same coin, each incomplete without the other.
Religiosity—expressed through rituals, prayers, dogmas, pilgrimages and laws—can sometimes bind individuals to narrow identities, even making them captive to them.
In contrast, spirituality, grounded in values such as love, compassion, forgiveness, generosity, justice and respect for human dignity, liberates the individual.
It enables one to rise above limited identities and embrace a broader vision of humanity and divine presence in all. In such a worldview, the entire world becomes one family—*Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.*
Jesus did not establish a religion; rather, he proclaimed and embodied a way of life rooted in these values, most clearly expressed in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7).
This way of life calls for transcending lower identities and embracing the highest ideals of humanity and divine presence.
Call for spiritual renewal
In a world increasingly marked by hatred, violence, division, discrimination and exclusion, these three insights from the resurrection are profoundly relevant.
Religion, throughout history, has often been a source of division, and today it risks becoming even more fundamentalist and polarizing. When politicized, religion can become not only divisive but dangerous.
The way forward lies in religions rediscovering and restoring their original spirit—spirituality—and nurturing the capacity to transcend narrow identities.
The celebration of Easter, therefore, is a call to all people to become more spiritual, more inclusive and more courageous in resisting any attempt to turn religion into a tool of division and hatred.
Jacob Peenikaparambil is a writer, as well as a trainer and consultant for non-profit organizations. He currently serves as the National Coordinator of the Universal Solidarity Movement (USM), Indore. He can be reached at jacobpt48@gmail.com.
(Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)