As most of the world pauses to celebrate Resurrection Sunday, millions reflect on more than just a religious tradition — they remember a story that has forever altered history. This is not merely a holiday. It is a call to encounter the deepest love humanity has ever known.

The final week of Jesus Christ’s life, often called Holy Week, is not just a page in Scripture — it is a collision of divine purpose and human pain, of heaven’s hope and earth’s brokenness. At the very heart of this sacred journey lies a moment of raw, gut-wrenching surrender in the Garden of Gethsemane — a place where eternity held its breath.

Here Jesus, fully aware of the suffering that awaited him — betrayal, torture, crucifiction — “fell on his face to the ground and prayed, My Father, if it possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not my will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39

This was not weakness. This was divine strength wrapped in human vulnerability.

The agony in the garden was not just about the fear of death; it was about the weight of the world’s sin pressing down on one man’s shoulders. It is here, in this sacred tension between dread and devotion, that we are invited to meet love — not a soft, sentimental love, but a fierce, sacrificial love that chose suffering so others could live.

These seven words have always struck me — not my will, but yours be done. They are the heartbeat of resurrection living.

I would say most have heard or read that Scripture throughout their faith journey. But if we are truly honest, it’s one also we hesitate to live out … because surrender like that feels uncomfortable. Surrender like that is crazy to most around us. Surrender like that is costly. My continuous prayer has been: Lord help me not be like a 2-year-old gripping jelly beans behind their back with a clenched fists.

Because … it … is … so … hard … to … get … those … little … tiny … hands … open.

We often say we follow Jesus, but if we evaluate our own life, we can admit we often have clenched fists that we personally don’t want to release. Our anger, or grudges, secret sins, addictions, relationships, financial choices, pornography and the list could continue on and on. We claim to trust God, but our clenched fists tell another story.

And yet Jesus opened His hands — and his heart — completely!

Jesus’ surrender to the Father was never about comfort, convenience or self-preservation. It was about obedience — unshakable, sacrificial obedience — and a relentless love for the world that continues to reject, abandon, deny, mock and betray him. Even as he faced denial from his closest followers, even as the sting of abandonment pierced deeper than the nails that would soon follow, Jesus chose the will of his Father. The story of Peter denying Jesus three times still echoes across time, and the sound of the rooster crowing is not just a detail in Scripture — it’s a mirror to our own lives.

We too, struggle with this — maybe not with our words, but in our choices: With our craving comfort when we are called to be courageous. With our conformity when the world needs conviction. In every moment we shrink back, the rooster crows again — and yet, grace remains.

The invitation of Resurrection Sunday is not to focus or marvel at the empty tomb, but a call to all followers of Jesus to live like the One who walked out of it. Jesus didn’t rise so we could check a box and call it faith — He rose to call us into a life of radical, daily surrender. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30.

This isn’t a comfortable religion; it’s a complete transformation. It’s trading our will for His, letting go of what was never meant to hold us in the first place, and embracing a life fully submitted to the King of Kings. It’s a call to be sold-out — heart, mind and soul — not just for tradition, but for truth.

This kind of surrender challenges us to evaluate our lives honestly, to ask God to reshape our hearts even when it means unlearning what we were raised to believe.The Pharisees and Sadducees knew Scriptures — and still crucified the Savior they were waiting for.

Why?

Because their pride blinded them to the truth standing in front of them. Resurrection Sunday asks us one thing: Will we cling to our own ways?

In a world obsessed with control, comfort and self expression, Jesus calls us to something radically different: surrender. After rising in victory over sin and death, Jesus didn’t linger in celebration — He gave a commission. He told his disciples to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe ALL that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20.

This is not a passive invitation. This is a charge to live on a mission. Resurrection living means echoing the prayer of Christ: Not my will, but your will be done. It means laying down our lives to lift up his name.

The empty tomb wasn’t the end of the story — it was a spark that ignites ours.

Robin Streigle gave her life to Jesus and was baptized at age 19 and has been passionately serving Him ever since. She is grateful to be part of the Webster City Community, where she serves alongside her husband Tony at the Webster City Church of Christ, 900 Des Moines Street. She also works part time at the Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce office. Her heart’s desire is that everyone she meets has a personal encounter with Jesus — not just settle for religion. She loves her six children, granddaughter, taking pictures of her garden produce, loves the homeschooling community, enjoys canning, chickens, making sourdough and is passionate about homesteading.