Palm Sunday Easter - Soz Jesus, cant relate: how to make the easter story relevant

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Easter is one of the easiest times of year to share your faith with someone. This is because most countries still celebrate the religious holiday in their calendars, so talking about Jesus or attending a church service is a natural thing to do.

Although most people have some idea of the Easter story—that 2000 years ago, Jesus died and rose again—many are unaware of the details. Even some Christians may not fully understand why the event is significant or relatable for their lives today. Over the next week, we’ll be sharing some practical ideas on how to share Jesus with your friends this Easter. It all starts with deepening your own relationship with God.

The importance of empathy

Have you ever been in a situation where someone’s experience is so different from your own that you just can’t relate? Maybe you can’t relate when your friend buys a brand new iPhone outright, while you’re still rocking an iPhone 8. Or maybe you can’t relate when the straight-A student complains about a 94 on their test, because you’ve never done that well on anything before.

Sometimes, being a Christian in a secular world can feel like this too. You might worry that people won’t relate when you share your faith, or will ridicule you because they don’t have the same worldview. Sometimes you might even feel like you can’t relate to God because He’s “up there” and you’re “down here.”

While diversity is a beautiful thing, sometimes not being able to understand someone’s experience can damage your relationship with them. It can be especially painful if they brush off your experience as insignificant because they don’t—or can’t—empathise.

There is an old saying that goes, “Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes.” In order to truly connect and empathise with someone, you need to understand where they’ve come from.

In Hebrews 4:15, it says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (NIV).

Our God loves us so much that He willingly chose to walk a mile in our shoes. The Bible says that Jesus gave up His heavenly position and divine privileges to become a human being, and even be crucified (Philippians 2:6-8).

Our all-powerful, all-knowing God could have chosen to stay up in the clouds and say, “Can’t relate,” when you suffer. But He didn’t. Instead, He chose to experience all the same things as you—the pain, suffering, complicated emotions, relationships, hard work—so He could truly understand what you’ve been through.

In biblical times, the Jews expected their prophesied Messiah to be a mighty ruler and defeat the Roman empire—think horse and chariot, expensive armour and weaponry, social hierarchy, untouchable fame. But He didn’t. Instead, Jesus came humbly, riding on the back of a donkey, and was greeted by people waving palm branches (Matthew 21:1-11). There was no trumpet fanfare, no red carpet, “nothing in his appearance that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2). Just an unexpectedly relatable guy meeting people on their level.

Can’t relate?

If you want to share your faith journey, but you’re afraid or don’t know where to start, a great first step is to reconnect with God. You could start by reading the story of Jesus’ final chapters on earth, in the lead up to Easter. This story reminds us that while God is all powerful and mighty, He is also accessible, understanding, and empathetic to our experience. He gets it. He can relate. And He just wants to be your friend—so much so that He willingly died for you. That, friends, is good news!

To read the Easter story, check out these passages: