Last night most of us took part in the Passover ceremony. There’s a lot of meaning behind that bread (Word of God) and the blood of Christ (remission of sin). The fact that someone died for you—and not just anyone, we’re talking about Jesus the Christ—is a concept that every Christian should understand and be humbled by, regardless of being baptized or not. Traditionally this is a very somber ceremony. We are to come and reflect on the meaning of the symbols, and assess how we have kept our covenant vows. We don’t talk a lot, we try to keep our conversation a bit more serious, and try to be in the moment as if we were there 2,000 years ago with Christ when He was taking the Passover with His disciples.

However, have you ever taken time to consider what was going on after the Passover and before the First Day of Unleavened Bread on that night long ago? When I consider this, I’m saddened. While I was eating a late dinner after coming home from the ceremony and watching a little bit of Captain America: Civil War, on that night Christ was being betrayed and arrested. I wasn’t there, but maybe, as I was comfortably asleep last night on my Casper mattress and while waking up this morning, it was during those early hours Christ was scourged, had a crown of thorns twisted on His head, was mocked, spat upon, slapped on the face, and had lots cast for His clothes. Again, it is possible, that while I was sitting in a meeting this morning, it was during those hours that Christ had nails driven through the palms of His wrists. Those same arms that hold me up when I am down were pierced with large nails. His legs also had nails driven through—the same legs that bear me and my burdens (which is not easy!), yet so easily and lovingly done by Jesus Christ.

And now as I type this, maybe it’s around this same time many, many years ago, Christ was first lifted up to hang on the cross, bleeding His precious blood for me and you. As I think ahead into the rest of the day, around 3 p.m. today, maybe it was around that time my Lord and Savior felt abandoned, though He has never abandoned anyone and has ever abandoned me, and He painfully cried out, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?—My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” Shortly thereafter He was thirsty and got vinegar to drink—while I sip on some Crystal Springs—and He breathed His last breath as He said, “It is finished!” and yielded His spirit and died.

When I consider the timeline of events, this whole day is somber. Even tonight, do I even consider while I’m enjoying a nice steak that it would have been just a couple of hours ago that my elder Brother and friend Jesus the Christ had just died? Folks, I’m not trying to ruin our days and lower our countenance. But we should consider all this as we go through our normal activities and responsibilities today. As we gather tonight we should take a moment to think about that sacrifice. Maybe by doing so, we deepen our resolve to honor the sacrifice of Jesus Christ!

By all means enjoy tonight and have a good time. Be joyous because the gospel message wasn’t cemented by Christ’s death, but by His resurrection. That hope of eternal life, by His sacrifice for the remission of sins, was fully realized when the power of God raised Him from the grave. The Bible is clear that Christ even had joy during His darkest time.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

What was that joy of Christ? It was the joy of many sons and daughters—His friends—with Him in the world tomorrow. You and I with Christ in the Kingdom of God! Now that’s something that brings joy. That’s something to get fired up about! That’s something to be humbled and thankful for.

Words cannot describe what Christ went through and did for you and me. Let’s honor that by how we live our lives!