Each year during the week before Easter we think about the final days of Jesus Christ. This is the time of year when the most Bible reading takes place because large portions of the gospel passion narratives are read by individuals and churches. It is also the time of year where people turn their attention to theology more than any other because we want to articulate an answer to the question of what exactly happened in Jesus’ death and resurrection? We also want to articulate an answer to the question of how exactly does the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus impact my daily life? But also, since our culture doesn’t celebrate Easter with the same universal bravado as Christmas, we are left asking the question of how do we celebrate Easter?

Let me encourage you to do some of the things this year that are traditionally done at Easter in the church. Read the gospel accounts of the last days of Jesus. Spend some more concentrated time thinking about the theology that those accounts point to and think also of the practical import of that theology on your personal life and on the lives of those around you. A new book has come out that I recommend to you: The Final Days of Jesus by Andreas Kostenbarger and Justin Taylor. It is a great resource that combines all four gospel accounts into one chronological story. These pastor-scholars wrote the book to be an aid in worship for Easter.

But let me also encourage you to do something else.

Easter is a good time to take stock of our year, but we typically don't think of this. At Christmas, we gather with family and look back and ask questions like, “What did I do this year that was worth doing? What did I leave undone that I wish I had not?” We take stock of our lives near the end of the calendar year. What if we took stock of our year at Easter? What questions would we ask ourselves? Let me suggest two questions worth your time to consider during Easter:

How did I appropriate into my life the great salvation that is mine in Christ this past year?

How do I want to appropriate this great salvation in my life this coming year?

Don’t settle for less. Beware of the “Easter-as-yearly-funeral-and-party” trap. This is the trap we fall into if we try to just get more emotional each year—more sad that Jesus died, more excited that he rose—even though we already know the story and have known it for years. Easter is not a funeral and party where we try to fire up our emotions more and more each year. Easter is a holiday—a holy day.

What makes a day holy?

A holiday is a time we set aside to pause and remember the truth about who God is and the truth about who we are in Christ. We take stock and think about how to appropriate those twin truths into our daily existence. Don’t get me wrong, I think this holiday will effect my emotions too. How could it not? When I ask myself, “Do I believe that Jesus took all my sins on himself on the cross?” specific sins come to my mind. I think, “That sin too, Lord? You took that sin of mine on the cross in my place?” The questions I ask with my mind stir my deepest heart emotions.

But I also ask myself, “Do I believe that Jesus not only had to die, but that he was glad to die in my place?” And if I really believe this, how does my life look as a result? How did it look last year? How will it look this year in light of these truths? On the one hand, my life will never look how I think it ought to in light of this great salvation. On the other hand, I depend on the Holy Spirit to produce fruit that is pleasing to God (see Philippians 2:12-13).

Don’t settle for less. As you consider the last days of Jesus this year take time to take stock. Think again about this great salvation that is ours in Christ, and as you think about it, see if you don’t find both your mind and heart deeply stirred on this holiday.