Two writings from two giants of the faith--old and recent:
George MacDonald: Written for my friends, 1877
They all were looking for a king
to slay their foes and lift them high
He came a little baby thing
that made a woman cry.
O son of man to right my lot
Naught but thy presence can avail
Yet on the road thy wheels are not
Nor on the sea thy sail
My "how-or-when" thou wilt not heed
But come down thine own secret stair
That thou mayst answer all my need,
Yea, every by-gone prayer.
Source: An Expression of Character: The letters of George MacDonald (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1994), photo pages insert, 3 pages before p. 173.
Elisabeth Elliot: The Fact of the Resurrection, 1985
A metropolitan (bishop) of the Orthodox Church in Russia was faced with an atheist in the congregation who loudly declared, "Today nobody believes in the resurrection of Christ." Instead of answering the claim, the metropolitan cried out, "Christ is risen!" and the hall, which was supposedly filled with atheists, responded with a roar, "Indeed He is risen!"
This is the proclamation of faith. It is often a waste of time and energy to argue with doubters--including ourselves. If we are assailed with unbelief, let us return to the bedrock of faith: the resurrection, for without this our faith is certainly vain. Let us shout (even alone with our private doubts) Christ is risen! It is a fact. Everything else is trivial by comparison.
Source: Elisabeth Elliot, A Lamp for My Feet (Ann Arbor, Michigan: Servant Publications, 1985), pages 82-83.
For a list at the events of Passion Week and the dating of their celebration in March/April 2026, see our chart of the events of each day that first time, and (our best estimates) this year. Much more about all that is in our book about Biblical Holy Days vs. Pagan Holidays.
