We are wired for self-preservation. From an early age, we learn to look out for ourselves. Secure your future. Protect your reputation. Make sure you’re not left behind. In many ways, that instinct keeps us safe. But left unchecked, it can quietly shape a life where “me first” becomes the guiding principle.
Easter tells a very different story. As Jesus approached the cross, He did not choose the safe option. He did not protect His own comfort, reputation, or even His physical life. Instead, He chose the path of sacrifice. Christians believe that His death was not an accident of history but a deliberate act of love, placing humanity’s need above His own suffering. In a world built on self-interest, the cross stands as a startling contradiction.
Easter also gives us someone we may find easier to relate to: Peter.
Full of bold promises, Peter once insisted he would never abandon Jesus. And yet, when the pressure mounted and fear took hold, he denied even knowing Him. In that moment, self-preservation won. We can imagine the crushing disappointment that followed; the realisation that when it mattered most, he had put himself first.
Most of us know that feeling. The times we stayed silent when we should have spoken. The moments we protected our image instead of defending someone else. The occasions when convenience outweighed compassion. And yet Peter’s story did not end in failure. After the resurrection, Jesus sought him out, not to shame him, but to restore him. The one who had denied Jesus was invited back into friendship and purpose. Grace met disappointment. Putting ourselves first is natural. But Easter invites us into something greater. Love moves us to consider others before ourselves. Compassion leads us to step towards someone in need, even when it costs us time or comfort. A sense of justice urges us to speak up when something is wrong, even if it risks misunderstanding.
We see glimpses of this every day: a neighbour checking in on someone who lives alone; a colleague taking the blame to protect a junior team member; a parent sacrificing sleep, energy, and personal ambition for their child’s wellbeing. These small acts echo a much bigger story.
The cross shows us that real strength is found not in grasping for ourselves, but in giving for others. Easter reminds us that while self-interest may be instinctive, self-giving love is transformative. In choosing to put others first, we reflect something of the heart of Christ Himself. Come and join us or one of the other churches this Easter and experience a community marked by compassion, humility, peace and a love for others.
