Dear Beloved Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Warm Easter greetings to you all in the blessed name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is risen and who is coming again.
Breaking the darkness of death, shattering the chains of sin, and loosening the bonds of the curse, our Lord Jesus Christ has risen in glory. Easter is not merely a historical event; it is the profound revelation of God’s plan of salvation.
The central truth of Lutheran theology—that we are justified by grace through faith—is fully revealed in the resurrection. The Lord who declared “It is finished” on the cross has, through His resurrection, given us the assurance and undeniable witness that this salvation is complete. It stands as the fulfillment of the divine covenant.
As the Apostle Paul proclaims in 1 Corinthians 15:17, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”
But Christ has indeed been raised—and therefore we can boldly affirm that our faith is living and powerful.
Dear faithful, this Easter calls us into a new identity:
We are no longer slaves to sin,
We are children of God living in His grace,
We are no longer bound by the fear of death, but are bearers of the hope of eternal life.
In the Lutheran tradition, we believe that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us. It is not our own righteousness, but the righteousness of the Lord that sustains us each day. Therefore, the joy of Easter does not arise from our works, but from the grace of God.
We are all aware that the world today is filled with uncertainty, pain, and fear. Wars and rumors of wars remind us that the signs of His second coming are unfolding. Yet, He assures us: “The one who endures to the end will be saved.”
On this Easter day, we are reminded of several profound truths. The empty tomb stands as a testimony—it held no one before Him, and after His resurrection, it holds no one. It teaches us that the only true hope for the sorrowful is the risen Lord.
The Gospel writers highlight the experiences of those who encountered the risen Christ:
To Mary, who could not recognize Him, He called her by name and restored her—making her the first witness of the resurrection.
To the doubting, He reveals Himself as the source of peace—inviting Thomas to touch and believe.
To Peter, who had denied Him, the Lord restores him with love—opening the door to a new beginning, just as the stone was rolled away from the tomb.
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, Easter must not remain a one-day celebration; it must become our way of life:
Walk in love,
Grow in forgiveness,
Be bold in witness.
These are the challenges the risen Christ places before us.
May the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ renew the living faith in our hearts, strengthen our churches, and become a light of hope in our world. Once again, I extend to you all the blessings of Easter.
“The Lord is risen; He is risen indeed!”
May the peace of the Lord be with you.
With love and blessings,
Yours in Christ,

Rev. Dr. Mohanan Manuel
Bishop & President,

India Evangelical Lutheran Church.