EASTER SALE

Now through 4/4 save on CT and CT Pastors. Learn more.

The Weekend 04/04/26

April 2, 2026
April 2, 2026
CT Weekly

This edition is sponsored by Little Shepherd Books

weekend read

Today is Holy Saturday, when Christians remember Jesus’ time dead in the tomb. Hardin Crowder, a pastor and writer from Virginia, reflects for Christianity Today on the witness and scandal of Holy Saturday. “This is the part of the story we are often tempted to rush past,” he writes.

We move quickly from the agony of Good Friday to the alleluias of Easter morning, as though the silence of the tomb were only an inconvenience between sorrow and joy. We prefer resurrection in full bloom to the hard fact that our Savior lay in the grave. But the church, at its best, lingers here.

Holy Saturday, Crowder emphasizes, isn’t a cold fact best left ignored but rather a central point of the Christian faith, one that equips believers to hold fast to God even in the darkest of times.

The Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky’s famous encounter with a painting of Christ in the tomb—decidedly dead, not just serene, nor with eyes closed to appear asleep—highlights the power of Holy Saturday. It stopped Dostoevsky in his tracks, influenced his later work, and “drove him toward a sterner, deeper theology of incarnation, passion, and resurrection,” Crowder writes. “It confirmed that Christianity cannot be an anesthetic, an ideology, or a moral improvement program for the already capable. It is the announcement that the Son of God has entered the grave itself and come out the other side in victory.”

The Scandal and Grace of Christ’s Saturday in the Grave

paid content

This Mother’s Day, bless the women in your life with a special picture book from Little Shepherd Books. Mommy Loves Me: And God Does Too is a sweet, love-filled story designed to bring mothers and their little ones together while reminding them that they’re unconditionally loved.

Little Shepherd Books provides parents with beautifully illustrated books that build strong family bonds, help kids build a meaningful relationship with God, and teach children the fundamentals of their faith. Go deeper during bedtime with these special, faith-focused books that cover a wide variety of topics from bible stories to prayer to God’s unconditional love. Browse the full collection today!

Advertise with us

weekend listen

Super Bowl–winning football coach Tony Dungy joined The Just Life this week to talk about his faith. 

“I happen to think that every life is important,” he told Benjamin Watson of speaking at the March for Life in 2023, which prompted backlash. “I didn’t realize how many people think that’s the worst thing you could do.” He continued, “I want to be a Christian all the time,” not just when it’s convenient. “I have to represent the Lord.” | Listen here.

Tony Dungy: What It Costs to Stand for Your Faith

editors’ picks

Angela Fulton, international editor: Just finished The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, which is the perfect spring-break read. It tells the story of a woman in her 70s through her letters and emails to … everyone. Makes me want to pick up my pen and write a letter!

Bonnie Kristian, deputy editor: I’m fascinated with @floorplans_of_the_past, an Instagram account that posts—you guessed it—floorplans of the past. People had different priorities when designing houses 100 years ago, and it’s interesting to see their thinking in this format.

Haley Byrd Wilt, interim editor: Poor Bishop Hooper’s album based on the stations of the cross, Golgotha, actually changed my life a couple of Easters back. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Listen to it alone, in a dark room, all the way through.

prayers of the people

more from CT

Easter Is Not a Zombie Story

This piece was adapted from Russell Moore’s newsletter. Subscribe here. Most unbelievers are civil or even curious when we talk together about the Christian faith, with less than a handful of exceptions.…

The Eternal Meaning of the Cup

Communion, also known as the Eucharist and the Lord’s Supper, is the most central Christian sacrament, yet it is celebrated quite differently in our churches. Setting aside theological debates about…

We Need More Than Generalities About Beauty and Justice

Haejin and Makoto Fujimura’s coauthored book, Beauty and Justice: Creating a Life of Abundance and Courage, posits that “beauty and justice are two sides of the same coin of the…

Churches Try Drones and Skydiving Bunnies for Easter Outreach

As Americans open their wallets to spend a projected $24.9 billion on Easter this year, some churches are thinking beyond Easter eggs and Passion plays, budgeting for helicopter rentals, skydiving…

IN THE MAGAZINE

Cover of the January / February 2026 of Christianity Today.

When Jesus taught, he used parables. The kingdom of God is like yeast, a net, a pearl. Then and today, to grasp wisdom and spiritual insight, we need the concrete. We need stories. In this issue of Christianity Today, we focus on testimony—the stories we tell, hear, and proclaim about God’s redemptive work in the world. Testimony is a personal application of the Good News. You’ll read Marvin Olasky’s testimony from Communism to Christ, Jen Wilkin’s call to biblical literacy, and a profile on the friendship between theologian Miroslav Volf and poet Christian Wiman. In an essay on pickleball, David Zahl reminds us that play is also a testament to God’s grace. As you read, we hope you’ll apply the truths of the gospel in your own life, church, and neighborhood. May your life be a testimony to the reality of God’s kingdom.

THE WEEKEND FROM CHRISTIANITY TODAY

The Weekend delivers the best content from Christianitytoday.com to your inbox each week.

Delivered free via email to subscribers weekly. Sign up for this newsletter.

You are currently subscribed as no email found. Sign up to more newsletters like this. Manage your email preferences  or unsubscribe.

Christianity Today is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
“Christianity Today” and “CT” are the registered trademarks of Christianity Today International.

Copyright ©2025 Christianity Today, PO Box 788, Wheaton, IL 60187-0788 
All rights reserved.

addApple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseellipseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squarefolderGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastprintremoveRSSRSSSaveSavesaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube