Editorial: Message behind Easter can inspire us all

The Gospel of Mark tells us three women approached the tomb of Jesus intending to anoint his body with spices.

Along the way, they wondered how they might move the large, heavy stone from the tomb's entrance.

No worry — on arrival they found the stone had been rolled away.

"As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed," Mark reports.

'"Don't be alarmed,' he said. 'You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here.'"

Christians throughout eastern New Mexico, the High Plains and the world today are celebrating the resurrected savior, the son of God whose victory over death offers hope we might all have life eternal.

We submit the message of Easter is encouraging for everyone, even non-believers.

Jesus had little support when he was flogged, mocked and crucified for claiming he was "king of the Jews" and criticizing religious leaders of his day.

Even the people who gathered at Jesus' trial asked the judge to have him executed.

Roman soldiers hung a purple robe on him and made him a crown from thorny branches.

Despite the challenges he faced on Earth, Jesus spread his message of caring and kindness to his final hours, even praying that God forgive his killers, according to Scripture.

The Jesus that Mark wrote about insisted repeatedly that love is the greatest commandment.

Mark 12:30-31 quotes Jesus responding to a challenger:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ... Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."

Today, the Christian faith numbers more than 2 billion, the largest religion in the world, according to adherents.com.

Oh, not all Christians believe exactly the same way. Even the issue of the resurrection — literal or a metaphor — has long been debated by scholars and by followers.

But here's something we can all take from the greatest story ever told:

Stay the course. Keep battling. Have faith.

Good always triumphs in the end.

Happy Easter.