By. Ps. David Hallet
MSI Board Member
At the heart of Easter stands a word that quietly shapes the Christian life: eucharisto, the Greek word for gratitude or thanksgiving. It is a word closely connected to the cross, because true gratitude flows not from comfort or success, but from grace received at great cost. Easter invites us to pause, remember, and give thanks for the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, who gave Himself fully so that we might live.
The story of Easter is not only about the empty tomb, but about the willing obedience that led Jesus to the cross. Jesus knew the suffering that awaited Him, yet He went forward in love. On the night before His death, Jesus gave thanks (eucharisteō) as He broke the bread and shared the cup with His disciples (Luke 22:19). Gratitude marked His final hours, even as He prepared to lay down His life. The cross shows us that thanksgiving is not rooted in ease, but in trust in the Father and love for others.
At the cross, Jesus bore our sin, our shame, and our brokenness. He did this not reluctantly, but willingly, out of deep compassion for the lost. “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Easter gratitude begins here. We give thanks because we have received what we could never earn: forgiveness, new life, and the hope of resurrection.
This same gratitude fuels the mission of Mustard Seed International. Christian teachers who serve across Indonesia do not labour merely out of duty, but out of thanksgiving to Christ. Having received grace at the cross, they now give their lives in service to children, many of whom are still hearing the name of Jesus for the first time. Their work reflects the self-giving love of Christ, who humbled Himself for the sake of others (Philippians 2:5–8).
Teaching in challenging contexts requires patience, humility, and sacrifice. Yet gratitude transforms sacrifice into joyful service. When teachers remember the cross, they are reminded that their labour is not in vain. Each lesson taught, each child loved, and each prayer whispered is an offering of thanks to the risen Lord. Like the mustard seed in Jesus’ parable, small acts of faithfulness, rooted in gratitude, can grow into something far greater than we imagine (Matthew 13:31–32).
Easter also reminds us that gratitude is not the end of the story. The cross leads to resurrection. Jesus is alive and His victory gives hope to those who serve in His name. Christian teachers are not only passing on knowledge, but bearing witness to the living Christ. Their gratitude points children beyond themselves to Jesus, who alone can give new hearts and lasting hope.
As we celebrate Easter, may eucharisto shape our hearts. Let us give thanks for the cross, for the empty tomb, and for the privilege of serving Christ by serving others. And may God continue to use Mustard Seed International to plant seeds of faith, nurtured by gratitude, that will bear fruit for generations to come and for eternity.
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Main Picture: Easter Devotion at one of Mustard Seed's School.
