Easter: The Resurrection That Changes Everything

The day death was defeated and hope was born again.

Maybe you’ve seen it in stores — pastel colors, decorated eggs, chocolate bunnies, and baskets filled with treats. To many, Easter seems like just another spring holiday filled with family fun and sugary traditions.

But for millions of believers around the world, Easter is something far deeper — something sacred. It’s not about a bunny. It’s about a cross, a grave, and an empty tomb. It’s not about sweets. It’s about salvation.

You might be wondering what Easter really means. Is it relevant to your life? Can an event that happened over 2,000 years ago still matter today? The answer is yes — eternally yes.

Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the beating heart of Christianity. Without Easter, there is no Christian faith. Without the resurrection, there is no hope for the human soul. But because Jesus rose from the dead, everything changes — including your life.

What Is Easter in Christianity?

Easter is the central celebration of the Christian faith — not just one holy day among many, but the very heart of the Gospel message. It is the day Christians around the world rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who, after being crucified and buried, rose again from the dead on the third day.

To understand what Easter truly means in Christianity, we must first grasp this: Easter is not about religious tradition or seasonal festivity. It is about life overcoming death, hope breaking through despair, and God’s ultimate victory over sin and darkness. Easter is the loud and eternal declaration that the grave does not have the final word — Jesus does.

According to the New Testament, Jesus Christ was condemned by religious leaders, crucified under Roman authority, and buried in a tomb. His followers mourned, believing all was lost. But on the third day — a Sunday morning — the stone was rolled away. The tomb was empty. Angels announced, “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said” (Matthew 28:6).

In Christianity, Easter celebrates that moment — the bodily resurrection of Jesus, proving that He is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, and the Savior of the world. His resurrection is not symbolic. It is historical, physical, and supernatural. It validated everything He taught, fulfilled ancient prophecies, and secured eternal life for all who believe.

Easter also marks the climax of Holy Week, which recounts the final days of Jesus’ earthly ministry:

Palm Sunday remembers His entry into Jerusalem, hailed as King.
Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper with His disciples.
Good Friday marks His crucifixion, where He bore the weight of our sins.
And then comes Easter Sunday, the dawn of new creation, the resurrection day.

This progression isn’t just liturgical — it’s deeply spiritual. It walks us through the greatest love story ever told: a God who died for His people, and then conquered death to bring them back to life.

In Christian theology, Easter is the cornerstone. Without the resurrection, the cross would be a tragedy, not triumph. Without Easter, there would be no forgiveness of sins, no victory over evil, no promise of heaven.

That’s why the Apostle Paul wrote:

“If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins… But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:17, 20

So what is Easter in Christianity?

It is not just a holiday. It is hope made flesh. It is the turning point of all history. It is the moment that proves love is stronger than hate, mercy deeper than judgment, and God’s grace more powerful than death itself.

And more than anything, Easter is a personal invitation. Because Jesus rose, you can rise. Because He lives, you can have new life. Easter means that no matter how dark your past, the light of Christ can shine into your soul and begin again.

The Historical and Biblical Background of Easter

To understand Easter, we must journey back over two thousand years — not just into the pages of history, but into the very heart of God’s redemptive plan for humanity. Easter is not a legend, nor a symbolic myth born from spiritual desire. It is a real event, rooted in history, anchored in Scripture, and witnessed by countless lives.

A Death Foretold

The story begins not at the empty tomb, but at a Roman cross on a hill outside Jerusalem. Jesus of Nazareth — a teacher, miracle worker, and man without sin — was unjustly condemned to die. Betrayed by one of His own disciples, arrested in the night, and falsely accused, He was handed over to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Though Pilate found no guilt in Him, the crowd cried, “Crucify Him!” And so, Jesus was beaten, mocked, crowned with thorns, and nailed to a wooden cross.

Yet none of this surprised Jesus — or heaven. Over centuries, the prophets had foretold it:

“He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities… and by His wounds we are healed.”
— Isaiah 53:5

The cross was not a tragic accident. It was the divine plan of love. Jesus willingly laid down His life, carrying the full weight of our sin. The sinless Son of God became the perfect sacrifice, so that sinners like us could be forgiven.

The Silence of the Tomb

After Jesus died, His body was taken down and placed in a borrowed tomb, sealed by a heavy stone and guarded by Roman soldiers. To His disciples, it felt like the end of everything. Their Messiah was gone. Their hope was buried. Their future shattered.

But God was not done.

Even in the silence of the grave, prophecy was being fulfilled. Jesus had told them many times:

“The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified, and on the third day be raised again.”
— Luke 24:7

They had heard the words, but now, they would live the reality.

The Resurrection: History’s Greatest Dawn

On the third day, early in the morning, women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body. What they found changed the world forever.

The stone was rolled away. The guards had fled. The tomb was empty.

An angel stood there and said,

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!”
— Luke 24:5–6

Jesus had defeated death — not metaphorically, but bodily and physically. He began appearing to people in multiple locations:

To Mary Magdalene in the garden (John 20:11–18)
To two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35)
To His disciples behind locked doors (John 20:19–29)
To more than 500 people at once (1 Corinthians 15:6)

These appearances were not mystical visions. Jesus ate with them, spoke to them, and showed them His scars. Doubters touched His wounds. Skeptics became believers. Cowards became bold proclaimers.

The Bible’s Witness and the Disciples’ Transformation

The New Testament, particularly the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), records the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus in consistent, overlapping detail. These weren’t stories crafted for power or profit. They were written by those who suffered and died for what they saw.

Peter, who once denied Christ, would be crucified upside down for preaching the resurrection.
Thomas, the doubter, would travel to India to proclaim, “My Lord and my God!”
Paul, once a persecutor, encountered the risen Christ and became the church’s greatest missionary.

What changed them? What gave them courage, joy, and unshakable faith? One answer: They saw Jesus alive.

A Fulfilled Promise

Easter didn’t just happen in a vacuum. It fulfilled every promise God had made:

That He would send a Savior (Genesis 3:15)
That death would be defeated (Isaiah 25:8)
That a righteous King would rise and reign forever (Psalm 16:10, Daniel 7:13–14)

Jesus Himself said,

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
— John 2:19
And He did.

The resurrection of Christ is not just the climax of His earthly ministry — it is the foundation of Christian faith, the cornerstone of hope, and the beginning of new life for all who believe.

Why Easter Matters to Christians

If you take Easter out of Christianity, you no longer have Christianity.

Easter is not an optional celebration or a beautiful story tucked into the back of a religious book. It is the very core of the Christian faith, the moment everything stands or falls. It is the dividing line between death and life, between despair and hope, between sin and salvation.

But why does Easter matter so deeply to Christians? Why is this one Sunday, above all others, so sacred, so powerful, and so full of meaning?

1. Easter Proves That Jesus Is Who He Claimed to Be

Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus made radical claims. He called Himself the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior of the world. He told His disciples plainly that He would die and rise again:

“The Son of Man must suffer many things… and be killed, and after three days rise again.”
— Mark 8:31

Anyone could claim such things. But only one Man backed those claims with an empty tomb.

The resurrection of Jesus is God’s validation of everything Jesus said and did. It is heaven’s seal, declaring, “This is My beloved Son.” If Jesus had stayed in the grave, He would be just another martyr. But He rose, proving that He was not a victim of death — He was the Victor over death.

2. Easter Confirms the Power of the Cross

The crucifixion of Jesus was brutal, unjust, and devastating. But Christians believe it was also intentional and substitutionary. On the cross, Jesus took the punishment for our sin — He bore the wrath we deserved.

But how do we know His sacrifice was accepted? How can we be sure that the debt was paid?

The answer is Easter.

The resurrection confirms that the payment was complete. As Paul wrote:

“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”
— Romans 4:25

The cross is where sin died, and the empty tomb is where new life began.

3. Easter Declares Victory Over Death

Death is the great enemy of the human soul. No matter who we are or what we achieve, death comes for us all. But on Easter morning, Jesus turned the grave from a final destination into a doorway.

He rose, not only to prove His power, but to share it with all who believe. His resurrection is the firstfruits of what is to come — a promise that those who trust in Him will also be raised to eternal life.

“Because I live, you also will live.”
— John 14:19

For Christians, death no longer holds fear. It is no longer the end. It is simply a passage into the presence of the risen King.

4. Easter Offers New Life Now

Easter is not only about what happens after we die — it’s about how we live today.

Through the resurrection, Jesus offers more than just forgiveness. He offers transformation. He breaks the power of addiction, guilt, and shame. He brings light into the darkest places of the heart. He makes all things new.

“If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17

Christians celebrate Easter not only because of what Jesus did back then, but because they are living the resurrection right now — walking in freedom, peace, and purpose.

5. Easter Makes the Gospel Unstoppable

If Jesus is alive, then the message of the Gospel is alive. It means Christianity is not a philosophy, not a set of moral rules, not a cultural tradition — it is the proclamation of a risen Savior who is still transforming lives.

That’s why the early church exploded in growth. They weren’t spreading a theory — they were announcing a fact:

“God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.”
— Acts 2:32

That same message echoes through time and space into our world today. In prisons and palaces, in cities and villages, in hearts hardened by sin and broken by sorrow — the risen Christ still calls: “Come to Me and live.”

Symbols and Traditions of Easter

As Easter approaches each year, the world seems to take on a pastel hue. Stores are filled with chocolate bunnies, colorful eggs, woven baskets, and decorations of springtime cheer. But beneath these cultural customs lies something much deeper — an ancient celebration of the most powerful moment in history: the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Many Easter symbols carry echoes of the resurrection story, though not all of them originate from Scripture. For Christians, the goal is not merely to observe tradition, but to let each symbol point us back to the empty tomb, the risen Savior, and the hope we now carry because of Him.

The Easter Egg: Symbol of New Life and the Empty Tomb

Perhaps the most widely recognized Easter symbol is the egg. While it has roots in various pre-Christian spring traditions, the Church adopted the egg as a powerful picture of resurrection.

Just as life emerges from within a sealed shell, so did Jesus rise from the sealed tomb. The egg became a metaphor for new birth, new beginnings, and the miracle of the resurrection.

In many Christian cultures, eggs were traditionally dyed red to symbolize the blood of Christ shed on the cross. Cracking the egg open represents breaking forth into new life — the grave could not hold Him.

Though Easter egg hunts and colorful decorations have become more playful in nature, the original spiritual symbolism remains: through Jesus, life has triumphed over death.

The Easter Bunny: A Cultural Addition Without Biblical Roots

The Easter Bunny, though beloved by many children, is not part of the biblical Easter story. Its origin traces back to pre-Christian fertility symbols in Europe, where rabbits were associated with new life and rapid reproduction — fitting for springtime festivals.

As Christianity spread, some of these folk traditions blended with Easter celebrations. The bunny eventually became a symbol of abundance, life, and gift-giving.

For Christians, while the bunny may be a fun part of family celebrations, it should never overshadow the true joy of Easter — the risen Christ. The resurrection is not about whimsy. It’s about God breaking the curse of death and offering eternal life.

White Clothing and Lilies: Purity, Holiness, and New Creation

On Easter Sunday, many churches are adorned in white, the color of purity, victory, and resurrection. White robes symbolize the transformation that happens when a person believes in Christ — the old self is buried, and a new creation is raised.

This imagery is also found in Scripture:

“They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
— Revelation 7:14

Alongside white garments, you’ll often see white lilies — sometimes called “Easter lilies.” These trumpet-shaped flowers bloom from bulbs buried underground, echoing the imagery of Jesus’ burial and emergence from the tomb. Their shape and brilliance are a visible proclamation: He is risen!

Sunrise Services: Remembering the Morning the Tomb Was Empty

Many Christian churches hold special sunrise services on Easter morning — gathering in the dark or at dawn to reflect on the moment the women discovered the empty tomb.

“Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb…”
— Mark 16:2

There’s something sacred about worshiping as the sun rises, as light breaks into the world again — mirroring how hope broke through the darkness of death on that first Easter morning.

Hymns are sung, prayers are lifted, and the Resurrection is proclaimed:
“He is risen!” — “He is risen indeed!”

Baskets, Feasts, and Fellowship: Celebrating Resurrection Joy

While baskets of sweets and shared meals may seem like cultural or commercial traditions, they can also reflect a deeper spiritual truth: the joy of Easter is meant to be shared.

Jesus’ resurrection was not a private event — it was public, communal, world-changing. His disciples rejoiced together, broke bread together, and proclaimed together what they had seen.

In many traditions, Easter is a time for celebration and generosity, a reminder that because Christ has risen, we no longer live in fear or scarcity — we live in abundance, grace, and fellowship.

These symbols, when viewed through the eyes of faith, are not distractions — they are signposts, pointing us back to the empty tomb. They remind us that Easter is not just a historical event, but a living reality. And every flower, every sunrise, every celebration can become a quiet whisper of resurrection truth:

Jesus is alive — and He is making all things new.

The Message of Easter for the Modern World

We live in a world where headlines scream of war, suffering, injustice, and despair. Families are broken. Minds are anxious. Hearts are heavy with pain that no medicine can heal. People chase meaning in money, power, relationships, or success — yet still feel empty. Is there any hope that doesn’t fade? Is there any truth that won’t betray us?

Yes. And Easter proclaims it loud and clear: hope is not dead — hope is risen.

Easter Speaks Into Our Deepest Wounds

Easter is not a feel-good tradition for the religious. It is God’s answer to the brokenness of humanity. The cross confronts our sin. The tomb confronts our mortality. But the resurrection confronts our despair with eternal hope.

You might feel like your life is too far gone. Maybe you’ve made mistakes you can’t fix. Maybe grief has left you hollow. Maybe religion has hurt you or people have failed you. But Easter says: you are not too far. You are not forgotten. You are not unloved.

Because of Easter, forgiveness is possible, even for the worst of sins. Healing is possible, even for the deepest of wounds. New beginnings are possible, even when everything seems lost.

Jesus Is More Than a Historical Figure — He Is the Answer

In every generation, people ask the same questions:

Who am I?
Why am I here?
What happens when I die?
Can anyone truly love me as I am?

Easter doesn’t offer vague inspiration. It offers a person: Jesus Christ — crucified, buried, and risen again. He is the only one who has defeated death, and the only one who can give life that doesn’t end.

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.”
— John 11:25

Jesus is not a memory. He is alive, and He is still calling people by name — just as He called Mary at the tomb, just as He met Thomas in his doubt, just as He forgave Peter after failure.

He knows your pain. He knows your questions. And He’s not waiting for you to clean yourself up — He comes to you right where you are.

The Resurrection Changes Everything — Including You

Easter isn’t just about what happened in the past or what will happen when you die. It’s about what can happen right now.

Are you tired of carrying shame? Jesus offers forgiveness.
Are you weighed down by fear? Jesus offers peace.
Are you numb or lost or angry at God? Jesus offers His very presence.

The same power that rolled away the stone can roll away the weight from your soul. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead can breathe new life into your heart.

Easter means that sin doesn’t have to define you. Death doesn’t have to defeat you. Your past doesn’t have to imprison you. Jesus is risen — and because He lives, you can live too.

A Question for Every Heart

What will you do with the resurrection?

You can admire it from a distance. You can debate it intellectually. You can ignore it entirely. But none of those responses will change your life. Only one response will:

Believe.

Believe that Jesus died for you. Believe that He rose again. Believe that He is able — and willing — to make all things new, including you.

Easter is more than an event. It is an invitation. Not to religion. Not to rules. But to relationship with the risen King.

Easter Compared to Other Christian Celebrations

Christianity is rich with holy days and sacred seasons — Christmas, Pentecost, Good Friday, and more. Each one shines a different light on God’s great redemptive story. But among them all, Easter stands above the rest. It is not just a celebration. It is the climax of God’s salvation plan, the day everything changed forever.

To understand the unique power of Easter, let’s compare it with a few other significant Christian celebrations.

Easter vs. Christmas: The Birth and the Purpose

Christmas is perhaps the most well-known Christian holiday, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ — God becoming flesh and entering the world in humility. It’s a beautiful, hope-filled celebration of light breaking into darkness.

But Christmas finds its fulfillment in Easter.

Jesus was born so that He could live a sinless life, die a sacrificial death, and rise again in victory. The cradle leads to the cross. The manger leads to the empty tomb. While Christmas celebrates the arrival of the Savior, Easter celebrates the completion of His mission.

Without Easter, Christmas would be a sweet story with no saving power.

“For unto you is born this day… a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
— Luke 2:11

That Savior finished His work on Easter morning.

Easter vs. Good Friday: The Death and the Triumph

Good Friday is solemn. It’s the day Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus — the agony, the shame, the sacrifice. It reminds us of the cost of our sin and the depth of Christ’s love.

But without Easter, Good Friday would be nothing more than a tragedy. A martyr’s death. A life cut short.

Easter transforms the cross from defeat into victory. It declares that Jesus’ suffering was not in vain. His blood was not wasted. His death was not the end.

Where Good Friday breaks our hearts, Easter mends them with living hope.

“By His wounds, we are healed.”
— Isaiah 53:5

But by His resurrection, we are made alive.

Easter vs. Passover: The Shadow and the Fulfillment

The Jewish Passover commemorates God’s deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt — the night when the blood of a lamb spared the people from judgment (Exodus 12). It is a powerful act of redemption and covenant love.

Easter coincides with Passover, but goes even further. In fact, Jesus was crucified during Passover week, revealing that He is the true Passover Lamb.

“Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”
— 1 Corinthians 5:7

Where the first Passover saved from temporary death, Easter saves from eternal death. Where a lamb’s blood was once painted on wooden doorposts, now the blood of the Lamb of God was poured out on a wooden cross — once for all.

Easter doesn’t cancel Passover. It completes it.

Easter vs. Pentecost: The Resurrection and the Outpouring

Pentecost comes 50 days after Easter and marks the day when the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus’ followers (Acts 2). It’s the birth of the Church and the empowering of believers to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

But Pentecost would never have happened without Easter.

The risen Christ promised the coming of the Spirit. His resurrection assured His followers that He was truly Lord, and from that confidence, they waited — and received.

Easter shows us what God has done for us; Pentecost shows us what God now does through us.

Why Easter Is the Greatest Celebration

While all Christian holidays are important and interconnected, Easter is the highest and holiest day in the Christian calendar. Why?

Because without the resurrection, none of the other celebrations would matter.

Without Easter, Christmas is just a birth without purpose.
Without Easter, Good Friday is just a death without victory.
Without Easter, Pentecost is just enthusiasm without authority.

But with Easter — with the tomb empty and Jesus alive — every promise of God becomes yes and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Easter is the turning point not just of Christian history, but of all history. It is the foundation of our faith, the fountain of our hope, and the fuel of our mission.

How You Can Experience Easter Personally

Easter is not just something to learn about — it’s something to live.

The resurrection of Jesus is not merely an event in history. It’s an invitation to transformation. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, you too can rise — out of shame, out of fear, out of spiritual death — into a new life filled with grace, peace, and eternal purpose.

But how do you receive this? How can the power of Easter become real in your own story?

1. Believe the Resurrection Is for You

The first step is faith. Easter becomes personal when you realize that Jesus didn’t just die and rise again in general — He did it for you.

“God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16

You are part of that “whoever.” The cross was for your sin. The empty tomb is for your hope. And the risen Christ is calling your name — just like He called Mary at the tomb.

You don’t have to have all the answers. You don’t have to be religious. You just need to believe that Jesus is who He says He is: Savior, Lord, and the Living One.

2. Repent and Turn Toward the Light

The resurrection shines light into every dark corner of our lives — not to condemn us, but to heal and restore us. To experience Easter personally means we must turn away from the things that separate us from God: our pride, addictions, bitterness, lies, and rebellion.

The Bible calls this repentance — not just feeling sorry, but changing direction.

“Repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
— Acts 3:19

If you’re tired of carrying your guilt, if you’re exhausted from hiding or pretending, Easter offers you freedom. Jesus bore the weight of your sin so you don’t have to carry it anymore.

3. Receive the Gift of New Life

Salvation is not earned — it is received. It’s not about being good enough. It’s about accepting the grace of a God who loves you enough to die for you, and powerful enough to raise you into new life.

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
— Romans 10:9

This promise is for anyone — the religious and the rebellious, the broken and the hardened, the churchgoer and the skeptic. All are invited to receive this gift.

Right here. Right now.

4. Walk in the Power of the Resurrection Daily

Easter is not a one-time decision — it’s the beginning of a new journey.

To follow the risen Jesus means learning to walk with Him in everyday life: through prayer, Scripture, worship, community, and obedience. It means dying to the old self and letting Christ live through you.

You’re not walking alone. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in you — strengthening you, guiding you, transforming you from the inside out.

“We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death… that just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too may live a new life.”
— Romans 6:4

If you’ve ever longed for a second chance… this is it.

If you’ve ever wished to begin again… now is the time.

If you’ve ever felt like something inside you was dead… Jesus can raise it.

Easter is not distant. It’s not abstract. It’s as near as your next breath.

Your Invitation Today

Maybe you’ve made it this far through the article with questions still stirring in your heart.

Maybe you’ve felt the weight of failure, the ache of loneliness, or the guilt of sin that never quite lets go. Maybe you’ve tried religion, self-help, or numbing the pain — and none of it has brought peace.

But Easter is not the end of the story. It’s the beginning of yours.

Jesus Christ didn’t stay in the grave. He rose — with scars that still speak of love, with power that still breaks chains, with eyes that still seek yours.

He is alive.
And He is calling.

This is your invitation.

The Gospel in Simple Words

God created you for a relationship with Him.
Sin separated you from that relationship.
Jesus came, lived perfectly, died sacrificially, and rose victoriously to bring you back to God.
Now, through faith, you can be forgiven, made new, and filled with His Spirit.

This isn’t about joining a religion. It’s about being rescued by a Savior who went to the cross for you — and walked out of the tomb so you could live.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here!”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17

A Prayer to Begin Again

If your heart is stirring — don’t wait. Don’t let this moment pass. You can speak to Jesus right now.

You might pray something like this:

“Lord Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You died for my sins and rose again to give me new life. I turn from my old ways and ask for Your forgiveness. I receive Your gift of grace and invite You to be my Savior and Lord. Fill me with Your Spirit. Help me to follow You all the days of my life. Thank You for loving me. Amen.”

There is no magic in the words — the power is in the sincerity of your heart and the grace of the risen Christ who never turns away those who come to Him.

What’s Next?

If you’ve prayed — or if you’re still seeking — here are some first steps you can take:

Start reading the Bible — begin with the Gospel of John.
Talk to God daily — prayer is simply honest conversation.
Find a Bible-believing church that will walk with you.
Tell someone — share what God is doing in your life.
Remember this day — the day your story changed.

Easter means Jesus is alive. And because He’s alive, nothing — not even death — has the final word over your life.

So come to Him.

Come with your sin, your sorrow, your searching.

Come and be raised.

He is risen. He is calling. And today, He is calling you.