What is Easter, and why do Christians celebrate this holiday?

[Chad]

Easter Day, which falls on Sunday for most Christians in the U.S., celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. After being executed on a cross on Good Friday, Jesus was buried in a tomb. That first Easter, some 2,000 years ago, God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. The account is found in all four Gospels of the New Testament in the Bible.

That’s the basic definition. I hope every Christian knows that much, and I suspect that many non-Christians know this much, too. Beyond those basics, much of our Easter celebration is layered in tradition.

Our churches are often decorated with white lilies and other spring flowers. Families gather for festive meals, often eating ham or lamb. For me personally, jelly beans are always a highlight of Easter customs. It’s traditional to buy new clothes to wear to church on Easter. And if you come to a church on Easter Day, it’s likely you’ll sing hymns and songs beloved by that church community.

But if we keep looking at Easter, it gets more complex and the meaning deepens. The day is larger than the commemoration of a historic event, and it’s larger than familiar traditions. For on Easter, everything changed.

We Christians believe that Jesus Christ was sent by God the father to live among us, to show us perfect love. Jesus loved outcasts and sinners. Jesus offered hope and healing. Jesus said that our joy is found in sacrificial generosity, not in accruing possessions.

Jesus always told the truth. Jesus offered forgiveness of sin, even to those who betrayed and murdered him. Jesus said, over and over, that we shouldn’t be afraid. Jesus showed us perfect love.

Of course, the Roman Empire didn’t much care for someone preaching a message like this. The empire relied on wealth and was built on might and fear. Jesus’ teachings undercut all that.

Authorities conspired to kill Jesus in an attempt to silence his message. So Jesus was betrayed, arrested, tortured and executed on a cross. His followers lovingly cared for his body and he was buried in a stone tomb.

When women went to the tomb early on Easter morning, they found it was empty. Then they met the risen Jesus, who told them not to be afraid. These women told the men, Jesus’ disciples, the good news that Jesus had been raised from the dead, that he was alive.

People 2,000 years ago understood that when people die, they are meant to stay dead. So it was shocking to them to see their friend and teacher alive again. They were so convinced that Jesus was really, truly alive that many of them would willingly be martyred for their faith in the decades that followed.

Jesus’ followers rejoiced at Easter and developed deep faith. It wasn’t just that Easter showed them a really amazing miracle. No, the joy of Easter is even deeper than that.

Easter shows us that perfect love always wins. In the end, whatever powerful people might try to do to silence love, God’s way is always stronger.

Easter shows us that our mortal bodies die, but life for us continues. Easter shows us that we need not fear death. Death no longer has dominion over us.

This holiday celebrates a complete reorientation of the universe. Love defeats hate. Hope defeats fear. Sacrifice defeats greed. Mercy defeats might. Life defeats death.

If you celebrate Easter, you are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But you are also celebrating God’s great love for us, a love strong enough to defeat death itself. Happy Easter to you all.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. ~ Isaiah 53:5

original source: What is Easter, and why do Christians celebrate this holiday?

 

[Born Again 2004]

For those who don't rest in the finality of the cross, they will never rest in the reality of the Resurrection!

 

[Ivar]

Certain pagan elements and holidays was merged into the Christian religion or belief system and Easter just happens to be one of them. Also deception that Christ rose on first day of week which is untrue.

 

[Fragrant Grace]

Greetings @Ivar

I agree

Certainly the celebration of easter is routed in pagan rituals.

For anyone who disagrees with this look for yourselves at the origins of Easter, the Spring Equinox, the Easter Bunny, Eostre.......etc

Let us as Christians celebrate Jesus and all He did for us in His death and ressurection everyday.

 

[Ivar]

Greetings @Ivar

I agree

Certainly the celebration of easter is routed in pagan rituals.

For anyone who disagrees with this look for yourselves at the origins of Easter, the Spring Equinox, the Easter Bunny, Eostre.......etc

Let us as Christians celebrate Jesus and all He did for us in His death and ressurection everyday.

@Fragrant Grace

Thank you for the encouragement.
We are supposed to take away and understand that he died on the Passover "14th day" and resurrected on the third day of the feast of unleavened bread "or 17th day"
Mary Magdalene visited him on the 22nd day which did happen to be on the first day of the week.

So Christ did not rise on the first day of the week but Mary Magdalene did visit the tomb on the first day of the week which was four days after Christ had risen.
That is the most logical interpretation that has been revealed to me so far.

 

[Fragrant Grace]

Greetings again @Ivar

Thank you for that information,
Very interesting :smile:

I havent studied the actual historical calendar in much detail, so I cant comment either way with regard to your " logical interpretation".

For me, it is enough to just believe and trust in the fact that Jesus died and rose again to save us from our sins.

Blessings grace and peace be unto you

 

[Lacawar]

I agree with Ivar!
CHRIST rose on the Sabbath Day, the great stone was already rolled away before they got there!
The angel confirmed HE was already is risen.

Mark 16:1-6
[1]And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
[2]And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
[3]And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
[4]And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
[5]And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
[6]And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

 

[Ivar]

Greetings again @Ivar

Thank you for that information,
Very interesting :smile:

I havent studied the actual historical calendar in much detail, so I cant comment either way with regard to your " logical interpretation".

For me, it is enough to just believe and trust in the fact that Jesus died and rose again to save us from our sins.

Blessings grace and peace be unto you

I agree with Ivar!
CHRIST rose on the Sabbath Day, the great stone was already rolled away before they got there!
The angel confirmed HE was already is risen.

Mark 16:1-6
[1]And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
[2]And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
[3]And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
[4]And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
[5]And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
[6]And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

@Lacawar
No! I never said that. Sometimes I wonder if I am speaking French in these Forums
#1 Christ died on the Sabbath; on Passover; on the 14th day of the month
#2 Christ rose three days after the Sabbath; on the third day of the feast of unleavened bread, or 17th day of the month
#3 Mary Magdalene visited the the tomb on the 22nd day of the month, or the day after the last day of the feast of unleavened bread; which is the 21 first day.

Christ died on the Sabbath and Mary Magdalene checked his tomb on the following day of the next Sabbath which would have been eight days later

It was on the 22nd day before sunrise.
Christ had already risen on the 17th day.
22-17=4
So four days ago.
This makes the most sense according to Scripture

 

[Lacawar]

Then we disagree!
Christ rose on the Sabbath Day which is before the 1st day of the week that they went to the tomb.

A lot of major things takes place on the Sabbath Days throughout the Bible.
You'll be amazed once you begin to see that connection!

 

[Ivar]

@Lacawar I can show you scripture where Christ died on the sabbath however where in scripture does it say that Christ rose on the sabbath?
Did he die on the Sabbath day and rise on the same Sabbath day?

Mark 16: [1]And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Which Sabbath is Mark talking about? The Passover Sabbath? or the Sabbath following the conclusion of the Feast of Unleavened Bread? or Some other Sabbath?

What Day did Christ die and how many days was he dead?

 

[Bendito]

@Lacawar I can show you scripture where Christ died on the sabbath however where in scripture does it say that Christ rose on the sabbath?
Did he die on the Sabbath day and rise on the same Sabbath day?

Mark 16: [1]And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Which Sabbath is Mark talking about? The Passover Sabbath? or the Sabbath following the conclusion of the Feast of Unleavened Bread? or Some other Sabbath?

What Day did Christ die and how many days was he dead?

Just so you know.....Look at the Hebrew calendars for that year...There would have been two sabbaths that week. Check todays calendars (Hebrew) It happens today.

 

[Lacawar]

If they went there the 1st day of the week isn't the sabbath day past?
CHRIST was already risen!

 

[Ivar]

Just so you know.....Look at the Hebrew calendars for that year...There would have been two sabbaths that week. Check todays calendars (Hebrew) It happens today.

@Bendito
very true. if you believe in the current lunar calendar of the Hebrews or the Greco-Roman Calendar as the Biblical calendar of calculating months and seasons then we would be at odds.

In the biblical calendar their is only one sabbath a week and a few high holy days or sabbaths in which the first day of the week would be a sabbath. The Passover "which is on a sabbath" was on Day 14 and the last day of week two. During week three the first day of the feast of unleavened bread is a high holy day so the 15th would technically be a Sabbath. The next Sabbath is six days later on the 21st which happens to be the 7th and the last day of the feast of unleavened bread. So week three did have two Sabbaths.

Sabbaths of That Month
Week 1= 7th Day "Weekly"
Week 2 = 14th Day "Weekly" which is "Passover"
Week 3 = First Day Feast of Unleavened Bread "15th day" and Last day or 7th day of feast of unleavened bread "21st day" "Weekly" {Technically two sabbaths week three}
Week 4 = 28th Day "Weekly"
No week 5 since weekly Sabbath intersects with next month

 

[Ivar]

If they went there the 1st day of the week isn't the sabbath day past?
CHRIST was already risen!

@Lacawar
so you answer my questions with a question?
My answer to you is yes. But you would have to go back to Genesis to see that there are 7 days in a week. With day 7 being the Sabbath and last day of week. The following day restarts the week at Day 1; of the first day of the week.

 

[Lacawar]

There are Sabbath days beside the covenant Sabbath Day! 7th day!

 

[Ivar]

There are Sabbath days beside the covenant Sabbath Day! 7th day!

@Lacawar yes. Look up High Sabbath and check out the following scriptures. Also if you learn anything new be careful not to beat anyone upside the head with this information. I am only giving information and would hope people verify it's validity before they absorb it. Of course I am not telling people to stop celebrating Easter, or Christmas or so on.

Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Joh 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

Normally the day of preparation is the day prior to the sabbath " the sixth day" currently 13th day however since the 15th day "or first day of the following week" was also a Sabbath day; The 7th or 14th day " which is the Passover was also a day of preparation"

Essentially
Day of Preparation is Day prior to Sabbath
Double Sabbaths have Double days of preparation
The first day of preparation would be before the first sabbath
The second day of preparation would be on the first sabbath.
Christ died on the Sabbath, On the Second Day of Preparation, and On the Passover all in one. Day 7 of the 2nd Week
Then the Second Sabbath was on the first day of feast of unleavened bread. or Day 1 of the third week

Lastly I noticed you still avoided my questions and disguised your new question with an exclamation mark lol
very interesting

 

[Lacawar]

If you understood it you would be in agreement by rightly dividing the word!

I have 2 questions for you.
Hopefully you can answer.
Who are the children of Israel according to scripture? And where is the Southern kingdom today?

 

[Ivar]

If you understood it you would be in agreement by rightly dividing the word!

I have 2 questions for you.
Hopefully you can answer.
Who are the children of Israel according to scripture? And where is the Southern kingdom today?

@Lacawar
If I understood? Either I do or I don't.
This particular post is about
What is Easter, and why do Christians celebrate this holiday?

But if i had to guess I would say the children of Israel are the descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and the Southern kingdom is opposite and south of the Northern Kingdom. I know this answer may seem sarcastic or smart alek like but is the best answer I think i can give you at this time.

My instincts tells me that you may already have an answer so unless someones contradicts it with valid scripture you should keep studying and for the time being remain steadfast with your answer. Because of disobedience the Heavenly Father made the children of Israel into no people for a time. More than likely a group of people with no authentic legacy and culture. A subservient group of people serving gentiles until the times of the gentiles be fulfilled. If you make a separate forum post on that topic tag me in and we can explore and post scripture.

 

[Lacawar]

I do, I am and I sure will.

Proverbs 4:7
[7]Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Thanks be to my AHAYAH!

 

[Ivar]

I do, I am and I sure will.

Proverbs 4:7
[7]Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Thanks be to my AHAYAH!

I AM? Exodus Chapter 3? You invoking a powerful name in these forums.
Don't be surprised if the founders of this site are high level Freemasons and observing you. lol
The earth is given into the hands of the wicked after all.