Easter commemorates the third-day resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb following his crucifixion. On Easter, Jesus fulfilled His promise to suffer persecution, die for our sins, and rise on the third day. Our daily experience of Jesus Christ’s resurrection encourages us to defeat sin.
However, there is more to discover about Easter!
This article will explore the meaning of Easter, its pagan associations, and its use by Christians today.
The Easter Holiday: What Is It and Why Do We Celebrate It?
Easter is the foundation of the Christian faith. By fulfilling prophecy, Jesus has given those who believe in his death and resurrection the gift of eternal life in heaven.
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Passover week, which precedes Easter, a celebration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Also, Jesus met with his disciples on Maundy Thursday to observe Passover, while his crucifixion was on Good Friday.
Pope Gregory 1 founded the 40 days lent fast on the pattern of Israel, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus’ wilderness experiences. Easter follows Lent, a time for repentance and remembrance in which many churches fast. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which ends on Good Friday, Christ’s death day.
The history of Easter and the first celebration
Christians celebrated the resurrection of Jesus during the Jewish Passover, which occurred on the fourteenth of Nisan (our March–April). Jesus had his Last Supper on the evening of Passover, and he was executed on the day of Passover because the Jewish day counts from sunset to sunset.
Easter dates back to the gentile Christians who celebrated Passover and worshipped Jesus as a Redeemer and a Lamb. Due to Constantine’s desire to completely isolate Christianity from Judaism, Easter is always observable on Sunday and never during the Jewish Passover, as dictated by the Council of Nicea.
Easter Sunday is the first full moon following the spring equinox. The vernal equinox’s date varies yearly, so calculating the correct date can be challenging. Since this method of calculating Easter is still in use today, some Easters fall earlier than others.
Christian Meaning of Easter
Easter is significant because of Christ’s victory over death. His resurrection symbolizes eternal life, which forms the Christian background today. Easter aims to fully confirm everything that Jesus said and did during His three-year ministry. He would have been regarded as just another teacher or prophet if He had not been raised from the dead or had passed away and not risen.
Nevertheless, the fact that He rose from the dead proved that He was God’s Son and had conquered death once and for all.
Easter and Passover: What’s the Connection?
The Passover is a celebration of Israelites from the time of slavery in Egypt and how God brought freedom. In contrast, Easter is a time for Christians to recall the overwhelming joy of the new birth by shedding his blood for the remittance of sin and the salvation given to humanity.
The connection between Passover and Easter celebrations is the sacrifice made by God to free humankind from death. Passover lamb is symbolic of the fulfilled prophecy as the lamb of God during Easter. The bread at the Passover feast symbolizes the body eaten and the blood poured out by Christ to mark his death and resurrection.
History of the Easter bunny and its connection to Christianity
Originally, Easter was a pagan celebration of renewal and rebirth; it is the history behind the Easter Bunny dates back to Germany in the 13th century. Among the Germanic people, the Teutons practiced paganism.
One such goddess was Eostra (sometimes spelled Ostara or Ostre). Her followers believed her to be the goddess of spring and fertility. She is the goddess from whom the word “Easter” derives. The rabbit became a symbol of Eostra (fertility) because of its prolific reproduction. The use of rabbits during this pagan festival also symbolizes new life.
Roman monks converted the Anglo-Saxons in AD 595 upon the request of the Pope. Anglo-Saxons revered Eostra, as did their German forebears. Following their conversion, they celebrated rabbit symbolism and springtime renewal while accepting Easter celebrations.
It has become a cultural tradition for children to visit the Easter Bunny and hunt for his Easter egg each year.
The color purple and its connection to the Easter season
Purple is associated with Easter because the Roman soldiers mocked Jesus’ title as king of the Jews during his crucifixion by wearing purple clothing on him. Ancient times regarded sea snail dye as highly valuable because of its sourcing. As a result, purple became associated with royalty, and kings wore it.
A placard with the words “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” was nailed to Jesus’ cross after the soldiers stripped Him of His purple robe.
In memory of the purple robe the Roman soldiers mockingly placed on Jesus during His Passion, churches use purple during Lent and Easter to grieve his mental and physical suffering.
The spiritual meaning of Easter in today’s church services
The risen Christ is the reason Christians celebrate Easter. It is believed worldwide by Christians that Jesus rose from the dead on the 3rd day and atoned for sin by dying on the cross. The early church adopted many pagan traditions into Christianity, which makes the celebration of Easter a debate till today. The following are a few among many:
- Most churches hold sunrise services to celebrate Christ’s resurrection at a particular time.
- Resurrection rolls are used in some churches to educate children about the empty tomb of Jesus. The resurrection rolls contain a giant marshmallow, symbolizing Jesus’ empty tomb!
- In churches and homes, Easter Lilies symbolize the purity of Jesus’ sacrifice and how he gave us new life through his resurrection.
FAQ
What does Easter mean literally?
It refers to the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ held on the first Sunday following the Paschal Full Moon. However, the exact date varies depending on the calendar.
What does the Bible say about Easter?
The Bible prohibits Christians from observing certain days above others, so the Easter celebration will always be unbiblical. In Galatians 4:10–11, the Bible says you follow days, months, periods, and years. I am terrified of you because I don’t want to invest my labor in you in vain. As a result of idolatry, God is highly unsatisfied when followers treat some days better than others.
What is the meaning of Easter Sunday?
Resurrection is the real meaning of Easter because it commemorates the beginning of a new covenant between God and humanity.
