The Meaning of Easter - Pt. 1

 

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. (Luke 24:1-8 ESV).

 

As I mentioned yesterday, Easter can easily be misunderstood. Because of that truth, we will spend a few days reviewing some of the traditions and practices that have developed over the years. First we should remember that at its very essence Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion; however, it is also a popular secular holiday celebrated by the majority of North Americans. Colored eggs, Easter egg hunts, and baskets full of candy, all brought by a mysterious magical bunny, delight the culture-at-large, regardless of faith background.

 

It is also a time for families to gather together on Easter Sunday to share feasts of ham, lamb, and deviled eggs. And for some an Easter sunrise or worship service may be an important annual experience. But where did these traditions come from? Do any of them have biblical or religious significance, or are they secular, or even pagan, in origin? Well, the answers may surprise you.

 

First, let me be clear from the outset that the Bible does not directly mention a holiday or festival set aside for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. However, the event that Easter celebrates, the resurrection, is chronicled in all four of the gospels and is referred to over one hundred times throughout the New Testament. The first known written reference to a holiday celebrating the resurrection, referred to then as Pashca (the Latin translation of the Greek word for Passover), was made in the mid-2nd century AD. The account reflects a developed mode of celebrating the resurrection by that time, signaling that Easter was likely celebrated by even the earliest of Christians. The resurrection is a cornerstone even and as such it is pivotal in our church calendar. Through the years other meaningful practices were added. We’ll look at those in the following days. Today, center your attention on the fact that Jesus is risen!