The
Origin of Easter
The
origin of Easter dates back to ancient times, not long after the
global Flood recorded in Genesis 6-9 of the Bible. Nimrod, a grandson
of Noah, had turned from following his grandfather's God and had
become a tyrannical ruler. According to the biblical record, as king,
Nimrod created Babel, Ninevah, Asshur, Calla and other cities, all
known for lifestyles that promoted unspeakable evil and perversion.
When Nimrod died, his wife, Queen Semiramis, deified him as
the Sun-god, or Life Giver. Later he would become known as Baal, and
those who followed the religion Semiramis created in his name would
be called Baal worshipers. They became associated with idolatry,
demon worship, human sacrifice and other practices regarded as evil
or pagan.
For Christians, the origin of Easter is simply the
crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ about 2,000 years ago.
According to the Gospel accounts, Jesus Christ, the true Messiah
promised in the Old Testament, was crucified and resurrected at the
time of the Jewish Passover. Since that awesome event took place,
those who believe Christ is their Messiah have honored that day and
often celebrated it with the traditional Passover.
As the
Gospel of Christ spread throughout non-Jewish nations, among people
who did not have a history of celebrating the Passover, the pagan
rites of Easter gradually became assimilated into what the Christian
church calls "Resurrection Day." Compromising the
commandments of God with the comfort of the world is as old as the
nation of Israel itself.
Why is
Resurrection Sunday Significant to The Christian faith?
Whether
it is called Easter or Resurrection Sunday is not as important as the
event and purpose of the resurrection. However, the timing of the
crucifixion and resurrection is significantly meaningful. The
resurrection of Jesus is the culmination of all things meaningful,
faith and fact, in establishing a relationship with God.
God
used the timing, which occurred just after "Passover" and
during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, to illustrate the ultimate
sacrifice He made for sinners. Without this sacrifice, Christianity
would be an empty religion. Every purpose of Jesus Christ, His
atonement for sin, would be unfulfilled and the foundation of
Christianity would fall apart.
The Passover commemorates
God's "passing over" the Hebrew's homes by the angel of
death (Exodus 12:29). By accepting Jesus, we are promised eternal
life and we are saved from spiritual death. The Feast of Unleavened
Bread begins with unleavened bread (made without yeast) and
sacrificing an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. Leavening represents
the escape from bondage and sin. Jesus is called the Lamb of God
through whom the only escape is possible.
Jesus' crucifixion
and resurrection are God's provision for the perfect and final
sacrifice for man's sins. God requires no other payment for sins!
With this provision, mankind is granted opportunity for new life by
the forgiveness of sin and escape from its bondage. It is ours for
the mere acceptance of this gift.
The
Story of Easter (Resurrection Sunday) From The Bible
After
Jesus was crucified, Joseph of Arimathea had Christ's body placed in
his own tomb. A large stone covered the entrance and soldiers guarded
the sealed tomb. On the third day, the first day of the week
(Sunday), several women (Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James,
Joanna and Salome are all mentioned in the gospel accounts) went to
the tomb at dawn to anoint the body of Jesus.
However,
as they got there a violent earthquake took place as an angel
from heaven rolled back the stone. The guards shook in fear as the
angel, dressed in bright white, sat upon the stone. Then the angel
announced to the women that Jesus who was crucified was no longer in
the tomb, "He is risen, just as he said." Then he
instructed the women to inspect the tomb and see for themselves. Next
he told them to go inform the disciples.
With a mixture of
fear and joy they ran to obey the angel's command, but suddenly Jesus
met them on their way. They fell at his feet and worshiped him. Jesus
then said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go
to Galilee. There they will see me."
When the guards
reported what had happened to the chief priests, they bribed the
soldiers with a large sum of money, telling them to lie and say that
the disciples had stolen the body in the night.
After
his resurrection, Jesus appeared to the women near the tomb and later
at least twice to the disciples while they were gathered at a house
in prayer.
To
study the Scriptures regarding the resurrection please click on
the links below:
Proof of the
Resurrection:
There
are at least 12 different appearances of Christ in the resurrection
accounts, beginning with Mary and ending with Paul. They were
physical, tangible experiences with Christ eating, speaking and
allowing himself to be touched.
He
visited two of the disciples on the road to Emmaus and he also
appeared at the Sea of Galilee while several of the disciples were
fishing.
Jesus'
resurrected body was different from his physical body. It was no
longer subject to the same laws of nature. He could transcend locked
doors, and yet he could still be touched and he could eat.
Before
Jesus ascended into heaven he gave the Great Commission, telling his
followers to go and make disciples of all nations.
The stone
was not rolled away from the tomb so Jesus could get out. He was able
to walk through walls in his resurrected body. The stone was rolled
away so that everyone could see that he was risen.
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