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Easter vs. Resurrection Day
The Easter season is upon us and it's such an exciting time for many people around the world. For many children it's a time for bright pastel colors, candies, Easter bunnies, and colored Easter eggs. To many women, it's all the above for their children plus maybe a new Spring dress along with buying and planting new flowers.
For Christians, this is the season we reflect and celebrate our Savior Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. Many of us actually prefer to call it (April 5th this year) Resurrection Day since the word 'Easter' is derived from ancient, non-Christian roots. Why do we celebrate it? The only way we can have forgiveness for our sins and live forever with our Creator is to have someone sinless (faultless) die in our place. The only sinless person in the universe is our Creator, Himself (YHWH is how the original writings name Him by leaving out the vowels. More on this in a blog later) so He came and was born in the form of man:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:14 NKJV)
He eventually died on a cross, was buried in a tomb, and then was raised to life by His Father on the third day, according to the Scriptures:
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
(1Corinthians 15:3-4 NKJV)
How awesome it is that our one and only Creator loved each of us so much that He was willing to send His one and only Son to be tortured and murdered on a cross by sinful men so that we could live with Him forever!! What magnificent love! What incredible forgiveness and mercy! What a wonderful Savior we have in Jesus Christ!
Learn more by clicking the Gospel link above or the Easter/Resurrection Day link in the header. Share this great news with others by downloading materials on the Download page and send people here to learn and glean and share with their circle of influence.
Have a great Resurrection Season!
So with such confusion about Easter, what traditions are Biblically (God/YHWH)-based?
We will use this comparison below to show what is AND what is not.
IS
NOT
So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.
Mark 15:15 NKJV
Read the entire story (opens in new window) beginning in Mark 14.
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.
Mark 16:4 NKJV
But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
Mark 16:6 NKJV
Read the rest of the story (opens in new window) in Mark 16.
So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
Mark 16:19 NKJV
FAQ
What do we do with the NOTs?
Do we get legalistic and shun these kid-fun activities from our culture and say God/YHWH is displeased? See below.
What is the origin of Easter?
Easter is an English transliteration of the word ISHTAR which was an ancient pagan goddess/idol. You can research this online. The word is not in the Bible.
What should we call this day?
It all comes down to "get the story straight". If you teach your kids the truth of the gospel and that these representations of Spring are just fun stuff, then have fun with it! At that point, it's a matter of simantics. God/Jesus/YHWH is not a stuff-shirt angry God. After all, is He not the Creator of all good and beautiful creatures and things including Spring? Enjoy!
