THE MEANING OF EASTER SUNDAY.

12/04/2020

By PRAISE

What is Easter?

Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb on the third day after his crucifixion. Easter is the fulfilled prophecy of the Messiah who would be persecuted, die for our sins, and rise on the third day. Remembering the resurrection of Jesus is a way to renew daily hope that we have victory over sin. According to the New Testament, Easter is three days after the death of Jesus on the cross. 

Easter follows a period of fasting called Lent, in which many churches set aside time for repentance and remembrance. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Good Friday, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. The 40 day period was established by Pope Gregory 1 using the 40-day pattern of Israel, Moses, Elijah and Jesus’ time in the wilderness. 

The week leading up to Easter is called The Holy Week, or “Passion Week”, and includes Palm Sunday (the day Jesus entered Jerusalem and was celebrated), Maundy Thursday (the “Last Supper” where Jesus met with his disciples to observe Passover), and Good Friday (when Jesus would be crucified on the cross). 

Easter is a very significant date within Christianity and is the foundation of the Christian faith. Jesus, the Son of God, fulfilled prophecy and through his death, has given the gift of eternal life in heaven to those who believe in his death and resurrection.

What does the word “Easter” mean?

Though the origin of the word is not certain, it still have a prove for it’s celebration.

The Venerable Bede, an eighth-century monk, and scholar, suggested that the word may have come from the Anglo-Saxon Eeostre or Eastre – a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility. Recent scholars haven’t been able to find any reference to the goddess Bede mentioned and consider the theory discredited. 

Another possibility is the Norse eostur, eastur, or ostara, which meant “the season of the growing sun” or  “the season of new birth.” The word east comes from the same roots. In this case, easter would be linked to the changing of the season.

A more recent and complex explanation comes from the Christian background of Easter rather than the pagan. The early Latin name for the week of Easter was hebdomada alba or “white week,” while the Sunday after Easter day was called dominica in albis from the white robes of those who had been newly baptized. The word alba is Latin both for white and dawn.  People speaking Old High German made a mistake in their translation and used a plural word for dawn, ostarun, instead of a plural for white. From ostarun we get the German Ostern and the English Easter.

What do people do on Easter day?

Christians celebrate the Easter with special church services, music, lighting of candle, eating and dancing to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Easter celebration is done by both the Religious and the Non-Religious people. But for the religious people who know the importance of the celebration such do the following:

>Pay attention to the significance of different days of Easter weekend.

>Attend Easter services at your church.

>Read the Easter story in your bible. 

>Discuss Jesus’s sacrifice with your family.

>Focus on the personal meaning this holiday has for you.

>Celebrate with your family and friends.

What are the Significance of Easter ?

The New Testament states that the Resurrection of Jesus, which Easter celebrates, is the foundation of the Christian faith. The Resurrection established Jesus as the powerful Son of God and is cited as proof that God will judge the world in righteousness.

God has given Christians “a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”. Christians,
through faith in the working of God are spiritually resurrected with Jesus so that they may walk in a new way of life. Easter is linked to the Passover and Exodus from Egypt recorded in the Old Testament through the Last Supper and crucifixion that preceded the Resurrection. According to the New Testament, Jesus gave the Passover meal a new meaning, as he prepared himself and his disciples for his death in the Upper Room during the Supper. He identified the bread and cup of wine as his body soon to be sacrificed and his blood soon to be shed.