Watchman’s Question: What Does Easter, With Its Bunnies, Chicks, and Eggs, Have to Do With the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?

HNewsWire:

Is Easter's origin biblical? What is the Bible's take on Easter? What is the significance of Easter? Do Christians have to celebrate Easter? According to a brief history of Easter, the name "Easter" comes from the Anglo-Saxon Eostre, the goddess of spring. Bunnies are fertility symbols, whereas eggs were pagan symbols of death and life.

Is there any mention of Easter in the Bible?

If you searched for the word "Easter," you would only find it in the King James Bible, in Acts 12:1-4.

Around that time, Herod the king stretched out his hands to vex certain members of the church. And he killed John's brother, James, with the sword. And, seeing that it pleased the Jews, he went on to take Peter as well. (This was back in the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he imprisoned him and gave him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him out to the people after Easter."

To gain some understanding, we must first examine the history of Easter and the details mentioned above in depth. Herod Agrippa I, who ruled from 37 to 44 AD, executed James in the final year of his reign. What day comes to mind when one thinks of Easter throughout history and in the twenty-first century? Most likely on Sunday. However, what day was Easter in 44 AD? Thursday.

Passover

When we look at the history of Easter, we can see that the word Easter was used to replace the word Pesach "which is more accurately translated as Passover. For centuries, Passover foreshadowed Jesus' death. Easter, which was mentioned in Acts 12, had nothing to do with Sunday. Passover is actually associated with a calendar day of the year, rather than a specific day of the week. Like a birthday, a wedding anniversary, or the Fourth of July. You commemorate the date rather than the day. Even though it was a Thursday in 1776, Independence Day is not always celebrated on Thursdays.

What else is there in the Bible about Easter?

After the resurrection, Sunday is simply referred to as the "First day of the week" rather than the "day of the resurrection" throughout the New Testament. Which begs the question: if God gave no significance to the day, how did Sunday come to be regarded as the weekly commemoration of the resurrection? This is a discussion for another time.

It should be noted that the Jews did not have a ceremony to commemorate Jesus' future resurrection. The emphasis was on the great sacrifice that God would make on that specific Passover day in the future. Furthermore, there is no Biblical command to commemorate or memorialize His resurrection day. The New Testament's silence on this subject should be noted, given that the majority of its books were written many years after Christ's death and resurrection.

What is the true significance of Easter?

Let us look to the Bible for the meaning of Easter and how it relates to Jesus' resurrection. According to Romans, baptism was given instead of Easter as a symbol of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. According to Romans 6:3-5, "Or do you not realize that those of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were also baptized into His death? As a result, we were buried with Him in baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we may also walk in newness of life. For if we have been united in the likeness of His death, we will undoubtedly be united in the likeness of His resurrection."

What we see is that the true meaning is more than just a church service commemorating the resurrection one day a year. We can even celebrate the resurrection by allowing Christ's resurrection to become a reality in our lives as we live victorious lives. Christ's death and resurrection are a daily reminder of how God's good will can triumph over evil forces, how truth will triumph and expose the lie, how love will triumph over sin, and how the blessed hope of eternal life will even put an end to death one day.

Is it inappropriate to celebrate Easter?

Let me clarify something. Is remembering the resurrection wrong? No. It would be incorrect not to remember it. Is observing Easter the best way to do so? It would be remiss not to acknowledge the pagan influence that has become associated with the resurrection at Easter. Nowhere in the Bible or in connection with Christ's resurrection are bunnies, chicks, or eggs mentioned.

However, where there is an opportunity to share Christ's message and gospel without compromising biblical truth, Christ's "wise as serpents, harmless as doves" counsel is appropriate. How we observe it should be carefully considered, with Bible study and prayer guiding our decisions.