Easter is an annual celebration in which the church honors Christ resurrection in a special way.
However, in practice we end up in a special way recognizing and remembering Jesus Christ birth, life, sacrificial death, burial, resurrection, and ascension with the emphasis on his resurrection more so.
Christian holidays are considered by Christians to be special holydays. So let no one judge you as to their validity if they are intended to honor and glorify God and you do not violate any biblical sound doctrinal principles.
For Colossians 2:16-17 says “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come….”
Easter is a special annual celebration of Christ resurrection. If you are a person who do not believe you ought to participate in Easter or any celebration of Christ resurrection, that is okay. For God does not command anyone to celebrate Christ resurrection or Easter. God does not command anyone to not celebrate Christ resurrection or Easter. It is all a matter of human preference. God’s only requirement is that if you celebrate Christ resurrection, that you do so using holy behavior and activities.
Easter should not be viewed as the same as the Leviticus 23:4-8 Mosaic Passover. However, there is a relationship between Easter and the Leviticus 23 feasts as discussed in my article entitled Easter and the Leviticus 23 Feasts.
For me Easter is really a dual celebration: (1) the killing of the lamb as payment for our sins as represented by Jesus crucifixion unto death on the cross per John 1:29, and (2) our anticipated total freedom from earthly bondage as represented by Jesus resurrection and ascension per John 11:25-26 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
Thus, for me Easter begins with what we know as Good Friday (Memorial of Jesus Crucifixion) and ends with what we know as Easter Sunday (Celebration of Jesus Resurrection). Easter Sunday is often shortened to simply refer to as Easter.
This is one and perhaps the major reason some denominations refer to Easter as some period of time (e.g., seven days) leading up to and culminating on Easter Sunday and some even go beyond Easter Sunday. Thus, it would be only partially right to refer to Easter as Happy Resurrection Day.
The death and resurrection dual celebration characteristic of Easter is one and perhaps the major reason some denominations refer to Easter as some period of time (e.g., seven days) leading up to and culminating on Easter Sunday and some even go beyond Easter Sunday. Thus, it would be only partially right to refer to Happy Easter as Happy Resurrection Day.
So then Easter Sunday (or shortened form Easter) is that time period when we celebrate in a special way Christ as our Passover with respect to his crucifixion sacrifice (Lamb slain), burial, and resurrection victory (giving us hope for freedom from earthly bondage).
Some use the word Eastertime as the period surrounding Easter Sunday. So then Eastertime is the celebratory period that involves recognition of Christ final days, his crucifixion, shed blood, burial and resurrection and perhaps even representing his ascension.
Easter is a mechanism to carry out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Some may celebrate Easter in an unholy manner as some do their own birthdays and family reunions, etc. Christians all over the world celebrate Easter in different ways but let all those ways be in a holy manner in faith and practice. For the Lord our God is holy and he says we are to be holy even as he is holy.
Easter is a worldwide public event in which most if not all adults think about the person called Jesus at least for a moment. Just walking through the stores one sees reminders of the celebration. Children may ask what is it mother, what is it about father? Parents then can say it is about Jesus. Even if the parent is not a believer, the parent may still give the history of it. The child can then make up in his or her own mind to seek to learn more about this Jesus one day.
So even if just for that reality, Easter as a national and worldwide public celebration has value in the eyes of God and the Christian faith. For even little children get to hear about Jesus to some extent.
Now a word about Good Friday.
In Matthew 12:38-40 Jesus speaks of being three days and three nights in the heart of the earth in speaking of his crucifixion, burial, and subsequent resurrection.
It is understood that people disagree on what Jesus meant by three days and three nights. It is understood that it is controversial as to whether he meant three 24 hour periods or 72 hours, or if a part of the day would cause the whole day to be counted.
It is understood Jesus may not have been crucified on a Friday. Therefore, it is understood that Good Friday is just a day chosen to represent that day in which Jesus was crucified.
The Easter I discuss herein is not a feast or holiday commanded by God in the Bible. In that respect, it is similar to Christmas. It is also similar to Hanukkah, also known as feast of dedication (John 10:22). Hanukkah is not commanded by God in the Bible. Though neither Christmas, Easter, or nor Hanukkah are commanded by God, they are good and right to do.
See my article entitled Legitimacy of Holydays, Holidays, & Other Celebrations.
See my article entitled Easter or Passover Controversy. for information on the relationship between Easter and the Mosaic Passover the early church wrestled with.
See my article entitled The Words Easter and Passover for more information on the word Easter as translated in the KJV (Acts 12:4).
See my article entitled Easter and the Leviticus 23 Feasts.
See my article entitled A Note on Hanukkah for a discussion of it and a more detailed look at the legitimacy of holidays not commanded by God in the Bible.
See Celebration of Easter Part 2 for more details on Easter.
To God Be the Glory!
