"THE CELEBRATION OF EASTER"

 

A Historical and Biblical Perspective

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

1. "Easter Sunday" is an annual holiday celebrated by many:

a. Millions of people commemorate the resurrection of Jesus on this day

b. Many consider it as "the most holy" of religious holidays

c. For some, it marks the only time they attend church services (although Christmas runs a close second)

 

2. But were you aware:

a. That the church in the New Testaments did not observe a YEARLY observance of the Lord's resurrection?

1) The word "Easter" was originated in the Bishops Bible produced by the Church of Rome in 1568 and is found only once in the KJV Bible - Acts 12:4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

2) The word in the Greek is actually "Passover", and so translated elsewhere in the KJV

3) "It is reasonably certain that the New Testaments contains no reference to:

a YEARLY celebration of the resurrection of Christ" (ISBE)

b. That the word "Easter" actually comes from "EASTRE", the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility.

1) To her was dedicated a month corresponding to our April

2) Her festival was celebrated on the day of vernal equinox

c. That many of the customs associated with Easter illustrate this and other pagan connections:

1) "The rabbit was sacred to the Germanic goddess 'Eastre', the goddess of fertility and springtime...And if you stop to think about it, rabbits are an extremely appropriate symbol for springtime, because of what they are famous for--having more rabbits." (William Heim, associate dean of the College of Arts and Letters at USF, Orlando Sentinel, 4/15/87)

2) "It appears there was a custom among ancient Egyptians and Romans to give eggs as presents at this time of year.  That was intended to insure that the recipient would have a very fertile or productive year." (Helms, ibid.)

3) Helms went on to say that hunting for Easter eggs may have begun as the search for gifts from the sacred animal, the rabbit, on the morning of the festival.

 

3. This ought to prompt some questions in the minds of Christians:

a. How did the YEARLY observance of Jesus' resurrection get started?

b. How did pagan names and traditions become associated with a "Christian" holiday (esp. one considered "the most holy")?

c. What bearing should all this have on Christians today:

1) Should the Lord's church involve herself in such a holiday?

2) How about observing certain elements of it as individuals?

 

Here are the results of my own study on these things. Beginning with...

 

I. LOOKING AT EASTER FROM A "HISTORICAL" PERSPECTIVE:

 

A. THE YEARLY OBSERVANCE OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION:

     

1. The practice began early, in the form of a "Christian" Passover:

a. The Passover was already an important feast to the Jews

1) Instituted by Moses, commemorating their deliverance from Egypt

2) It was during this feast that Jesus instituted the "Lord's Supper"

b. Many Jews continued to keep their Jewish customs and religious festivals after their conversion to Christ

1) Paul was not averse to observing such Jewish customs - Acts 18:18-21 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. - Acts 21:17-26 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

2) John and Philip were said to observe the Passover every year (cf. Eusebius)

-- But the Passover (and other Jewish festivals) was never bound upon the Gentiles (more on this later)

c. Shortly after the death of the apostles, some of the "Jewish" festivals began to be observed as "Christian" festivals

1) I.e., the Passover was now observed in memory of Christ's death

a) Who died during Passover week

b) Who was offered as our Passover lamb for our sins - 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

2) Thus began a YEARLY observance:

a) Even though Christ instituted the Lord's Supper as the proper memorial to commemorate His death - Luke 22:14-20 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.

b) Both biblical and historical evidence indicate that this was a WEEKLY observance - Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. - 1 Corinthians 11:20-22 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. - 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

     

2. The yearly "Christian Passover" soon included other observances as well:

a. Palm Sunday, the day Jesus made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem prior to His death

b. Good Friday, the day He was crucified

c. Resurrection Sunday, the day He arose and which came to be known as "Easter"

     

3. Celebrating these days was not without controversy:

a. In the 2nd and 3rd century there was much dispute over the proper date

1) The churches in Asia Minor followed Jewish chronology

a) So they celebrated the Passover when the Jews did, on the 14th of Nisan

b) The Jewish calendar is a lunar calendar, which meant the day of the week would vary from year to year

c) Thus the day of Passover would vary, and with it the day of celebrating Jesus' resurrection

2) Others observed the events on the day of the week in which they occurred

a) So that the "Christian Passover" always fell on a Thursday

b) The commemoration of Jesus' death would be on a Friday

c) The celebration of the resurrection on a Sunday

b. This created quite a stir...

1) While some were sorrowfully commemorating the death of Jesus, others were joyously celebrating His resurrection

2) Churches threatened to "excommunicate" one another

c. Even after the Jewish calendar was dropped, and it was agreed to celebrate these holidays on the same days of the week, there was still a problem:

1) There was no agreement on which calendar to use (Gregorian or Julian)

2) Which explains the difference between the observances by the Roman and Greek orthodox churches today

 

-- So the YEARLY observance of the resurrection originated from human tradition, not the Bible itself, and proved to be a source of turmoil among the churches

  

B. THE INTRODUCTION OF PAGAN CUSTOMS:

     

1. Assimilation of pagan ritual into "Christian" observances was a common practice

a. When people took the gospel into a pagan area:

1) Many would not discourage the local residents to discard their pagan rituals

2) Instead, they would attempt to give such customs a "Christian" flavor

b. As Helms, quoted earlier, went on to say:

1) "With the advent of Christianity, the egg, still taken as a symbol of life, was simply borrowed to be a symbol of the Christian holiday."

2) "The earliest Easter eggs were dyed red to represent the blood shed by Christ."

3) "Many cultures celebrated the advent of spring down through history. When Christianity came along about 2,000 years ago, there was already a number of pagan celebrations in place."

4) "People rarely discard a holiday. When a new system of beliefs comes along, you simply come up with a new mythic structure to explain why you were celebrating that holiday in the first place."

     

2. The effect of such assimilation:

a. It eventually "neutralized" the pagan rituals

1) Who would have ever thought of "Easter" as the name of a goddess?

2) Without the help of historical research, we would have forgotten the pagan origins

b. But it also leaves many people with erroneous conceptions:

1) E.g., having people believe that Christians have always observed a yearly regarding the death and resurrection of Jesus

2) E.g., in the case of Christmas, leading people to believe that Jesus was actually born on December 25th, not knowing that it was originally a Roman feast day

 

But this has been looking at Easter from a "historical" perspective. As disciples of Christ, our primary concern should be the "biblical" perspective...

 

II. LOOKING AT EASTER FROM A "BIBLICAL" PERSPECTIVE:

 

A. PAUL GAVE WARNINGS REGARDING FEAST DAYS:

 

1. Paul expressed his concern for the churches in Galatia - Galatians 4:8-11 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain.

a. He does not say that their practice was wrong per se, only that he is concerned

b. From the context, his concern pertained to "why" they were doing these things

1) If they believed it was necessary to be saved, then Paul's labor among them was in danger of being in vain

2) For seeking justification through the Law, religious feast days, etc., causes one to fall from grace and become estranged from Christ! - Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

 

2. Paul admonished the Colossians not to let anyone "judge" them - Colossians 2:16-17 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

a. Some were seeking to bind the Law upon the Gentile believers - Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. - Acts 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

b. Gentile Christians were told not to let any one judge (condemn) them, for salvation is in Christ, not in the keeping of the religious feast days of the Law

 

3. But as we noted before, Paul was not averse to observing certain feast days himself

a. He did not hesitate to keep Jewish customs when expedient - 1 Corinthians 9:19-20 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

1) He had Timothy circumcised - Acts 16:1-3 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

2) He took a vow - Acts 18:18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

3) He sought to keep a Jewish feast in Jerusalem - Acts 18:19-21 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

4) He participated in purification ceremonies, which included animal sacrifices - Acts 21:17-26 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. - Numbers 6:13-20And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: And he shall offer his offering unto the LORD, one he lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace offerings, And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings. And the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin offering, and his burnt offering: And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread: the priest shall offer also his meat offering, and his drink offering. And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings. And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven: And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine.

b. However, in his teaching it was made clear:

1) It should be kept on an individual basis - Romans 14:5-6 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

2) It should not be bound on others - Galatians 2:3-5 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

3) It had nothing to do with our justification in Christ - Galatians 5:4-6 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

 

-- Where Paul drew the line was in making such matters church doctrine or practice, where people were compelled to do them

 

B. JESUS WARNED OF THE DANGER OF HUMAN TRADITIONS:

 

1. He rebuked the scribes Pharisees for their use of traditions - Mark 7:1-13 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do aught for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

a. They made their traditions necessary for all to observe - Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

b. In keeping their traditions, they laid aside the commands of God - Mark 7:8-9 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

 

2. Traditions of men are wrong, then, when they:

a. Become matters of doctrine or required practice, bound upon all

b. Displace the commands of God by the very keeping of the traditions

 

-- Traditions are therefore like the feast days;  in certain situations they can be matters of expediency, but if we are not careful they can become a stumbling block to us!

 

C. MAKING APPLICATION IN REGARDS TO EASTER:

 

1. The Bible is silent regarding any YEARLY observance of Christ's resurrection

a. God and Jesus evidently did not deem it necessary for the church

b. Any yearly observance is based upon human tradition, not God's Word

 

2. As a human tradition, we must be very careful - Mark 7:7-9 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

a. It cannot become a matter of doctrine, which is bound upon others

b. It cannot displace the keeping of God's commandments [do those who come only on Easter believe that it renders the command in (Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.) of no effect?]

 

3. An annual observance by the church is unwise, if not wrong

a. It intertwines human traditions with God's commands for His church

b. It forces people to observe what is a human tradition

 

4. On an individual basis, however, if one wishes to esteem one day above another:

 

a. It is between him and the Lord - Romans 14:5-6 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

b. Be careful not to condemn those who differ - Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. - Romans 10-12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

c. Be sensitive to the convictions of others - Romans 14:13-19 - Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

 

5. As for the pagan elements:

a. Again, perhaps this is best left on an individual basis

b. My own understanding is that we are free in Christ to change what may have been a religious practice at one time for personal use as an expediency

1) E.g., using circumcision for personal hygiene

2) E.g., using colored eggs and hiding them for family entertainment

 

CONCLUSION:

 

1. My view of Easter is similar to how I view Thanksgiving:

a. I know that the idea of an annual observance is foreign to the Scriptures

b. As Christians we should give thanks and celebrate Christ's resurrection year around

c. But seeking to "continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine" (Acts 2:42 -  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.), the Lord's church should refrain from adding human traditions to its work and worship

d. Yet I am grateful that I live in a country where at least once a year people think about God's blessings, especially in the gift of His Dear Son

 

2. My prayer is that people will do more than think about God's Son once a year:

a. That we be thankful in everything and on every day

b. That we live in the power of the resurrected Life, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord:

1) Which comes by being in Christ

2) Which comes by living daily in service to Him who died for us, and rose again!

 

2 Corinthians 13:4 - For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

 

Galatians 2:20 - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13

 

Are you living daily for Christ, serving Him by the power of His resurrected life?