Why We Celebrate Easter
February 25th, 2009
Easter commemorates of the burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It usually falls between late March and late April. This period marks a very important time on the Christian Calendar and is a very solemn time, dedicated to getting closer, and having a better relationship with the Holy Trinity.
Easter is not about bunny rabbits, Easter eggs, Easter lilies, baskets and pretty dresses. Those things are added to the splendor of Easter and are mainly for the children’s enjoyment. To the believers in Jesus Christ, none of this has anything to do with pagan worship, as some people say it is. Pagans do not worship God.
I find Exodus 12 and Leviticus 23 to be helpful in understanding why we celebrate Easter. When we celebrate Easter we are embracing God’s grace and His mercy.
Our focus during the Easter season is strictly on John 3:16 and what happened as a result of it. Jesus, the only One Who ever died; was buried, arose on the third day and now sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, always interceding for us.
Easter is preceded by lent. Lent commemorates the forty days that Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, and is the forty day period (excluding Sundays) leading to Easter Sunday. The period of Lent ends on the Saturday before Easter Sunday.
Christians usually do such things as; fasting, repenting/confessing and searching their souls deeply, denying themselves, spending more time praying, meditating and listening to God. In their fasting they give up and abstain from certain things; such as bad/good habits, smoking, drinking carbonated or caffeinated beverages and certain foods, among other things.
When we think of Easter, several phrases pop into our minds; for example: Ash Wednesday, which falls on February 25 this year, Palm Sunday which falls on April 5 this year and is the Sunday before Easter Sunday, which falls on April 12 this year. The most significant day during the Easter season is Good Friday, which falls on April 10 this year. This day commemorates the day when Jesus was crucified and burried.
Jesus arose on the third day and Easter Sunday commemorates this day. The dates are usually different each year. It is not like Thanksgiving which is always on the last Thursday in November or Christmas which is always on December 25, every year.
Palm Sunday honors the Triumphal Entry in which Jesus rode a donkey to into Jerusalem. The people rejoiced and shouted Hosanna in the Highest! Some churches have a practice of distributing Palm Leaves to the congregation on Palm Sunday.
The palm leaves are used to make crosses, which each person pins on to his/her clothes during the service on Easter Sunday. Each person gets to take the cross home. I usually save mine and placed them in different rooms of my home. Each time go by one of them, I am reminded of how Jesus died on the cross at Calvary for our sins.
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for loving me so much that You gave Your son Jesus to die on the cross at Calvary for my sins. I pray I will never forget Your crucifixion or take it lightly. I thank You for forgiving me of my sins; whether by thoughts, words, or deeds. I pray for my brothers and sisters who have not accepted You as their Lord and Savior. I Pray, also that the believers will remember that You are always with them in the person of the Holy Spirit and that there is hope, blessings, joy and peace in their obedience to You. Let us not be afraid to spread the Good News. I promise to live all the days of my life for you, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture References:
Romans 4:25
Romans 5:18
Romans 6:9-11
Matthew 4:1-2 , 20:19, 21:9;27
Exodus 12, Leviticus 23:4-8
Until next time,
Love and blessings….
Pauline Lewinson
Free e-book www.freethepowerwithin.com

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