Death is a reality of life in a fallen world. All that is born will eventually die, and all good things come to an end. Or do they? Easter is celebrated as a reminder of the resurrection of Jesus Christ turned this earthly idea on its head—by his victory over the grave, he gave humanity hope that death does not have to be the end, but rather, what is mortal “can be swallowed up by life” (2 Corinthians 5:4)! Jesus left his heavenly dwelling to dwell among us (John 1:14), facing the pain of mortality and the death of his own body in order to make possible our own resurrection through the power of His Spirit at work in us! This is the beautiful truth that we celebrate at Easter time.
Why Do Christians Celebrate Easter?
Easter is the day on which Christians remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, agreeing with the angel at the tomb: “He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:6-7). Jesus had promised before his death: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” And surely as the sun rises, Jesus rose after his crucifixion, prompting Paul to declare: “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him” (Romans 6:9). The resurrection of Jesus is the central tenet of the Christian faith.
1 Corinthians 15:17,19 puts it bluntly: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins...If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” Paul continues joyfully: “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20, emphasis mine). This means Christ is the first to trample death in this powerful way, but he will not be the last! In Christ, our own bodies, which were “sown in weakness” will be “raised in power” (1 Corinthians 15:43). And then we are left with a wonderful hope to hold onto as we experience the temporary nature of earthly existence: “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.'
'O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?'”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” This is a future worth celebrating, even in the midst of mortality. Death is not the end.
What Is the History of the Easter Holiday?
While early Christians likely celebrated the resurrection, the celebration of the Easter holiday is first recorded in the 2nd century. The etymology of the English word “Easter” is uncertain, and there was much controversy associated with choosing a date to celebrate it. In 325 AD, the Council of Nicaea officially declared that Easter would be celebrated “on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox,” accounting for the fact that Easter falls on different days each year.
3 Fun Easter Traditions for Your Family
How to observe the weighty joy of Easter’s promise of immortality with your family in ways that go beyond eating spring-colored candy and searching for eggs? Here are a few ideas:
Bake resurrection rolls.
This recipe makes a delicious special breakfast while reminding your family of the amazement of the empty tomb. Marshmallows are wrapped in crescent roll dough, and they melt away as they bake, leaving them empty when you take them out of the oven!
Play with resurrection eggs.
These plastic eggs contain small objects which symbolize part of the Easter story. The accompanying book provides explanations and questions to talk through as a family, making it a perfect resource for younger and older children.
Plant a resurrection garden.
With some simple supplies you may already have, your family can witness an example of new life bursting up from the ground this Easter. These directions give specific things to do and passages to read on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, providing an activity that lasts all of Holy Week, keeping the focus on Jesus.
9 Bible Verses to Memorize for Easter
The weeks leading up to Easter are the perfect time to meditate on and even commit the wonderful reality of the resurrection to memory in a way that will stick with you all year long, reminding you of your source of hope and power as a Christian. The resurrection truly is at the heart of our faith, and so there are dozens of verses that beautifully speak about it. Here are just a few to get you started:
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” (John 11:25-26).
“Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19)
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
“Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:8-11).
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11).
“And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power” (1 Corinthians 6:14).
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
“That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own” (Philippians 3:10-12).
Easter Prayers
Because Easter is one of the most joyful days of the Christian calendar, there are many prayers that have been written down and prayed by Christians throughout the centuries of the Church in observance of it. You may find it meaningful to pray these prayers in order to feel a connection with the “cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:2) which celebrated, celebrate, and will celebrate Jesus’ resurrection for all eternity together!
From St. Hippolytus of Rome (AD 190-236):
Christ is Risen: The world below lies desolate
Christ is Risen: The spirits of evil are fallen
Christ is Risen: The angels of God are rejoicing
Christ is Risen: The tombs of the dead are empty
Christ is Risen indeed from the dead,
the first of the sleepers,
Glory and power are his forever and ever
From the Book of Common Prayer:
Almighty God, who for our redemption gave your only-
begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious
resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant
us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him
in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
From the Valley of Vision:
O God of my exodus,
Great was the joy of Israel’s sons
when Egypt died upon the shore,
Far greater the joy
when the Redeemer’s foe lay crushed in the dust!
Jesus strides forth as the victor,
conqueror of death, hell, and all opposing might;
He bursts the bands of death,
tramples the powers of darkness down,
and lives forever.
He, my gracious surety,
apprehended for payment of my debt,
comes forth from the prison house of the grave
free, and triumphant over sin, Satan, and death.
Show me the proof that his vicarious offering is accepted,
that the claims of justice are satisfied,
that the devil’s scepter is shivered,
that his wrongful throne is leveled.
Give me the assurance that in Christ I died,
in him I rose,
in his life I live,
in his victory I triumph,
in his ascension I shall be glorified.
If there is no resurrection, Christians have no reason for hope. But because Jesus conquered death by his glorious resurrection, those who follow Him can rejoice that, “the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you” and we can trust that “he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you” (Romans 8:11). This victory of life over death is worth celebrating every day, but what a blessing to spend this time of year particularly reflecting on it. May the reality of resurrection fill you with joyful hope in believing this Easter season and always!
Sources:
Britannica.com
TheGospelCoalition.org
Photo credit: ©GettyImages Boonyachoat
Learn more about the meaning and significance behind the Easter holiday and Holy Week celebrations:
What is Lent? and When Does Lent Start?
What is Ash Wednesday? and When is Ash Wednesday?
What is Palm Sunday?
What is Maundy Thursday?
What is Good Friday? and When is Good Friday?
What is Holy Saturday?
What is Easter? and When is Easter Sunday?
Easter Bible Verses
The Resurrection of Jesus
Easter Prayers
