The Significance of Easter--What We Celebrate

 

This Sunday, Christians around the world will celebrate Easter Sunday (or Easter Monday in some countries). This holiday is one of the most important holy days in the Christian calendar. But why do we celebrate Easter? What is the significance of this holiday that comes in the spring? 

The Core of Easter for Christians

At its very core, the Easter holiday celebrates Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Some refer to Easter Sunday as Resurrection Sunday. His resurrection was the culmination of Jesus’ life and ministry. The crucifixion came at the end of a time of torture, abuse, ridicule, and abandonment. 

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John record all that Jesus went through before his death and resurrection. It all began with his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday. This started Passion Week, which ends with Christ’s resurrection. 

During Passion Week, Jesus experienced the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, cleaned out the temple, and taught and told parables. It was also during this week that Judas, one of Christ’s disciples, agreed to betray Jesus. Then Jesus and the disciples celebrated the Last Supper, and Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. 

After the Last Supper, Christ and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane. Here, Jesus asked God to spare him all that would befall him in the next hours. He was experiencing the mental, physical, and spiritual anguish of what was soon to come. While they were in the garden, Judas and armed men came to arrest Jesus. 

From his arrest until the resurrection, Christ experienced abuse, torture, unending questioning, and abandonment, as mentioned above. Jesus went through all of this in order to fulfill his Father’s will. 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

John 3:16 NKJV

Jesus followed His Father’s will and desire to save each one of us from our sins. He died on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven and we could be in a right relationship with God. This is the core message of Easter or Resurrection Sunday. 

The Suffering Servant

When we celebrate Easter/Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. We thank God for sending Jesus, His Son, to save us and for his willing sacrifice. Christ came to fulfill all the prophecies about him from Genesis on through the prophets. 

One of the most moving prophecies about Jesus is found in Isaiah 52:13-53:12. There, you can read Isaiah’s description of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Within these verses, Isaiah foretold the Suffering Servant, Jesus, and all that he would endure. 

These verses show us that Jesus suffered the penalty we should have suffered—death for our sins. He took all the punishment each of us deserves for our sins. Christ also interceded on our behalf. In other words, Jesus was our atonement—our reconciliation with God. 

By celebrating Easter, we are reminded of our salvation through our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Son of God, the Messiah. 

Jesus endured immense physical, mental, and spiritual suffering on our behalf. I once had a pastor who described in detail what physically happened during the crucifixion. Not only that, but he also described the experience of Jesus being whipped with the Roman flagellum. 

This was a whip with several short leather strips. Each of the strips had iron balls on the tips. When the flagellum was used on Jesus, it literally tore his flesh apart and to the bone. There was much more to his suffering, but Jesus willingly went through it all to save us all from our sins.

While we remember Christ’s suffering, we also remember that Easter or Resurrection Sunday is also about Jesus’ resurrection. 

What is the Resurrection? 

The resurrection is a miracle that made many believe Jesus is the Son of God. During his ministry, Jesus performed several miracles where he brought several people back to life. However, no one was resurrected before Christ. 

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

I Corinthians 15:20 NKJV

The resurrection miracle is that after three days in the tomb, God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus was alive again and had a real body that showed his crucifixion scars. Jesus was the same person as before; however, his body was transformed into one that lasts forever. 

It’s hard for us to understand this, but the scriptures relate authentic witness accounts of people who saw Christ after his resurrection. For anyone who doubts Jesus’ resurrection, you can read Paul’s words in I Corinthians 15:12-58. 

The first Christians were so convinced that Jesus had died and risen again that they were not afraid to die. Many were persecuted and killed with their hope placed in the resurrection. Jesus promises that those who believe in him will have everlasting life. Many of the disciples and early Christians were not afraid to die due to this promise and the fact of Jesus’ resurrection. 

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 

John 10:27-28

As Paul says in Corinthians 15:12-19, “…if Christ is preached that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” 

If these disciples and early Christians believed a lie, then there is no hope for them or resurrection. They died in their sins and will be apart from God for eternity. There’s no hope for us, either, if Jesus did not rise from the dead. But that is not the case. 

Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. There, he intercedes on our behalf, and we have hope of eternal life in the presence of Christ and our Father, but only if we believe in Christ. 

Easter or Resurrection Sunday is all about Jesus’ willing sacrifice, resurrection, and ascension. He is the firstfruits of everyone who believes in Him and His Father. 

Easter Celebrations

Easter falls during the spring when the world is coming back to life again after the “dead time” of winter. Baby animals are born, plants come back to life, and more. 

Many of us celebrate Easter with Easter eggs, bunnies, and candy. Do these have a place in our celebrations of the resurrection? Yes, they do, as long as they don’t overtake the true meaning of Easter. 

We celebrate Easter or Resurrection Sunday to commemorate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, our Savior and Redeemer. He has promised that if we believe in him, we will have eternal life with him. We are forgiven for our sins during our earthly lives due to Christ’s sacrifice. We can dare to approach God through Christ, but only if we believe and have faith in him. 

If you’ve not read about Christ’s Passion Week, crucifixion, or resurrection, why not do so today? Then you’ll be ready to celebrate Easter wholeheartedly and understand the meaning of this most significant Christian holiday. 

I’d like to wish you and yours a blessed and happy Easter! 

God bless,

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