Is all the extravagance surrounding Easter a distraction, or are Christians right to give it the special attention they do?
Let’s avoid the culture wars of the Easter Bunny, Cadbury eggs, and egg hunts, and simply speak to what happens in most churches on the morning of Easter Sunday: we go all out.
Going all out for Easter
The music is typically a notch or two more elaborate than normal. The sermon is noticeably more refined and passionate. And everyone seems to dress in their very best Sunday best.
Many churches even decorate specifically for Easter Sunday. The church I attended in college used decorations to heighten the contrast between Good Friday and Easter. In the Good Friday service, red roses with thorns lined the aisles to communicate suffering. On Sunday, white lilies replaced the roses to communicate resurrection. It was a beautiful, artistic way to remind us that in the Christian faith, life comes through death.
Churches seem to love pulling out all the stops for Easter, but is all the pomp justified, biblically?
Absolutely.
Why is Easter special?
The apostle Paul says of the resurrection, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Cor. 15:14 NIV). Without the resurrection, there is no Christian faith.
A few verses later, Paul declares how all of history pivots on the resurrection:
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. (1 Cor. 15:20–24 NIV)
It is only because of the resurrection that anyone can move from corruption to restoration—only by Jesus’ work is Adam’s undone and a new creation secured.
Easter is the day we set aside to celebrate this truth. It is a day we dedicate solely to the central tenet of our faith: Christ is risen. (He is risen, indeed!)
Be extravagant
As such, a certain amount of pomp is more than justified—it is encouraged.
Let the bright pastels, the pressed suits, the church choir, the full band, the near-perfect sermon, and the however-else-you-mark-it-special commence.
In the church I most recently called home, we recited the Apostles’ Creed weekly. But on Resurrection Sunday, we added a twist:
On the third day, he rose again
On the third day
—the third day—
On the third day, he rose again
If you have a hand in putting together Easter Sunday at your church, have it at. Add your twist. You still have a couple days to prepare elements that draw unique attention to the reason for our faith.
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Saiirusi says
March 29, 2018 at 9:20 pm1. Is Easter celebrations a Biblical commandment? 2. Does the Bible give a date to determine Easter celebrations?
Will Scholten says
March 31, 2018 at 5:07 am“
On the third day, he rose again
On the third day
—the third day—
On the third day, he rose again
Do our traditions over rule what Yahusha told us , when He gave a sign.
We are taught Passover was on Friday, so He was in the tomb just before sunset Friday, then we have Saturday night, Saturday day, Sunday night, rose at sunrise.
No matter how hard we try, it is impossible go get 3 days and 3 nights from this.
If you do a study on Lazarus, you will find why 3 days and 3 nights are important, to prove someone was really dead.
What does scripture tell us about Passover?
9 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 10 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD. 11 The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it. 13 But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin. 14 And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Nu 9:9–14). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
The days are very important to the Creator, aren’t they, we will be held accountable for not keeping the right day the 14th, . Then we have the 15th, 16th, and 17th, do you think the 17th would be important to?
If we are not keeping the Creator’s Days and times, whose are we keeping?
3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Mt 15:3). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 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. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye hreject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Mk 7:6–9). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
IT is time we give YHWH’S commands the authority they demand!!
Harrison Warren says
April 1, 2018 at 10:26 amIf we are to celebrate; Why not on Passover each year? We know for a fact when the resurrection took place.
Jason E Scalzi says
April 10, 2018 at 9:16 amOur Congregation is in a predominately Jewish Community. We therefore celebrate the Feast of the Lord. This past season we had our Good Friday Service, Saturday was our Passover Seder and Sunday was our Resurrection and Feast of Firstfruits service. I have a very difficult time identifying a day our Savior rose from the Grave with a day the world celebrates Fertility and Easter bunny’s. I Cor 15:20 “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”