Commentary; Posted: 4/7/04

EasteróResurrectionóHope!

Pastor John C. Blackford
Religion Columnist

Christmas and Easter are the two most important days of the Christian church year. Christmas can fall on any day of the week, but Easter only on Sunday. It celebrates the resurrection (rising) of Jesus Christ from the dead three days after his death on a cross. Coming at the end of the last week of his earthly life, (Holy Week), it is the climax of Godís redemption of the world.

The word Easter comes from Eostre, the name of the Teutonic goddess of spring or dawn. Eostre was a pre-Christian celebration in Northern Europe in thanksgiving for spring and light.

In the early years of the Christianity there was no formal commemoration of the resurrection. By the second century after Christ support grew in both the eastern (Greek) and western branches of the Church to observe officially Christís rising from the grave. The eastern wing preferred to have resurrection day and the Jewish Passover feast on the same day or in the same week. Those in the west decided on a Sunday at the close of winter and at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. settled on the first Sunday after the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal (spring) equinox. If the full moon fell on the first Sunday of spring, the following Sunday would be observed. Easter may be as early as March 22 and as late as April 25. This year it will be on April 11. Thought has been given lately to fixing the date as either the first or second Sunday in April to accommodate school schedules and spring vacation plans.

During the evangelization of Northern Europe resurrection day came to be known as Easter because of background of the new Christian converts. They had put behind them their pagan ways, but in remembrance of their roots called it Eostre, Easter and the word has been adopted by society.

Lent, traditionally the 40 days before Easter (excluding Sundays), in the early church was a time of catechism, teaching and preparing new converts for initiation in to the Christian community. On Easter Sunday they would be baptized, proclaiming they had died to their old life and were now born to a new life in Christ. Easter Eggs have come to symbolize new life from the old. Lilies speak of beauty springing from the dark earth. However, we should remember that for people living in the southern hemisphere, Easter comes in their fall season. They celebrate the day, and not so much the other things we associate it with.

For Christians, the resurrection, the empty tomb, means death does not have the last word, and that through Christ new life, both in this world and the next, is abundantly available. The resurrection finishes his work of redemption. In the film, ìThe Passion of the Christ,î after we have witnessed his sufferings, at the end there is a brief scene showing His resurrection. It is Mel Gibsonís way of proclaiming that the crucifixtion is incomplete without the resurrection. The rapid growth of the early church, in spite of intense opposition, is due to supreme faith the believers had Christ rose from the dead. An old hymn has this line, ìYou ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart!î That is our great hope.

Next Sunday is Easter. The churches of the community will tell the old and wonderful, yet ever new story of the resurrection hope. Be there! Donít miss the opportunity.

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