ALT-2 Why some Protestant Churches Refer to Easter as Resurrection Sunday
The history of Easter is controversial even in some Christian communities. The celebration itself, from the viewpoint of a Christian, has as its centerpiece, the resurrection of the Christ. This point is undisputed within Christendom. Should we in fact call it "Resurrection Day" ?
There are some within certain bodies of the Christian faith who advise Christians to stay away from the Easter celebration, citing the pagan worship of fertility goddesses. They make a good case for the argument associating the word "Easter" with ancient goddess names such as Istar, Ostera and Aspartes.
What does this mean to the Christians who have celebrated Easter or Resurrection Day all through the years? To many, it will mean little. The choice of calling the celebration Easter or Resurrection Day will be made without much difficulty by those who follow tradition. Many Christians grew up celebrating Easter as being synonymous with the resurrection of Christ.
The following is what I believe to be a truer picture of the celebration.
The Passover Feast and the Resurrection of Christ:
"These are the Lord's appointed feasts, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times: The Lord's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month...." Leviticus 23 v5, 6.See also Exodus 12.
The Passover feast is held to commemorate the event of the Israelites deliverance from the angel of death. All the houses of the Israelites that had the blood of a lamb over their door posts, were passed over by the angel of death. The first born was taken from all who did not have the sign of the blood of the lamb.
The curse of death, the plague on the first born was spoken by Ramses himself, Pharaoh of Egypt.
Almost everyone is familiar with the painting of the Last Supper. The last supper for Jesus and his disciples was the Passover feast.
"Jesus sent Peter and John saying, 'Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover'." Luke 22 v 8
"After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, 'Take this and divide it among you.' " Luke 22 v 17
"And he took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, 'This is my body given for you:do this in remembrance of me.' "
"In the same way, after the supper, he took the cup saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.' "
When we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, we are obeying his command of remembrance.
In the early stage of Jesus' ministry, John the Baptist made this statement concerning him, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1 v29
Jesus became the spiritual lamb whose blood was shed for those who believed then and for all who will believe in the future. To the Christian it is life.
