Is Easter in the Bible?

It is Eastertime. Easter is one of the main religious festivals of mainstream churches. But the word ‘Easter’ does not appear in the Bible.

The 1611 translation known as the Authorized Version (or King James version) mentions Easter in Acts 12:4, but most translations adhere to the original Greek word which is Passover (or Pesach). Passover was one of the main Jewish religious festivals which involved a lamb with no defect being killed. This was to remind the Jews about how God had delivered them from Egypt under Moses. But it was also to teach them of the need for a perfect sacrifice in the future. This future, most important, sacrifice was when Jesus Christ was crucified, and this was at the time of the Passover festival. Jesus was the ultimate Passover lamb:

For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed

1 Corinthians 5:7

Because of this there is no need for any more sacrifice, and Christians are asked not to sacrifice animals.

Jesus did, however, ask them to remember his death in bread and wine.

And he [Jesus] took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ”This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood”

Luke 22:19-20

The early church did this weekly, on the first day of the week. And the death and resurrection of Jesus form the cornerstone of Christian faith.

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised

1 Corinthians 15:14-15

So what of Easter itself? There is no record of the early Christian church celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, except in the bread and wine. The festival of Easter started well over 100 years later. Its origins are in spring festivals celebrated centuries before by Babylonians, Phoenicians and Chaldeans who worshipped Astarte, the supposed goddess of spring and rebirth. Sweet buns, eggs and rabbits all feature in these ancient pagan rituals at springtime. And the ideas were merged into church worship.

So Easter is not a biblical concept. But the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are absolutely key to true Christian belief. They are far, far too important to leave to once a year.

As we approach Easter we do well to ask ourselves how much the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus mean to each of us.

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Gross Miscarriage of Justice.

The UK Post Office scandal is prominent in the news. It has been brought to the public attention by a TV dramatization, and related documentary. However, it had already been in the news, and books have documented the sordid details.

No computer system is guaranteed fault-free, and Horizon certainly wasn’t. But hundreds of people were blamed for its errors and held responsible for large sums of money. There were blatant lies, cover-ups, reluctance to provide the facts, and officials protecting their own reputations: all resulting in false convictions, hundreds of lives ruined, bad physical and mental health, and even suicide. It is difficult to see how any good came out of it. People did not deserve such injustice.

Two thousand years ago an innocent, sinless man was condemned to torture and murder. There were lies, corruption, false evidence, officials concerned only about their own positions and reputations, and nobody prepared to defend a totally innocent man.

The enormous difference is that unspeakably good things did come as a result. While the individuals concerned acted in an evil way, God was giving His son Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins.

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

His life, death and subsequent resurrection are the means, and the only means, by which we can be saved from eternal death.

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved

Acts 4:12

A ‘great multitude that no one could number’ will be given eternal life in God’s kingdom.

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Revelation 7:9-10

We are all sinners. We all disobey God. But this man was prepared to suffer and die to wipe this out.

He did not deserve that suffering. We do not deserve the outcome.

Journalists have commented that, despite their reports, it took a drama to bring the Post Office scandal to the forefront of the public attention. The Bible has been around for many hundreds of years. What would it take to bring the saving work of Jesus to the forefront of our attention?

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Peace on earth?

At this time of the year we hear a variety of carols, many about peace on earth. Peace – really!

Is this just a myth, wishful thinking, or the real Bible message?

It is definitely the Bible message, and Christian hope. At the birth of Jesus angels sang:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!

Luke 2:14

The Jewish prophets had said that Jesus would be the ‘prince of peace’.

But the world is in a terrible state, with horrific injustice and two major wars underway right now. So has Christianity failed?

Certainly not! Contrary to popular belief, Christianity was never designed as a national, universal religion. And Jesus never said that the church would spread and fill the earth. Actually, he said the opposite:

For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few

Matthew 7:14

And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains (Mark 13:7-8).

In fact, one of our carols contains the words:

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;

It goes on:

For lo!, the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever-circling years
Comes round the age of gold
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling

And that is indeed biblical. The promise is of peace in God’s kingdom on earth, when Jesus returns.

But before that, now in this world of violence and trouble, Christian believers can have peace. Peace  with God, because of Jesus. Notice that the angels referred to those with whom he [God] is pleased. Not everybody, but those who believe.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Romans 5:1

Let us all try to be in that group of believers.

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