The Christian Meaning of Easter

The word Easter is used, however, in Acts 12:4 of some English translations of the Bible. However, Bible scholars openly admit that it is a mistranslation of the Greek word pascha, which comes from the Hebrew word for Passover. Greek texts and Bible concordances bear out this fact.

Since the church proclamation in 325AD, Easter has been celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the Vernal Equinox. This date was determined by noting that the Last Supper, as Christians came to know it, was actually a Passover Seder and Jesus’ resurrection occurred on that Sunday.  Passover occurs on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan on the first full moon on or after the Equinox. The Passover celebrates the angel of death passing over the houses where the doors were marked with the blood of a sacrificial lamb. Jesus is seen by Christians as the sacrificial lamb whose blood was shed so that all of mankind could have everlasting life.

Easter is the day Christians remember Jesus rising from the dead.  After his brutal crucifixion, a large stone was rolled in front of his tomb, sepulcher. Shortly after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought sweet spices so that they could anoint His body.  They found that the stone covering Jesus' tomb had been rolled away, i.e., the tomb was open.

Entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were afraid. He said unto them:

"Be not afraid: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him".

"But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you".

 With this Selfless act, he gave "Hope" to all of mankind that they might have a right to Eternal Life.