Easter 2008

1.       What does the word Easter mean?  Is Easter Biblical?

a.       Easter — originally a Saxon word (Eostre), denoting a goddess of the Saxons, in honour of whom sacrifices were offered about the time of the Passover. Hence the name came to be given to the festival of the Resurrection of Christ, which occured at the time of the Passover. In the early English versions this word was frequently used as the translation of the Greek pascha (the Passover). When the Authorized Version (1611) was formed, the word “passover” was used in all passages in which this word pascha occurred, except in Act 12:4. In the Revised Version the proper word, “passover,” is always used. [1]

b.      The Holiest Week on the Calendar

2.       Was it just a coincidence it came at Passover time.

a.       Passover was a symbol of what was to come

                                                               i.      Shedding of blood

1.       Passover Lamb

2.       1 Cor. 5:7; also John 19:36 with Ex. 12:46b

                                                             ii.      Setting apart - Separated from the rest of the world

                                                            iii.      Deliverance from bondage

                                                           iv.      Journey to Promise Land

                                                             v.      Jewish Families are to celebrate Passover 

1.       Lev. 23:5–8; Num. 28:16–25; Deut. 16:1–8

2.       Non-Jewish People- Exodus 12:43-51

3.       Good Friday vs. Resurrection Sunday

a.       Contrast between the two

                                                               i.      The Ugliness of Sin, the pain of Death, shedding of blood

                                                             ii.      Celebration

                                                            iii.      Fragrance From Crown Of Thorns

An ancient legend tells of a monk who found the crown of thorns which had pressed on the Master. On Good Friday morning he set the crown on a side altar of the cathedral. It was a cruel- looking, ghastly thing, covered with blood. The people glanced at it for a moment and then turned away. It reminded them too keenly of the ugliness and cruelty of their sins.

There the crown remained until Easter morning when, with the sunrise, the monk made his way into the sanctuary. He thought that this bloody reminder of Good Friday would be out of place, and he should remove it. As he approached the altar, he detected a strange fragrance. The sun was so bright he could not at first notice what had happened. The sun had centered its rays upon the crown, and had changed the sharp thorns and the cruel twigs into roses of the rarest beauty and the most pleasing fragrance. [2]

Jesus’ Last Week, Passover a.d. 33

[3]

----

[1]Easton, M.G.: Easton's Bible Dictionary. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996, c1897

[2]Tan, Paul Lee: Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers. Garland TX : Bible Communications, 1996, c1979

[3]Richards, Larry: The Bible Reader's Companion. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1991, S. 597