Easter: The Spiritual Discipline of Celebration!

Why Celebrate?

John 20:1–2 NIV

1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

Because God instituted celebrations for the people of Israel right from the beginning…

John 20:3–10 NIV

3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

John 20:3-10

Passover (): A day in March or April (14th of Aviv)

Feast of Unleavened Bread (): A full WEEK of celebration following Passover (15th-21st of Aviv)

Firstfruits (): Another Sabbath in March or April)

The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) (): A Sunday in May or June

The Feast of Trumpets (): A day in September or October

The Day of Atonement (Yom Kipur) (): Another Day in September or October

The Feast of Booths (): An 8-Day feast in September or October

New Moon Feasts (Num. 28:11-15): Celebrated every month at the new moon.

Sabbath Year Feasts (): A full year of rest for the land and release for slaves.

Jubilee Feasts: Every 49th or 50th year (): Captives liberated, debts forgiven, rest for land.

But most of all...

John 20:1–18 NIV

1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. 11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

So, why celebrate?

Philippians 4:4 NIV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

How to celebrate?

Celebrate with enthusiasm!

Ecclesiastes 5:18–19 NIV

18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.

Feel free to celebrate… Jesus did!

John 2:9–11 NIV

9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” 11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Matthew 11:19 NIV

19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

Celebrate with balance…remember, there is a time for everything!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

Eccl.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 NIV

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

Most of all: remember to celebrate to God’s glory!

1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Don’t let your celebration degrade into mere gluttony, drunkenness and worship of sensual pleasures.

So, celebrate Easter! Celebrate weddings, baptisms, holidays, birthdays, promotions, raises, anniversaries, and all kinds of things!