On Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead after his crucifixion and burial. It is typically the most well-attended Sunday church service of the year.
What Is Easter?
According to Christian Scripture (Isaiah 53), Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah and Savior of the World.
The resurrection refers to Jesus coming back to life (or being raised from the dead) three days after his death on the cross.
Christians believe that when Jesus laid down his life on the cross, he paid the full penalty for sin by offering the perfect, spotless sacrifice.
Subsequently, by raising from the dead, the Lord defeated the power of sin and death and purchased, for all who believe in him, eternal life in Christ Jesus.
In the Bible, Easter
The following scripture chapters provide the biblical story of Jesus’ death on the cross, also known as his crucifixion, burial, and resurrection: Matthew 27:27–28:8, Mark 15:16–16:19, Luke 23:26–24:35, and John 19:16–20:30.
Neither the name “Easter” nor any references to early church celebrations of Christ’s resurrection can be found in the Bible. Similar to Christmas, Easter is a custom that emerged later in church history.
It’s sad that a lot of Easter customs are tinged with secular consumerism and pagan connections, considering Easter to be the most solemn and important celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection. For these reasons, the Easter celebration is commonly referred to in Christian denominations as Resurrection Day.
When Is Easter Happening?
In order to prepare for Easter, Lent is a 40-day season of fasting, introspection, moderation, and spiritual discipline. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and Easter in Western Christianity. Both the Easter season and Lent come to a close on Easter Sunday.
Eastern Orthodox churches observe Great Lent, also known as Lent, for six weeks or forty days leading up to Palm Sunday. During Holy Week of Easter, the fasting continues. In Eastern Orthodox churches, Ash Wednesday is not observed, and Lent starts on Monday.
When Does Easter Occur?
Lent is a forty-day season of fasting, reflection, moderation, and spiritual discipline to get ready for Easter. In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and Easter. Easter Sunday marks the end of Lent and the Easter season.
Great Lent, also called Lent, is observed for six weeks or forty days in Eastern Orthodox churches before Palm Sunday. Fasting continues during Easter’s Holy Week. Ash Wednesday is not recognized in Eastern Orthodox churches; Lent begins on Monday.
The earliest believers in the church of Asia Minor wanted to keep Easter celebrations in line with the Jewish Passover since the death and resurrection of Jesus happened right after the Passover. Followers wanted Easter always to be celebrated after the Passover. And, since the Jewish holiday calendar is based on solar and lunar cycles, each feast day is movable, with dates shifting from year to year. Eventually, Western churches decided to establish a more standardized system for determining the date of Easter using a table of Ecclesiastical Full Moon dates. For this reason, Eastern Orthodox churches usually celebrate Easter on a different day than Western churches.
Key Bible Verses About Easter
Matthew 12:40
For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 15:3–8
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, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (ESV)