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Is it Easter or is it Passover? The use of painted and decorated Easter eggs was first recorded in the 13th century. The church prohibited the eating of eggs during Holy Week, but chickens continued to lay eggs during that week, and the notion of specially identifying those as “Holy Week” eggs brought about their decoration. The egg itself became a symbol of the Resurrection. Just as Jesus rose from the tomb, the egg symbolizes new life emerging from the eggshell. In the Orthodox tradition, eggs are painted red to symbolize the blood Jesus shed on the cross. In the United States, Easter egg hunts are popular among children, and in 1878 Lucy Hayes, the wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes, sponsored the first annual Easter egg roll on the White House lawn. (Encyclopedia Brittanicca) The custom of associating a rabbit with Easter arose in Protestant areas in Europe in the 17th century but did not become common until the 19th century. The Easter rabbit was said to lay the eggs as well as decorate and hide them. In a way, this was a manifestation of the Protestant rejection of Catholic Easter customs. In some European countries, however, other animals—in Switzerland the cuckoo, in Westphalia the fox—brought the Easter eggs. (Encyclopedia Brittanicca) The date of Easter and its controversies Fixing the date on which the Resurrection of Jesus was to be observed and celebrated triggereda major controversy in early Christianity in which an Eastern and a Western position can be distinguished. The dispute was notdefinitively resolved until the 8th century. In Asia Minor, Christians observed the day of the Crucifixionon the same day that Jews celebrated Passover, that is, on the14th day of the first full moon of spring, 14 Nisan (see Jewish calendar). The Resurrection, then, was observed two days later, on 16 Nisan, regardless of the day of the week. In the West, the Resurrection of Jesus was celebrated on the first day of the week,Sunday, when Jesus had risen from the dead. Consequently, Easter was always celebrated on the first Sunday after the 14th day of the month of Nisan. Increasingly, the churches opted for the Sunday celebration, and the Quartodecimans (“fourteenth day” proponents) remained a minority. The Council of Nicaea in 325 decreed that Easter should be observed on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (March 21). Easter, therefore, can fall on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. (Encyclopedia Brittanicca) The date of Easter In the 20th century attempts were made to arrive at a fixed date for Easter, with the Sunday following the second Saturday in April specifically proposed. While this proposal has supporters, it has not come to fruition. (Encyclopedia Brittanicca) In the Christian calendar, Easter follows Lent, the period of 40 days (not counting Sundays) before Easter, which traditionally is observed by acts of penance and fasting. Easter is immediately preceded by Holy Week, which includes Maundy Thursday, the commemoration of Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples; Good Friday, the day of his Crucifixion; and Easter Saturday, the transitionbetween Crucifixion and Resurrection. Liturgically, Easter comes after the Great Vigil, which was originally observed sometime between sunset on Easter Saturday and sunrise on Easter Sunday. Later, it would be celebrated in Western churches on Saturday evening, then on Saturday afternoon, and finally on Sunday morning. In 1955 the Roman Catholic church set the time for the vigil at 10 PM, which allowed for the Easter mass to be celebrated after midnight. In the Orthodox traditions, the vigilcontinues to be an important liturgical event, while in Protestant churches it is little known. (Encyclopedia Brittanicca) All Christian traditions have their own special liturgical emphasesfor Easter. The Easter sunrise service, for example, is a distinctiveProtestant observance in North America. The practice may derivefrom the Gospel narrative of Jesus' Resurrection, which states that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb “while it was still dark” (John 20:1) or as dawn was breaking (Matthew 28:1 and Luke 24:1). It is a service of jubilation that takes place as the sun rises to dispel the darkness. (Encyclopedia Brittanicca)
The first mention of "Easter" in the Bible is was when Herod apprehended Peter and put him in prison, "intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people." (Acts 12:4)
1. In this a case the King James Version uses "Easter" instead of "Passover."
All of the modern translations use "Passover" which is what that time of year was for the Jews.
a. The definition of the Greek Word is "Passover,1" not Easter.2
b. At lest, the King James Version was not changing the Greek. (The Word of God) This
is only a translation issue. (A simple word study with a Strong's concordance can see what the
Greek meaning is.)
2. Most people understand Easter to be celebrating the resurrection of Christ
This is the time of year that many attend Church out of a tradition or a duty. Easter has become
an obligation that many endure. "Easter, like Christmas, has accumulated a great many
traditions, some of which have little to do with the Christian celebration of the Resurrection but
derive from folk customs."4 (Encyclopedia Brittanica)
3. The resurrection is only part of the Feast of Passover. (Traditionally called "Easter")
a. The Feast of Passover is also called, "Unleavened Bread." (Luke.22:1)
b. There were three parts to the feast of Passover (Traditional called "Easter")
(1) Passover
On this day a Lamb was taken and sacrificed. Then it's blood was applied
to the top of their door way and on the two sides of the door way. This would protect Israel
from the judgment of God that was about to come upon Egypt. (Exod.12:1-14) The New
Testament interprets this to be a shadow (Col.2:16-17, 1Cor.10:11) of Christ our
Passover that was crucified for us. (1Cor.5:7-8, John.3:16, 36) This typifies our salvation
which was historically fulfilled at the Cross, and it expericailly fulfilled in us as we are
saved, (Rom.10:9) and redeemed by the blood of Christ. (1Peter.1:18-20)
(Review: Passover for full explanation)
(2) Unleavened Bread
This lasted seven days, where no leaven was to found in their houses. (Exod.12:15) This
foreshadows Christ's burial. This was fulfilled at Christ's burial, and expericially in us
in our Water Baptism. (Review: Unleavened Bread for full explanation)
(3) Firstfruits
On this day a sheaf of wheat from the coming grain harvest, and waved in the House of
the Lord "to be accepted for" them. (Lev.23:9-14) This typifies Christs resurrection. This
was historically fulfilled at Christ resurrection, (1Cor.15:23) and expericially in us as we
walk in newness of (resurrection) life. (Rom.6:1-5) (Review: Firstfruits for full
explanation)
Note: When Easter is celebrated today, the "cares of this world" (Matt.13:22) and the
"traditions" of men (Matt.15:6) have taken preeminence over the Word of God, and many
do not see (Matt.13:10-17) that the resurrection is part of a great master plan for His
Church.
When we celebrate "Easter" (Passover) we should be celebrating
it in the context of all the set Feasts!
4. The feast of Passover was the first of three set Feasts
These three Feasts were the calendar for God's Purpose for His Church in the wilderness,
(Acts.7:38, 1Cor.10:1-11) and a blueprint for the calendar of the New Testament Church.
(Eph.3:1-12) God said,"Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God
in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks,
and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty: Every man shall
give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee."
(Deut 16:16-18)
a. The first month of the year (Lev.23:1-14)
(1) Passover - The Crucifixion of Jesus
(2) Unleavened Bread - The Burial of Jesus
(3) Firstfruits - The Resurrection of Jesus
b. The third month of the year - The Feast of Weeks, Harvest, Pentecost. (Lev.23:15-22) The
Day of Pentecost
c. The seventh month of the year (Lev.23:23-44)
(1) The blowing of Trumpets - (This is where God's Spirit has moved to in God's Calendar)
(2) The Day of Atonement - (Not fulfilled yet)
(3) Tabernacles / Booths - (Not fulfilled yet)
4. To summarize
When you celebrate Easter this year, realize that you are celebrating part of a great master
calendar that God has for His Church. Don't stop at Easter! Let the Spirit of God "guide you
into all truth" (John.16:12-15, 1Cor.2:1-14) Continue on to move with the Spirit of God
as He fulfills (Matt.5:17-19, 1Cor.10:1-11) God's calendar.
Notes------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. NT:3957 pascha (pas'-khah); of Aramaic origin [compare OT:6453]; the Passover (the meal, the day, the festival or the special sacrifices
connected with it): KJV - Easter, Passover. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
2. "The English word Easter, which parallels the German word Astern, is of uncertain origin. One view, expounded by the Venerable Bede in the 8th century, was that it derived from Eostre, or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. This view presumes—as does the view associating the origin of Christmas on December 25 with pagan celebrations of the winter equinox—that Christians appropriated pagan
names and holidays for their highest festivals. Given the determination with which Christians combated all forms of paganism, this appears a
rather dubious presumption. There is now widespread consensus that the word derives from the Christian designation of Easter week as in albis, a Latin phrase that was understood as the plural of alba (“dawn”) and became eostarum in Old High German, the precursor of the modern
German and English term. The Latin and Greek pascha (“Passover”) provides the root for Pâcques, the French word for Easter."
(Encyclopedia Brittanicca)
3. Latin Pascha , Greek Pascha principal festival of the Christian church that celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. The earliest recorded observance of an Easter celebration comes from the 2nd century, though the commemoration of Jesus' Resurrection probably occurred earlier. The English word Easter, which parallels the German word Astern, is of uncertain origin. One view, expounded by the Venerable Bede in the 8th century, was that it derived from Eostre, or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. This view presumes—as does the view associating the origin of Christmas on December 25 with pagan celebrations of the winter equinox—that Christians appropriated pagan names and holidays for their highest festivals. Given the determination with which Christians combated all forms of paganism, this appears a rather dubious presumption. There is now widespread consensus that the word derives from the Christian designation of Easter week as in albis, a Latin phrase that was understood as the plural of alba (“dawn”) and became eostarum in Old High German, the precursor of the modern German and English term. The Latin and Greek pascha (“Passover”) provides the root for Pâcques, the French word for Easter. (Encyclopedia Brittanicca)
4. Easter Customs Easter, like Christmas, has accumulated a great many traditions, some of which have littleto do with the Christian celebrationof the Resurrection but derive from folk customs. The custom of the Easter lamb appropriates both the appellation used for Jesus in Scripture (“behold the lamb of Godwhich takes away the sins of the world,” John 1:29) and the lamb's role as a sacrificial animal in ancient Israel. In antiquity, Christians placed lamb meat underthe altar, had it blessed, and then ate it on Easter. Since the 12th.century, the Lenten fast has ended on Easter with meals including eggs, ham, cheeses, and bread that have been blessed for the occasion. (Encyclopedia Brittanicca)
Eastern Orthodox churches use a slightly different calculation based on the Julian rather than the Gregorian calendar (which is 13 days ahead of the former), with the result that the Orthodox Easter celebration usually occurs later than that celebrated by Protestants and Roman Catholics. Moreover, the Orthodox tradition prohibits Easter from being celebrated before or at the same time as Passover.
Liturgical observances
Traditions.
By the 4th century, the Easter vigil was well established in various liturgical expressions. It was characterized by a spirit of joyful anticipation of the Resurrection and—because of the beliefthat Jesus' Second Coming would occur on Easter—the return of Jesus. In the Roman Catholic tradition, the vigil has four parts: the celebration of lights focused on the Easter candle; the service of lessons called the prophecies; the administration of the sacrament of baptism; and the Easter mass. The use of the Easter candle, to denote the appearance of light out of darkness through the Resurrection, was first recorded in the year 384; by the 10th century it had gained general usage. The prominence of baptism at Easter goes back to early Christianity, probably the 4th century, when baptism was administered only once a year, at Easter. In the Roman Catholic service the priest blesses the water to be used in the forthcoming year for baptism, with the faithful taking some of that water with them to receive protection from vicissitudes. Lutheran and Anglican churches use variations of this vigil service. (Encyclopedia Brittanicca)