How Did the Egg Become Part of Easter?
The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus'
emergence from the tomb and resurrection.
∗ Where did the tradition of Easter eggs come from?
The custom of giving eggs at Easter celebrates new life. Christians remember that Jesus,
after dying on the cross, rose from the dead. This miracle showed that life could win over
death. For Christians the egg is a symbol of Jesus' resurrection, as when they are
cracked open they stand for the empty tomb.
∗ Why do you dye Easter eggs?
For Christians, the Easter egg is symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Painting
Easter eggs is an especially beloved tradition in the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic
churches where the eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of Jesus Christ that was
shed on the cross.
∗ Why does the Easter Bunny hide the eggs?
Later Christians changed the symbol of the hare to the Easter bunny. The tradition is that
the Easter bunny leaves Easter eggs on Easter Sunday. Parents hide eggs in the garden
and the children go on an egg hunt to find them. The idea of an egg-laying rabbit was
taken to America in the 1700's German immigrants.
∗ Why do we hunt for Easter eggs?
The egg was a symbol of the rebirth of the earth in pre-Christian celebrations of spring.
However, the Easter egg itself was defined by early Christians as an Easter symbol of the
resurrection of Jesus: the egg symbol was likened to the tomb from which Christ arose.
∗
There is a lot of confusion regarding what Easter Sunday is all about. For some, Easter
Sunday is about the Easter Bunny, colorfully decorated Easter eggs, and Easter egg
hunts. Most people understand that Easter Sunday has something to do with the resurrection of Jesus, but are confused as to how the resurrection is related to the Easter eggs
and the Easter bunny.
Biblically speaking, there is absolutely no connection between the resurrection of Jesus
Christ and the common modern traditions related to Easter Sunday. Essentially, what
occurred is that in order to make Christianity more attractive to non-Christians, the ancient Roman Catholic Church mixed the celebration of Jesus' resurrection with celebrations that involved spring fertility rituals. These spring fertility rituals are the source of the
egg and bunny traditions.
The Bible makes it clear that Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week, Sunday
(Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2,9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1,19). Jesus' resurrection is most worthy
of being celebrated (see 1 Corinthians 15). While it is appropriate for Jesus' resurrection
to be celebrated on a Sunday, the day on which Jesus' resurrection is celebrated should
not be referred to as Easter. Easter has nothing to do with Jesus' resurrection on a Sunday.
As a result, many Christians feel strongly that the day on which we celebrate Jesus' resurrection should not be referred to as "Easter Sunday." Rather, something like
"Resurrection Sunday" would be far more appropriate and biblical. For the Christian, it is
unthinkable that we would allow the silliness of Easter eggs and the Easter bunny to be
the focus of the day instead of Jesus' resurrection.
GALACTIC STARVEYORS™
GOD
By all means, celebrate Christ's resurrection DISCOVERING
on Easter Sunday. THE
Christ's
resurrection is
THE
UNIVERSE
something that should be celebrated every day, OF
not just
once
a year. At the same time, if
we choose to celebrate Easter Sunday, we should not allow the fun and games to distract our attention from what the day should truly be all about—the fact that Jesus was
resurrected from the dead, and that His resurrection demonstrates that we can indeed be
promised an eternal home in Heaven by receiving Jesus as our Savior.
BIBLE TRIVIA…
How many silver pieces
would each Philistine lord
give to Delilah if she
betrayed Samson?
The Journey is an intentional one-year mission toward maturity in Christ. It's a purposeful process covering four volumes, 13 sessions each. The Journey was created to nurture believers into disciples who make disciples. We are going through this series on Sunday PM service. On May
14th we will begin our second book. DONT MISS IT!!!
The Easter Story
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve
disciples, went to the leading priests and
asked, “How much will you pay me to
betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him
thirty pieces of silver.
Matthew 26:14-15
Most of the crowd spread their
coats on the road ahead of Jesus,
and others cut
branches from the trees and
spread them on the road.
Matthew 21:8
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As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of
bread and asked God’s blessing on it.
Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to
the disciples, saying, “Take it and eat it for
this is my body.”
Matthew 26:26
April 2017
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
1,100 (Judges 16:5)
Peter declared, “Even if everyone
else deserts you, I never will.”
“Peter,” Jesus replied, “the truth
is this very night before the
rooster crowns, you will deny me
three times.”
Matthew 26:33-34
They gambled for his
clothes, throwing dice
to decide who would
get them.
Mark 15:24b
He went on a little farther and
fell face down on the ground,
praying, “My Father! If it is
possible, let this cup of suffering
be taken away from me. Yet I
want your will, not mine.”
Matthew 26:39
The soldiers made a
crown of long, sharp
thorns and put it on his
head, and they put a
royal purple robe on
him.
John 19:2
Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long linen
cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had
been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great
stone across the entrance as he left.
Matthew 27:59-60
Then the
soldiers nailed
him to the cross.
Mark 15:24a
He isn’t here! He has been raised
from the dead, just as he said
would happen. Come, see where
his body was lying.
Matthew 28:6
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May 7, 7 PM Love Offering Will Be Received
===================
Lore Family & Joseph Habedank Concert
May 28, Time TBA Brookline Family Life Center
Love Offering Will Be Received
“I a m t he
re sur re c t i on
and the
l i f e. ”
John 11:25
100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart By Robert J. Morgan
1. 1 John 5:11
2. 1 John 5:12
3. John 14:1
4. John 14:2
Assurance: Inner Peace and Security
5. John 14:3
6. John 14:6
7. John 14:27
8. Isaiah 26:3
9. Isaiah 53:5
10. Isaiah 53:6
Easter, which celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead, is Christianity’s most
important holiday. It has been called a moveable feast because it doesn’t fall on a set
date every year, as most holidays do. Instead, Christian churches in the West celebrate
Easter on the first Sunday following the full moon after the vernal equinox on March 21.
Therefore, Easter is observed anywhere between March 22 and April 25 every year.
Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar to calculate when Easter will occur and
typically celebrate the holiday a week or two after the Western churches,
which follow the Gregorian calendar.
It might seem weird to call a day "good" when it's
the day Jesus was brutally beaten, abused, and put
to death on a cross. All the horrible things that were
done to Jesus on the day He was crucified were
anything but "good" (see Matthew chapters 26-27).
Why would we want to remember something so
gruesome?
Because what happened as a result of Christ's death turned out to be the greatest gift
mankind would ever receive.
Without His crucifixion, there would be no resurrection. Without His sacrifice, there would be
no salvation. There is no being raised again into new life without being buried with Him in His
death (Romans 6:4). "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous
for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by
the Spirit" (1 Peter 3:18).
Whether or not Christians choose to attend a Good Friday service or commemorate Christ's
death in another way, the truth of those events should always remain on our hearts. Why?
Because it is the only reason we can have hope in eternity. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." 412teens.org