EASTER
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. All around the world, people consider Easter as a very
important holy day in the Christian religion.
B. The Roman Catholic Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, and
most protestant denominations observe Easter in commemoration
of the resurrection of Christ.
C. Easter is celebrated nowadays with special types of ceremonies,
with much pomp and display.
1. It is sad that many people who take part in religious
ceremonies on Easter Sunday rarely attend services at any
other time of the year.
2. Also, it is sad that Easter is becoming more and more
commercialized - an event for merchants to make money - as
has been done with Christmas.
D. In this lesson we want to show why we have no special Easter
services here at this congregation.
I. FIRST OF ALL, IT IS NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T THINK THE RESURRECTION IS
IMPORTANT.
A. It is recorded in the Bible; thus, it is important.
1. Without the resurrection of Christ, all of Christianity
becomes vain. 1 Cor. 15:13-21
2. By the resurrection, Christ is proven to be the Son of God.
Rom. 1:4
3. We are saved by His resurrection. Rom. 4:25; 1 Pet. 3:21
4. His resurrection gives assurance of our resurrection. 1 Cor.
6:14; 2 Cor. 4:14; Rom. 8:11
5. The judgment is assured by His resurrection. Acts 17:30-31
II. SECONDLY, IT IS NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO HONOR CHRIST.
A. We honor Him by commemorating His death as He commanded
us. 1 Cor. 11:22-26
1. In our weekly observance of the Lord's Supper, we celebrate
His resurrection.
2. Verse 26 - Though He died, some day He is coming again;
thus, He is alive forevermore. Rev. 1:18
B. We honor Him by assembling every first day of the week, the day
on which He arose.
1. Sometimes, when we ask our denominational friends why
they don't partake of the Lord's Supper every first day of
the week as in Acts 20:7, they reply: "When you observe it
that often, it loses it special meaning, and becomes a
meaningless ritual."
a. It seems they are indicating that their wisdom is better
than God's.
2. Certainly, we need to be on guard so that the Lord's Supper
does not become a meaningless ritual to us.
3. As we partake of the Lord's Supper, with gratitude in our
hearts, we need to visualize Jesus going to the cross in our
stead.
a. Because of our sins, we are the ones deserving to die,
but Jesus took our place.
b. Thus, through His death we have redemption and the
hope of eternal life.
c. His resurrection conquered the bonds of death, made it
possible for our resurrection, and provided the
opportunity for us to dwell forever with Him in eternal
bliss.
III. VERY SIMPLY, WE DO NOT CELEBRATE EASTER BECAUSE IT IS NOT
AUTHORIZED BY GOD.
A. The word "Easter" does appear in the King James Version of the
New Testament. Acts 12:1-4
1. This is the only place in the English translation of the
Bible that the word "Easter" appears.
2. This same Greek word is used in Matt. 26:2; Mark 14:1 and
many others passages and in every instance it is translated,
"Passover."
3. The New English versions (NASV, NKJV) have the word
"Passover" in Acts 12:4.
4. The context shows that what was being done could not
correspond to our modern day Easter.
a. Herod was not celebrating the resurrection of Christ,
but was trying to please the Jews by persecuting
Christians.
5. Albert Barnes, in his commentary of Acts 12:4 says, "There
never was a more absurd, or unhappy translation than this.
The original is simply 'after the Passover.' The word Easter
now denotes the festival observed by many Christians in
honor of the resurrection of the Savior. But the original
has no reference to that, nor is there the slightest
evidence that any such festival was observed at the time
when this book was written. The translation is not only
unhappy, as it does not convey at all the meaning of the
original, but because it may contribute to foster an opinion
that such a festival was observed in the time of the
apostles."
6. The Britannica Encyclopedia (Fourteenth Edition, Vol. II, p.
859) says, "There is no indication of the observance of the
Easter festival in the New Testament or in the writings of
the apostolic fathers. The sanctity of the special times was
an idea absent from the minds of the first Christians."
B. If Easter did not come from the apostles and prophets, where
did it come from?
1. The American People's Encyclopedia, Vol. 7, p. 486 says,
"Easter" is "derived from Eastra, a teutonic goddess of
spring," and "many of the popular observances of Easter are
pagan in origin. Some may be traced to the feast of the
goddess of Spring, Eastra. The church (Catholic, D.R.)
endeavored to give Christian significance to such pagan
rites as could not be rooted out..."
2. J.B. Spalding, in his book, History of the Church of God, p.
407, says, "To convert and civilize her new subjects, she
descended to their level and employed means in keeping with
their notions and customs."
3. Externals of the Catholic Church, p. 205 says, "Instead of
attempting to repress totally a practice which was misguided
indeed, but which showed an instinctive reliance on higher
powers, the Church in many instances took the religious
customs with which the people were familiar, and made these
Christian customs."
C. Many other similar quotes could be given. "Easter" came in the
time of the dark ages when the Catholic Church adopted a pagan
ritual and gave it a religious significance.
1. Thus, the only authority one has for "Easter" is the Roman
Catholic Church, just like Christmas, instrumental music in
worship, baptizing infants and many other things.
2. The denominations have simply adopted Easter from the
Roman Catholic Church.
D. Observance of Easter constitutes:
1. Practicing something without divine authority. 2 John 9;
Matt. 15:9; Gal. 1:6-9
2. It is attaching special significance to a day which God has
not. Gal. 4:10-11; Col. 2:8, 16-23
3. Remember, our King and Ruler, the Lord Jesus Christ,
wanted us to observe His death, burial, and resurrection
every week.
a. Let us respect His wishes in this matter.
b. Let us continue to reject and expose all man-made
religious holidays.
IV. WE ASK, "WHAT ABOUT THE SECULAR ASPECT OF EASTER?"
A. As in the case with Christmas, there are two aspects regarding
the Easter holiday - the secular and the religious.
B. In many cases the Christian must observe its secular aspects
(no work on Good Friday, store closings, school closings, and
the like.
C. As long as Christians places no religious significance on
Easter, they may:
1. Dye, hide, and look for Easter eggs.
2. Give gifts: chocolate bunnies, baskets of goodies, flowers,
and the like.
3. Visit with family and friends.
4. Wear new clothes.
a. There is nothing wrong with wearing new clothes to the
assembly on "Easter" or any other Sunday. It becomes
wrong when the assembly becomes a fashion show
rather than a period of worship. When we begin to
concentrate on how we and others look, it distracts us
from proper worship.
5. Remember, in any of these things, if we are doing them
because it is Easter, because we want to celebrate the
resurrection of Christ, it becomes wrong.
a. Paul showed that eating meats which had been offered
to an idol offered no problem. 1 Cor. 10:25-27
b. However, when one ate the meat "as a thing offered to
an idol," it became sin. 1 Cor. 8:7
Concl.
A. Easter is a man-made holiday, both in the secular and religious
aspects.
1. The secular we can take or leave.
2. However, the religious we must avoid because our soul's
salvation is dependent on doing exactly as the Lord directs.
a. Remember Nadab and Abihu who did something which
was not commanded.
b. Remember the Scribes and Pharisees who added their
own traditions.
B. Let us continue to celebrate and rejoice in the resurrection as
we partake of the Lord's Supper on every first day of the week
as the Lord ordained.
1. Let us continue to live in preparation for His coming, which
His resurrection assures.
2. May God be with us in our efforts to serve Him in truth and
sincerity.