Happy Resurrection Day!
As you go throughout your day today, what do you put in the forefront of your mind?
Do you prioritize treasured time with your family? Is your mind preoccupied with hiding the Easter eggs for your kiddos? Is it about filling Easter baskets with the right candy or presents?
Or is your day about Jesus?
Why do we celebrate Easter?
First, why do we call it “Easter“?
In short, the name “Easter” was derived originally from the worship of the pagan English goddess, Eostre, who was celebrated at the beginning of each spring.
Bruce Forbes, a religious studies scholar, summarizes the development of this Christian holiday well;
“the month in which English Christians were celebrating the resurrection of Jesus had been called Eosturmonath in Old English, referring to a goddess named Eostre. And even though Christians had begun affirming the Christian meaning of the celebration, they continued to use the name of the goddess to designate the season.”
I actually learned about this history a bit more in-depth last year, and since then, I haven’t felt nearly as comfortable referring to the day as “Easter” or partaking in the same secular Easter traditions; I feel it glorifies a pagan god and places a large focus on everything other than what the day should be about.
This weekend, we observed the local Quiché Semana Santa events. The main religion here is the Quiché religion, a combination of both Catholicism and the Mayan religion; they worship all the gods and honor all the holidays of both religions.
One common belief here within the Quiché church is that you must pay to be forgiven of sins, pay for prayer, and pay to be apart of the church body.
One Semana Santa tradition is the carrying of the arc. Fifty men pay to carry a large arc through the town for the day, and it is the traditional belief that, in turn, their sins are to be forgiven for one year. To have the opportunity to carry this arc equates to about $1000 USD.
As Christians, this seems so strange and backwards to us. We know Jesus paid it all. We know we don’t have to earn God’s love. We don’t have to pay for forgiveness. We know God wants to give us his grace.
If you were to observe this holiday ceremony like we did, what would you think?
Would you feel compassion upon these people—who already have so little—who feel they have to earn salvation?
Would you feel the need to tell them Truth?
But consider this: What if these people were to witness our holiday in America – Easter.
Would they think ours is backwards?
We say we’re observing the resurrection of Christ, and yet, they might only see us eating candy, hunting for eggs, excess eating, and gift-giving.
I say this not to negate those who actually observe the resurrection of Jesus on this special day.
I say this to remind us all (yes, me too) that this day is so beautiful, so special, and so holy.
Jesus died for us because he loved us that much, even with all our sin and all our faults. He was ridiculed, beaten, and pierced for us. He suffered a horrible death on a cross for us.
And then he rose on the third day.
What a day to stop, thank God for His sacrifice, and celebrate that Jesus lives!
What a day to pause and thank God for his divine gift of the Holy Spirit.
How can you acknowledge God better this Resurrection Day?
“He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.‘” -Luke 24:6-7
