Happy Easter – The Meaning of Easter

Although the weather is more like Christmas, it is Easter Sunday tomorrow. We all know and love the Easter eggs involved, Easter egg hunt and Easter holidays, but Easter is much more than chocolate and holidays.

Easter is the foundation of the Christian faith since it celebrates the resurrection of Jesus on the third day after his crucifixion at Calvary.

Easter is the culmination of the passion of Christ, preceded by Lent, a forty-day period of fasting, prayer and penance. Holly Week is the last week of the Lent, when Maundry Thursday celebrates the Last Supper in which Jesus gathered his 12 disciples to share a final meal.

During the Last Supper, Jesus told his disciples that he would die soon by passing round bread and wine, explaining that bread was his body and wine was his blood.

Good Friday celebrates the crucifixion and death of Jesus. The Roman soldiers arrested Jesus and took him to Pilate, and it was decided that Jesus should be nailed to the cross and placed alongside two criminals.

While at the cross, Jesus suffered a very slow and agonising death. On the third day after his death, Jesus came to life after being crucified and visited his old friends.

Easter is more than just Easter eggs and hot cross buns, it is when we celebrate the fact that Jesus gave his life to save us.

As it says in the Bible: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

There is a lovely song that explains Easter: Hillsong – “This is Our God”

“Freely you gave it all for us
Surrendered your life upon that cross
Great is your love
Poured out for all
This is our God

Lifted on high from death to life
Forever our God is glorified
Sovereign king
Rescued the world
This is our God”

May we all remember the true meaning of Easter. Happy Easter!