For many of us, the importance of celebrating Easter is found in the festivities and celebrations it involves. This raises the question, “Why is it important to celebrate Easter?” Is Easter merely about the external celebrations, or is there a deeper spiritual meaning and purpose?
Just like any other holiday, we often get caught up in the bloom and bustle of the season. However, I encourage us to cast our nets into the deep seas of enlightenment to discover the true significance of Easter. Maybe is can offer profound importance in the life of a child of God.
To find this out, we first need to explore the origins of Easter and see if any connections can be made. Was the importance of celebrating Easter the same for our ancestors, or have we developed a different understanding over time? By looking at the roots of this holy day, we may uncover how its significance has evolved and whether its original spiritual meaning has endured through generations.
What is the origin of Easter?
It is believed that the earliest record of Easter celebrations dates back to the early Jewish Christians around the mid-2nd century. While opinions on its significance may vary, we can all agree that the importance of celebrating Easter lies in recognizing the resurrection of Christ. In essence, our Lord was crucified and then raised from the dead. To identify with His resurrection, we joyfully celebrate Easter each year. This observance not only honors His sacrifice, but also reminds us of the hope we have in His resurrection.
There are also mixed views regarding the origin of the word “Easter.” Some believe the English term “Easter” is derived from Eostre or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. Others argue that the word Easter comes from the Latin phrase “in albis,” which is the plural form of “alba,” meaning “dawn.” Regardless of where it came from, what is important is what we do and believe in this modern age. We can use Easter as a time to reflect on Christs’ resurrection and the hope we have in Him.
Easter Stems Hope
Easter represents resurrection from the dead. As we ourselves die, this theme offers us great hope. There is hope in Jesus Christ that will shift our perspectives and colour us with bright hope.
The Importance of Celebrating Easter lies not in the word itself, but in the profound redemption we receive through the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. Easter serves as a powerful reminder that “death is dead.” The Apostle Paul encapsulated this victory over death in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, where he wrote:
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflect on the incredible victory we now possess: not even death can prevent us from truly living. This victory is the very essence of Easter, and it is the reason we have to celebrate with joy and gratitude.
With all this said, let us further explore the question: What is ‘The Importance of Celebrating Easter’? While the list of reasons could be quite extensive, I will highlight three of the most significant reasons Christians should celebrate Easter.
Let’s take a closer look at them.
1) Easter Represents New Life
Easter is celebrated at the onset of spring, a season that follows the harsh realities of winter. The beauty of spring embodies the essence of new life. It brings the themes of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection, and regrowth.
From a spiritual perspective, we can draw parallels and say that Easter signifies Newness. Just as spring emerges after the winter of despair and grief, Easter invites us to experience the lush greenery of spiritual life and hope.
Having experienced the bitter cold of a Canadian winter, I have also welcomed the warmth of spring. This transformation reminds me of the perplexities we often face in life. Our difficulties may feel long and lethargic, yet we can always look forward to the joy that comes in the morning. If you have ever walked through the graveyards of desolation, you can understand the need for newness in these barren places.
As Jesus walked the valleys toward His own death, we are reminded of His immense grief and piercing pains. The Bible recounts the cruelty He endured:
28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,
29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.
30 They spit on him and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.
—Matthew 27:28-30
In the midst of such suffering, Easter stands as a testament to the promise of renewal and the hope that follows despair. Imagine being in such a position of torture. Consider that Jesus could have summoned angels to rescue Him. Yet, in the depths of His anguish, He cried out, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” (Matthew 27:46), expressing His profound sense of abandonment: “Father, Father, why have You forsaken me?” Even in His darkest moment, Jesus submitted to the will of the Father. He said, “Yet it’s not my will, but Yours be done.”
Something Must Die for Another to Live
We must understand that something must die, in order for another to live. Jesus knew that giving His life would give life to you and I. This is the great sacrifice that we celebrate in Easter. In the face of death, Jesus marched confidently to the cross, knowing that His mission from the very beginning was to bring about Newness. The path to new life required sacrifice; thus, He endured His cross with unwavering resolve.
In His own words, Jesus affirmed this truth:
“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” —John 12:24
Jesus intentionally embraced His suffering, which has given us the promise of life through His resurrection from the dead. This profound truth encapsulates the essence of Easter—celebrating the victory of life that springs forth from the depths of sacrifice and suffering.
Enduring Tribulation for Righteousness' Sake
2) Easter Is a Reminder
One of the most sacred spiritual ceremonies that took place before Jesus’ death was the Lord’s Supper. This last meal, shared with His disciples, occurred just before what we now celebrate as Easter. In 1 Corinthians 11:23-25, we read:
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
This profound act not only symbolizes the sacrifice of Jesus but also establishes a new covenant between God and humanity, reminding us of the depth of His love and the significance of His sacrifice as we approach the Easter celebration.
Easter serves as a poignant reminder of the death and resurrection of our Lord. Jesus instructed us, saying, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
As we journey through the corridors of time and confront the great trials of everyday life, it becomes essential for us to remember in order to endure. Let us keep in mind the death of Christ, recognizing that it is through His sacrifice that we are granted life. When we face death, it is His life that sustains us, offering us hope and strength amidst our struggles. By reflecting on His journey and the victory over the grave, we find the courage to persevere through our own challenges, knowing that we are never alone.
3) Easter Gives Us Hope
There is no greater hope than the fact that not even the formidable enemy of death can prevent us from living. This is the hope we possess as a result of the death and resurrection of our Lord. As we reflect on ‘The Importance of Celebrating Easter’, let us never forget this profound truth.
One thing that is common to every Christian is the call to partake in the death of Jesus Christ. This means we must be willing to suffer for righteousness’ sake and choose righteousness over convenience.
We always face a choice between the righteous path and the easier, more convenient route. If Jesus had opted for the convenient way, He could have easily called upon the angels to rescue Him from the cross. However, Jesus chose the way of the cross—the way of righteousness. He prioritized the greater good over personal comfort, demonstrating that true strength lies in our willingness to endure hardships for the sake of what is right. As we celebrate Easter, let us embrace this call to righteousness and the hope that comes from our Savior’s sacrifice.
Strength From The Easter Story
As we conclude
Let us not get caught up in the celebrations without reflecting on the true meaning of the Easter season. Regardless of the motives of others, we should celebrate for the right reasons.
May our celebrations be driven by the incredible work of the Cross, where we find true Life. As we navigate the tribulations we endure and reflect on ‘The Importance of Celebrating Easter,’ let us remember that Easter signifies a New Direction, New Hope, and New Life.
I pray that you will endure your own cross, and as you contemplate the death of Jesus Christ, may you also discover His abundant Life. Be blessed!
