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Eostre
It was not
until the 7th century A.D. that the church became
uniform in its observance of the Resurrection.
The time
agreed upon was the first Sunday following the full moon that comes on or after the vernal
equinox (March 21st).
This allows
for a variation in “Easter” dates from March 22 to April 25.
Only One Easter
The word
Easter appears only once in the KJV. It is used there as a translation of the Greek word
pascha, which is translated correctly as “passover” in the 28 other places where
it occurs in the NT.
Revisions of
the KJV consistently translate pascha as “passover” in all passages, including
(Acts 12:4 (cf. ASV, RSV, NEB). The English word “Easter” is thought to be
derived from the name of a Teutonic goddess of spring, Eostre, and to have been adapted by
Christians to its present usage.
Theology of Christ’s Resurrection
The
resurrection is the miraculous proof that Christ has atoned for sin (Acts 2:24,38;
13:37-38; Romans 1:4) and overcome death (2Timothy 1:10; Revelation 1:18). Through it he
has been declared to be Lord and Christ (Acts 2:32-36) and the Son of God with power
(Romans 1:4; Philippians 2:6-11; cf. Acts 13:33). As the firstborn from the dead he has
been declared head of the Church and Sovereign of the universe (Colossians 1:16-18;
Ephesians 1:19-23; cf. Hebrews 1:3). He, himself, is the resurrection, the dispenser of
eternal life (John 11:25). When he was raised from the dead and ascended on high, he sent
forth the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33,38; cf. John 15:26; 16:7).
It is the
resurrected Lord who, as our High Priest, has presented his sacrificial blood to God the
Father (Hebrews 10:19-22; cf. 8:3; 10:10-14), now makes intercession for us (Romans 8:34;
1John 2:1), and is fitted and ordained to unseal the judgments at the end of the age
(Revelation 5:1-7) and to be the final judge of man (John 5:21-22; Acts 10:42; 17:31).
Soteriology of The Resurrection.
In order
that man’s sin be atoned for, there must be a perfect life of righteousness lived in
complete obedience to God’s holy law to be offered “without blemish.” Jesus
accomplished this in his life (Romans 5:19; 10:4; Hebrews 4:15; 5:8-9).
There must
also be a satisfactory atonement for man’s sins and the broken law which demands the
death penalty (Romans 6:23), and this he provided by submitting to death as our
substitute. God showed his absolute satisfaction with Christ’s active and passive
obedience by raising his Son from the dead and thus attesting that his work to achieve our
justification was approved and accepted (Romans 4:25).
Eschatology of The Resurrection.
The
resurrection is the final, complete victory over death and sin, and over their effects
upon both man and creation. Because Christ arose, believers shall also arise in
resurrection bodies (1 Corinthians 15). Because he arose, nature too will be freed from
the curse.
Proofs of
the Resurrection
The validity
of the resurrection of Christ rests upon the certainty of Jesus’ death and burial and
sealing of the tomb, the displaced stone and empty tomb, the undisturbed condition of the
graveclothes, and on the record of ten different physical appearances of the risen Jesus.
The appearances are attested in six accounts-in all four Gospels, in Acts, and 1Co 15:
1. To Mary
Magdalene (John 20:11-18).
2. To the
other women (Matthew 28:9-10).
3. Privately
to Peter (1 Corinthians 15:5; Luke 24:34).
4. To
Cleopas and his companion on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35).
5. To ten of
the apostles in a locked room (John 20:19-25; Luke 24:36-43).
6. To Thomas
and the others a week later (John 20:26-29).
7. To over
500 disciples on one occasion (1 Corinthians 15:6). Presumably this was in Galilee in
fulfillment of Matthew 28:7-8; Mark 16:7. It may have been the same occasion as
Jesus’ giving the great commission to his followers (Matthew 28:16-20).
8. To James
the Lord’s brother (1 Corinthians 15:7).
9. To seven
disciples by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-23).
10. To the
apostles and perhaps others in Jerusalem at the time of his ascension (Luke 24:50-52; Acts
1:4-9.).
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