Why Do We Call It Easter?

Why Do We Call It Easter?

by Bill High

They call it Easter.

It’s a festival commemorating the resurrection of Jesus. The week before Easter is called the Holy Week. Maundy Thursday marks the Last Supper, and the washing of the disciples’ feet. Good Friday is the day of the crucifixion and death of Jesus.

Why do we call it Good Friday? After all, it marks the death of Jesus. And not just any death but a terrible, horrible death by crucifixion! We call it “good” because the death of Jesus sets in motion the ultimate defeat of death and sin, and the possibility of life, light and hope anew.

And Saturday? They call it Silent Saturday. There is no word from Jesus—no movement, no hope. That Saturday must’ve seemed long, endless, painful, fearful. His followers likely had questions of doubt: Was that all? Was it worth it? What about his promises? Is there any hope?

Yet hope sneaks into the story the very next day:

And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb…And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen. he is not here.’” Mark 16:2, 5-6a ESV

Resurrection Sunday. The day death was defeated. The day life, new life, eternal life, became possible. They call it Easter.

Josh McDowell once said, “Few people seem to realize that the resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone to a worldview that provides the perspective to all of life.”

 

 

Photo by Humberto Arellano on Unsplash

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Published April 13, 2022

Topics: A Life of Faith | Lessons with Bill

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