Resurrection Sunday & Easter

Today we remember and celebrate the resurrection of the living God, Yeshua the Messiah. Truth be told, every time we gather together, and partake in communion we then proclaim His death and Resurrection until He returns.

While many refer to this day as easter, that’s actually a completely separate occasion having nothing to do with the Resurrection. Eostre—also called “Ostara” and “Eastre”—is the pagan goddess of dawn, and she was often celebrated and honored around the spring equinox. This is where the baskets, eggs, and bunnies originates. In artistic depictions of Eostre, she often carries a woven basket and has eggs and hares around her, representing fertility and new life.

While I understand it is debated about the meaning of the word Easter now, it is not referred to in the scriptures. Some say it is the same as Pesach meaning the Passover, but I personally don’t see the connection.

All that to say where I have issue is when we merge the two, not necessarily the believer partaking in the baskets and such. The truth is we have freedom. In fact it is fun to celebrate springtime. I find it creates confusion for little ones because those things take the focus off of Yeshua and all He did at the cross when we mix it. It seems be an example of the very things scriptures say not to do. He makes it clear on how He is to be worshipped.

So I am of the mind where Easter and the Resurrection are not congruent occasions. The church has created a really bad habit in my estimation where we try to “Christianize” everything in an effort to keep doing the things we want to do.

When we take the time to consider that those who do not follow Yeshua celebrate Easter, how can it be that it is celebrated for two different reasons? My sentiments are the same about Christmas, Christmas and the birth of Yeshua are not one in the same. You can read about that here. Origin matters and while yes, our Heavenly Father made all things, we still need to consider origin much like Yeshua did when He walked the earth. He was constantly calling us to be set apart from the world and not to do things like the world.

May you be richly blessed today and rejoice in the glory that is found in the Resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) not just today, but everyday. He has conquered sin and death! Glory be to God!