What is Easter all about?

DO YOU know? Actually almost all people who celebrate Easter know little about it. In fact, about all they know is that it is supposed to commemorate the resurrection of Christ Jesus. They do not know the answers to vital questions pertaining to Christendom’s greatest festival, questions such as: Where did the name “Easter” come from? How did Easter get started? What is the meaning of Easter’s curious customs? Above all, what does the Bible disclose about the Easter festival?

The word “Easter” appears in the King James Bible at Acts 12:4; this, however, is an error of the translators. The original Bible word pascha simply means “passover,” and that is the way modern translations render it. So Easter is not really mentioned in the original Greek of the Christian Scriptures. But does not the Bible command Christians to commemorate some event concerning Christ?

Yes, Jesus told his followers to remember his death, which occurred on Nisan 14, A.D. 33. His followers were to celebrate his death by keeping the Lord’s evening meal each year at that date. “Keep doing this,” said Jesus, “in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor. 11:24, NW) What about his resurrection on Nisan 16, A.D. 33? Jesus gave no command to celebrate it. Nor did the apostles who talked with the resurrected Christ give any command to celebrate his resurrection. His death was the only event to be memorialized by a Christian feast.