This is an annual holiday celebrated by many all over the world. Millions commemorate the resurrection of Jesus on this day and many consider it as ‘’the most holy’’ of religious holidays. Christmas runs a close second, and for many, these days marks the only time they attend church services. You would agree with me that these religious holidays have transcended beyond just religious to becoming secular holidays.
Acts 12:4
KJV 4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
NKJV 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
NIV 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
RSV 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.
NB – If you have read ‘Easter’ in your bible, you are definitely reading a King James Version (KJV). All other translations read ‘Passover’, and this is the proper translation of the word used there. In fact, everywhere else this word occurs in the New Testament, the KJV translates it as Passover. In the New KJV, this is now corrected and transliterated appropriately as Passover. KJV was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611, sponsored by King James VI. The New KJV was completed in 1982 (started in 1975 by a team of 130 scholars, theologians and clergies). Hence they expunged the word ‘Easter’ and restored the original content of the manuscript - Passover.
The word in Greek is usually ‘’Pascha’’ which means ‘’Passover’’. This is the correct transliteration of the original Greek word. Hence, the word Easter in KJV is a human error brought about thru human fault because the bible never mentioned the celebration of Easter, not even once. Again, how could King Herod, an enemy of Christ allow his kingdom to celebrate Christ resurrection? Think about this for a moment.
Origin of Easter
Easter derived from the old English word Eustre or Easte which refers to the goddess of Anglosaxon. Easter (Eostre) is the English spelling of the ancient Assyrian goddess Ishtar - the goddess of fertility. In pagan times, an annual spring festival was held in her honour. To her was dedicated a month corresponding to our April. Her festival was celebrated on the day of vernal equinox. During this festival, the pagan followers of this goddess would offer sacrifices in her honour. There was a custom among ancient Egyptians and Romans to give eggs as present at this time of the year. That was intended to ensure that the recipient would have a fertile or productive year. Dyed eggs were sacred Easter offerings in ancient Egyptians temples. The egg is a symbol of birth. The special features of the Easter season are nearly all borrowed from idolatrous religion.
Lent is derived from the Old English term ‘’lencten’’ which meant ‘’the spring season’’. It is now used to describe the forty days period prior to Easter wherein people fast to imitate Jesus in the wilderness (Matt 4:2). The purpose of lent is to prepare people for Christ’s day of resurrection, which is believed to be on Easter.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of lent, which occurs 40 days before Easter. It is so named from the practice undertaken by their faithful to show repentance of their sins. They kneel before a priest who makes the sign of the cross in ashes upon their forefathers. As he does, he recites the words ‘’Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return’’.
Hence Easter, a common holiday associated with Christianity is without biblical precedence and void of spiritual truth. It stems/originates from paganism and idolatrous roots. This ought to prompt some questions in our minds as Christians;
1) How did the yearly observance of Jesus’ resurrection get started?
2) How did pagan goddess’ name and traditions become associated with a Christian holiday, especially one considered ‘the most holy’?
3) What bearing should all these have on Christians today?
- Should the Lord’s church get involved in such a holiday?
- How about observing certain elements of it as individuals?