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Passover or Easter?
Passover is only the beginning of a Great Master Plan ("Great Mystery") of a "Glorious Church" (The Bride of Christ) that will
be "withpout spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing..holy and without blemish." (Exod.12:1-2, 1Cor.5:7-8, Eph.3:1-12; 5:21-33)
The use of painted and decorated Easter eggs was first recorded in the 13th century. The church prohibited the eating of eggs during Holy Week, but chickens continued to lay eggs during that week, and the notion of specially identifying those as “Holy Week” eggs brought about their decoration. The egg itself became a symbol of the Resurrection. Just as Jesus rose from the tomb, the egg symbolizes new life emerging from the eggshell. In the Orthodox tradition, eggs are painted red to symbolize the blood Jesus shed on the cross. In the United States, Easter egg hunts are popular among children, and in 1878 Lucy Hayes, the wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes, sponsored the first annual Easter egg roll on the White House lawn. (Encyclopedia Britannica) The custom of associating a rabbit with Easter arose in Protestant areas in Europe in the 17th century but did not become common until the 19th century. The Easter rabbit was said to lay the eggs as well as decorate and hide them. In a way, this was a manifestation of the Protestant rejection of Catholic Easter customs. In some European countries, however, other animals—in Switzerland the cuckoo, in Westphalia the fox—brought the Easter eggs. (Encyclopedia Britannica) 5. The date of Easter and its controversies - Fixing the date on which the Resurrection of Jesus was to be observed and celebrated triggereda major controversy in early Christianity in which an Eastern and a Western position can be distinguished. The dispute was notdefinitively resolved until the 8th century. In Asia Minor, Christians observed the day of the Crucifixionon the same day that Jews celebrated Passover, that is, on the14th day of the first full moon of spring, 14 Nisan (see Jewish calendar). The Resurrection, then, was observed two days later, on 16 Nisan, regardless of the day of the week. In the West, the Resurrection of Jesus was celebrated on the first day of the week,Sunday, when Jesus had risen from the dead. Consequently, Easter was always celebrated on the first Sunday after the 14th day of the month of Nisan. Increasingly, the churches opted for the Sunday celebration, and the Quartodecimans (“fourteenth day” proponents) remained a minority. The Council of Nicaea in 325 decreed that Easter should be observed on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (March 21). Easter, therefore, can fall on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. (Encyclopedia Britannica) 6. The date of Easter - Eastern Orthodox churches use a slightly different calculation based on the Julian rather than the Gregorian calendar (which is 13 days ahead of the former), with the result that the Orthodox Easter celebration usually occurs later than that celebrated by Protestants and Roman Catholics. Moreover, the Orthodox tradition prohibits Easter from being celebrated before or at the same time as Passover. In the 20th century attempts were made to arrive at a fixed date for Easter, with the Sunday following the second Saturday in April specifically proposed. While this proposal has supporters, it has not come to fruition. (Encyclopedia Britannica) All Christian traditions have their own special liturgical emphasesfor Easter. The Easter sunrise service, for example, is a distinctiveProtestant observance in North America. The practice may derivefrom the Gospel narrative of Jesus' Resurrection, which states that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb “while it was still dark” (John 20:1) or as dawn was breaking (Matthew 28:1 and Luke 24:1). It is a service of jubilation that takes place as the sun rises to dispel the darkness. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
This is the time of year that many attend Church out of a tradition or a duty.
Easter has become an obligation that many endure. "Easter, like Christmas, has accumulated
a great many traditions, some of which have little to do with the Christian celebration of the
Resurrection but derive from folk customs."4 (Encyclopedia Britannica)
The apostles preached the death, burial and "Resurrection!"
They did not preach what "easter" has become. (See footnotes 1-8) "Easter" is mentioned
in the KJV the Bible when Herod apprehended Peter and put him in prison, "intending after Easter (unleavened bread. v.3 / Passover Luke.22:1) to bring him forth to the people." (Acts 12:4) In this a case the King James Version uses "Easter" instead of "Passover." All of the modern translations use "Passover" which is what that time of year was, according to the Law
of Moses. (The 1st. month of the Hebrew calendar Exod.12:1-2) The definition of the Greek Word is "Passover,1 "not Easter.2 At lest, the King James Version was not changing the Greek. (The Word of God) This is only a translation issue. (A simple word study with a Strong's concordance can see what the Greek meaning is.)
1. The Death, Burial, Resurrection is foreshadowed in the Feast of Passover
Unleavened bread (Acts.12:4) is another name for Passover. "Now the feast of unleavened
bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover." (Luke.22:1-2)
a. The apostle Paul writes, "let us keep the feast"
The apostle Paul writes, "Purge out therefore the
old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are
unleavened. For even Christ our passover is
sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast,
(nothing mentioned about keeping "Easter")1-8 not
with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice
and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of
sincerity and truth." (1Cor.5:7-9)
(1) Paul interprets the Passover now as "Christ
(2) Unleavened bread now is sincerity and truth
(3) Leaven is now malice and wickedness
Note: Jesus was Paul's teacher. (Gal.1:11-12)
b. Jesus said He fulfilled the Feast of Passover
Think "not that I am come to destroy the law, (the
law of the Feast of Passover) or the prophets: I am
not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (The Feast of
Passover) (Matt.5:17-18)
(1) The Jews today still keep the "ensample"
(a) They don't keep the Feast as in the ensample / type (1Cor 10:11-12)
that Moses gave.
(b) Their authority now is the "Talmud" which is mixture of their customs, traditions
and the Law of Moses.
(2) Keeping the "ensample" is to reject Christ as THE Passover Lamb
(a) The Galatians Churches were allow this in creep into the Churches
(Gal.1:6-9; 3:1-4; 4:21-33) They were observing "days, and months, and times,
and years." Paul calls this being "removed" from Him." (Jesus) (Gal.1:6-9) This
is event today as they celebrate Passover.
Note: There is no justification before God outside of Christ. (John.14:6)
(b) The Hebrews Christians were slipping back into keep the "ensample"
(Heb.2:1; 3:7-19; 4:1-11; 5:11-14; 6:1-3; 12:18-22)
This why Passover and Easter happen at the same time of year
c. We keep Passover in it's fulfillment because we are Christ
Let "no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday,
(Festival, Feast days) or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow
("ensamples") of things to come; but the body is of Christ." (or the reality, fulfillment is in
Christ and His Church) (Col.2:16-17)
(1) Jesus the head
And "hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things
to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."
(Eph.1:22-23, Col.1:18)
(2) The Church is the body of Christ
For "as the body is one, and hath many members, (people) and all the members
(people) of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ."
(1Cor.12:12-13)
What is the Feast of Passover? (also called unleavened bread)
The feast of Passover was the first of three set Feasts These three Feasts were the calendar for God's Purpose for His Church in the wilderness, (Acts.7:38, 1Cor.10:1-11) and a blueprint for the calendar of the New Testament Church. (Eph.3:1-12) God said,"Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks,and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty: Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee." (Deut 16:16-18)
1. The first month of the year (Lev.23:1-14)
a. Passover - The Crucifixion of Jesus
b. Unleavened Bread - The Burial of Jesus
c. Firstfruits - The Resurrection of Jesus
2. The third month of the year - The Feast of Weeks, Harvest, Pentecost. (Lev.23:15-22)
The Day of Pentecost
3. The seventh month of the year (Lev.23:23-44)
a. The blowing of Trumpets - (This is where God's Spirit has moved to in God's calendar)
b. The Day of Atonement - (Not fulfilled yet)
c. Tabernacles / Booths - (Not fulfilled yet)
(Matt.13:22, Prov.24:30-34) Note the example of Samson
What happened at Passover?
1. On the 10th. day of the 1st. month a Lamb was taken and sacrificed. Then it's
blood was applied to the top of their door way and on the two sides of the door way. This
would protect Israel from the judgment of God that was about to come upon Egypt.
(Exod.12:1-14) The New Testament interprets this to be a shadow (Col.2:16-17, 1Cor.10:11)
of Christ our Passover that was crucified for us.
(1Cor.5:7-8, John.3:16, 36) This typifies our salvation
which was historically fulfilled at the Cross, and it
experientially fulfilled in us as we are saved, (Rom.10:9)
and redeemed by the blood of Christ. (1Peter.1:18-20)
(Review: Passover for full explanation)
2. Unleavened Bread
This lasted seven days, where no leaven was to
found in their houses. (Exod.12:15) This foreshadows
Christ's burial. This was fulfilled at Christ's burial, and
experientially in us in our Water Baptism.
(Review: Unleavened Bread )
3. Firstfruits
On this day a sheaf of wheat from the coming grain
harvest, and waved in the House of the Lord "to be
accepted for" them. (Lev.23:9-14) This typifies
Christs resurrection. This was historically fulfilled at
Christ resurrection, (1Cor.15:23) and experientially in
us as we walk in newness of (resurrection) life.
(Rom.6:1-5) (Review: Firstfruits for full explanation)
When we celebrate "Easter" (Passover) we should be celebrating
it in the context of all the set Feasts! (Lev.23:1-44, Deut.16:16)
To summarize:
When you celebrate Easter this year, realize that you are celebrating part of a great master calendar that God has for His Church. Don't stop at Easter! Let the Spirit of God
"guide you into all truth" (John.16:12-15, 1Cor.2:1-14)
The pattern / blueprint admonitions us to continue on to move with the Spirit of God (John.16:13-15, 2Cor.2:1-14) as He
fulfills (Matt.5:17-19, 1Cor.10:1-11) God's calendar.
Notes------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. NT:3957 pascha (pas'-khah); of Aramaic origin [compare OT:6453]; the Passover (the meal, the day, the festival or the special sacrifices
connected with it): KJV - Easter, Passover. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
2. "The English word Easter, which parallels the German word Astern, is of uncertain origin. One view, expounded by the Venerable Bede in the 8th century, was that it derived from Eostre, or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. This view presumes—as does the view associating the origin of Christmas on December 25 with pagan celebrations of the winter equinox—that Christians appropriated pagan
names and holidays for their highest festivals. Given the determination with which Christians combated all forms of paganism, this appears a
rather dubious presumption. There is now widespread consensus that the word derives from the Christian designation of Easter week as in albis, a Latin phrase that was understood as the plural of alba (“dawn”) and became eostarum in Old High German, the precursor of the modern
German and English term. The Latin and Greek pascha (“Passover”) provides the root for Pâcques, the French word for Easter."
(Encyclopedia Britannica)
3. Latin Pascha , Greek Pascha principal festival of the Christian church that celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. The earliest recorded observance of an Easter celebration comes from the 2nd century, though the commemoration of Jesus' Resurrection probably occurred earlier. The English word Easter, which parallels the German word Astern, is of uncertain origin. One view, expounded by the Venerable Bede in the 8th century, was that it derived from Eostre, or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. This view presumes—as does the view associating the origin of Christmas on December 25 with pagan celebrations of the winter equinox—that Christians appropriated pagan names and holidays for their highest festivals. Given the determination with which Christians combated all forms of paganism, this appears a rather dubious presumption. There is now widespread consensus that the word derives from the Christian designation of Easter week as in albis, a Latin phrase that was understood as the plural of alba (“dawn”) and became eostarum in Old High German, the precursor of the modern German and English term. The Latin and Greek pascha (“Passover”) provides the root for Pâcques, the French word for Easter. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
4. Easter Customs Easter, like Christmas, has accumulated a great many traditions, some of which have littleto do with the Christian celebrationof the Resurrection but derive from folk customs. The custom of the Easter lamb appropriates both the appellation used for Jesus in Scripture (“behold the lamb of Godwhich takes away the sins of the world,” John 1:29) and the lamb's role as a sacrificial animal in ancient Israel. In antiquity, Christians placed lamb meat underthe altar, had it blessed, and then ate it on Easter. Since the 12th.century, the Lenten fast has ended on Easter with meals including eggs, ham, cheeses, and bread that have been blessed for the occasion. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
7. Liturgical observances - In the Christian calendar, Easter follows Lent, the period of 40 days (not counting Sundays) before Easter, which traditionally is observed by acts of penance and fasting. Easter is immediately preceded by Holy Week, which includes Maundy Thursday, the commemoration of Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples; Good Friday, the day of his Crucifixion; and Easter Saturday, the transitionbetween Crucifixion and Resurrection. Liturgically, Easter comes after the Great Vigil, which was originally observed sometime between sunset on Easter Saturday and sunrise on Easter Sunday. Later, it would be celebrated in Western churches on Saturday evening, then on Saturday afternoon, and finally on Sunday morning. In 1955 the Roman Catholic church set the time for the vigil at 10 PM, which allowed for the Easter mass to be celebrated after midnight. In the Orthodox traditions, the vigilcontinues to be an important liturgical event, while in Protestant churches it is little known. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
8. Traditions - By the 4th century, the Easter vigil was well established in various liturgical expressions. It was characterized by a spirit of joyful anticipation of the Resurrection and—because of the beliefthat Jesus' Second Coming would occur on Easter—the return of Jesus. In the Roman Catholic tradition, the vigil has four parts: the celebration of lights focused on the Easter candle; the service of lessons called the prophecies; the administration of the sacrament of baptism; and the Easter mass. The use of the Easter candle, to denote the appearance of light out of darkness through the Resurrection, was first recorded in the year 384; by the 10th century it had gained general usage. The prominence of baptism at Easter goes back to early Christianity, probably the 4th century, when baptism was administered only once a year, at Easter. In the Roman Catholic service the priest blesses the water to be used in the forthcoming year for baptism, with the faithful taking some of that water with them to receive protection from vicissitudes. Lutheran and Anglican churches use variations of this vigil service. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
