EASTER

The traditional Churches have a traditional “Paschal Greeting” for this time of year.  One person says, “Christ is risen!” to which the other person replies, “He is risen indeed!”

I’m always aware of the contradictions held in our major Christian Holy Days.  There are many who will let you know, in no uncertain terms, that “Easter” was / is a pagan festival of fertility or life.  This is true, but not a reason to proclaim that the church is celebrating a pagan festival.  In fact, it is only the Christian church in our English speaking countries that would greet each other with, “Happy Easter”.  In Italy the greeting for this season is “Buona Pasqua!”

This greeting in Italy is basically translated, “Good Passover”.   Our “Paschal Greeting” is also descriptive of the Passover.

The Holy Passover that we celebrate as Christians needs to somehow be differentiated from the Jewish understanding because it IS different.  What shall we call it?  How can we make that distinction?

Looking into the etymology of the word “Easter’, it seems to be originally a word meaning “Dawn”… ie… the rising of the sun.  With this in mind we can see how this could have been a term used to distinguish the day of the resurrection.  This same word was also the name of a goddess of fertility and spring.   I’m only guessing now… but it would seem that this same word would be where we get the word EAST… as the direction in which the sun rises.

Was it Romeo or Juliet who proclaimed, “What’s in a name”?  Certainly there are people who will tell you that there is power in words.  I have to add that words and names are immersed in culture and without being immersed in that culture, and knowing for certain, we can only be guessing at the intentions of those who originally adopted the word “Easter”. 

I’m a creative person.  I like pictures, symbols and parables.  I like to use these things and see these things used to help people understand the deeper things of God.   I believe Jesus did too.

Last Easter I was feeling a bit disconnected from the celebration of Easter and happened to wonder into a McDonalds store for a late lunch where a lady had been doing kids face painting.  Somehow there was a connection with us and she offered to paint something on my arm.  I knew straight away that I needed a butterfly.  We conversed as she painted and I explained that a butterfly was a perfect Easter symbol for me.  It was a “God inspired moment for me”.  

The butterfly might not have the same significance for anyone else.  It worked for me, it connected me to God and yet it was just a butterfly painted on by an unbeliever.

What I’m saying here is that God wants us to connect with him.  Full Stop. 

Once we get past the name of this day, we can then deal with the meaning……  Christ, the Son of God, has risen!

There are numerous historical figures of whom there is less evidence of their reality, than of Jesus of Nazareth.  It is actually historical that this man lived.  It is noted by historians who are not Christians and therefore without bias.  However our recorded stories about him tell us that that he was put to death for claiming to be the Messiah, the Son of God….  This part also agrees with the historical accounts, but also the writings of his followers tell us that he rose from the dead.

If Christ did indeed rise from the dead, what does that mean?

For a start, it means that we should seriously take a look at what Jesus says and take notice.

It means HOPE.  Hope that there is purpose for this life, and assurance that there is life beyond. 

For me it tells me that God is!  I struggle to understand so many things and can’t make sense of many more, but of one thing I am certain, God Is!  And because God is, then I will continue to strive with him…. Strive to understand, strive to walk in his ways and strive to proclaim that which I do know to all, that here is the Good News.