WHAT IS EASTER AND WHAT IS IT REALLY ABOUT?
Everyone who accepts JESUS CHRIST will never have to suffer eternal death in hell!
Sakkie Parsons
Someone recently asked me to write something about Easter.
I want to begin by stating that, according to the Bible—which emphasizes this strongly—Easter took place during the same weekend as the Jewish Passover.
We see this clearly in all four Gospels:
Matthew 26:17–19; Mark 14:12–16; Luke 22:7–15; John 18:28–39.
The Word of God also makes it very clear that Jesus rose from the grave on the first day of the week—what we as Christians call Sunday morning:
Matthew 28:1–6; Mark 16:2–7; Luke 24:1–6; John 20:1–19.
Sadly, some traditions that stemmed from Catholicism were adopted by the Reformers during the Protestant Reformation. One such tradition is how Easter is calculated: as the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox (March 21) in the Northern Hemisphere.
This is why Easter doesn’t always fall on the same weekend each year, but always occurs between March 22 and April 25.
The English name “Easter” itself comes from the name of a pagan goddess, Eostre—though I won’t go into detail about her here.
Over centuries, many pagan practices were absorbed into the Catholic Church. When the Reformers broke away, they unfortunately kept some of those long-standing traditions.
In my own lifetime, I’ve seen Protestant churches rapidly introduce new ideas into the Church—ideas that are often far removed from the clear teachings of the New Testament. The justification is usually: “Times have changed.”
But the Bible is full of warnings that this drift would happen before the return of Jesus Christ.
Consider what Jesus Himself said:
Matthew 7:15–23 (AMP)
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 By their fruit you will recognize them…
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father…”
And:
Matthew 24:24–25
24 “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
25 Listen carefully, I have told you in advance.”
The Apostle Paul also warned:
2 Timothy 4:3–4
3 “For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine… they will turn their ears away from the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.”
I remember these warnings when I reflect on how much has changed in churches since I first accepted Jesus Christ in 1973.
Many churches today preach a very different message than the one that led me to salvation—but even Paul faced similar issues:
Galatians 1:6–9
6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him…
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to destruction!”
So, back to Easter and how we observe it.
No one is going to hell simply because we don’t celebrate Easter exactly as it was originally observed during Passover.
But remember this:
The closer you live to God’s Word, the more clearly you will hear His voice.
The further you drift, the more faint that voice becomes in your heart.
1 Corinthians 3:10–15 reminds us that how we build on the foundation of Christ will be tested: 13 “… each one’s work will be clearly shown [for what it is]; for the day [of judgment] will disclose it…”
At the end of the day, God never forces Himself on anyone. He looks at the heart.
Revelation 22:11–14
11 Let the one who does wrong still do wrong; and the one who is filthy (vile, impure) still be filthy; and the one who is righteous (just, upright) still be righteous; and the one who is holy still be holy.”
12 “Behold, I (Jesus) am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to the merit of his deeds (earthly works, faithfulness).”
13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End [the Eternal One].”
14 Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are those who wash their robes [in the blood of Christ by believing and trusting in Him—the righteous who do His commandments], so that they may have the right [to the tree of life], and may enter by the gates into the city (the New Jerusalem).
One truth remains:
If you die without Jesus Christ, you will step into hell on the other side of the grave.
John 3:16–18
16 “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world…”
18 “Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged…”
John 14:6
“I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 3:36
“He who believes and trusts in the Son (Jesus) has eternal life [that is, already possesses it]…”
When Jesus hung on the cross on what we now call Good Friday, and said:
John 19:30
“It is finished!” He bowed His head and voluntarily gave up His spirit.
The curtain in the temple was torn in two:
Matthew 27:51
“And [at once] the veil [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom…”
That veil symbolized separation from God—and now it was gone. We have direct access to the Father.
Then, on Resurrection Sunday, the stone was rolled away, and Jesus rose from the grave—forever defeating death!
And no person ever needs to die the eternal death in hell again!”
Luke 24:1–5
5 “Why are you looking for the Living One among the dead?”
Easter is the most important celebration in our Christian faith.
Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday are the most significant days in the year.
So now the question is:
Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Redeemer?
If you’re unsure, then you probably haven’t yet.
Listen to what the Lord says to you now:
John 1:12–13
12 “But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, (Jesus) He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God…”
Right where you are, you can pray sincerely:
“Lord, I know that I am a sinner. I ask You now—help me. I want to be Your child, and I want to spend eternity with You in Heaven. Please help me and strengthen my faith.”
Then, look for a church that accepts the full Bible as the true Word of God. Attend a service, and reach out to the pastor for guidance.
Sakkie
Email: bediening@sakkieparsons.co.za
Website: www.sakkieparsons.co.za
Cell: 083 457 6669
Jude 1:24-25 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
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