Why Do We Celebrate Easter?
Why Do We Celebrate Easter?
We celebrate Easter because it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians believe that Jesus was killed by crucifixion on a Friday and then actually came back to life on the following Sunday.
Some may ask, “So what?” Why is it important that Jesus rose from the dead?
There are many answers to that question, including the fact that Jesus predicted this miracle ahead of time as proof that he is the Son of God. But today I want to highlight a passage from 1 Cor. 15 where the apostle Paul explains why the resurrection is important to believers in a very practical way.
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men (1 Cor. 15:12-19).
Christ’s resurrection is the central teaching of Christianity. According to Paul, if he wasn’t resurrected, then Christianity is a complete sham; all who believe in Christ for salvation are still in their sins and to be pitied if Christ was not raised.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kfea4VgpYM
For those of us who are believers, the resurrection is extremely important. If Christ was not raised, we have no hope.
But Paul does not leave us hanging. In verse 20, he makes clear what really occurred: “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20).
Paul concludes his treatment of the resurrection with these words: “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:54).
The resurrection of Christ is the ultimate reassurance to all believers that death has finally been defeated. We will all be resurrected, just as Christ. Once you understand that Easter is a celebration of the defeat of death, you will finally understand why we celebrate this holy day.
Thanks be to God for a risen Savior!
Go Deeper
This article was used with the permission of www.toughquestionsanswered.org, and was published by Bill Pratt on April 21, 2011.
I need this.
GOD is the greater witness of all. 1 John 5:6-13–The Lord brought into my remembrance about our witness that bares witness with our spirit. (an answer to someone who does not believe? Tell about GOD’S witness that HE provides to those who have Christ in their heart.) Thank You, Jesus!
Just to make a SAYING: The worst moment of satan(lucifer) was when he saw that Yeshua Ha Massiach woke up from the grave. He never wanted the resurrection that’s why he tries to hide it via Ishtar (easter) holiday an ancient pagan celebration.