The Easter Story

The original Easter story can be found in the four gospels of the New Testament in the Holy Bible.  The original Easter story is about the last few days of the life of Jesus Christ with its central focus on His glorious resurrection from the death to life once more.  The whole idea of Easter is to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and the bringing of new life to everyone.

Cruxifiction of Christ

The story of Easter begins before the cruxifiction when Jesus and his 12 Apostles (notice in the Bible these are not disciples as a disciple is simply a follower of Christ) went into the upper room of a house to have the passover feast.  This is the same time that Christ introduced the sacrament and began the process to fulfil the Law of Moses.  After the feast, all 13 traveled to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus atoned for the sins of the world and took upon Him everything we will every do wrong or feel.  Following this Judas betrayed them and Jesus was arrested.  After some poor trials he was judged to be cruxified, whereupon he was placed on the cross on the Hill of Calvary.  Upon the cross, the Bible says Christ suffered the sins of the world again and finally annouced “it is finished” meaning he completeed the atonement.

The cruxifiction is not the important part of the Easter, we don’t celebrate the death of Christ.  However, it is important to understand these events as they are crucial still a crucial aspect of daily life – knowing that Christ suffered for us and that there is a reward for those who do follow Him.

Three Days Waiting

It is traditional accepted that the cruxification and death of Christ occured on a Friday being Day 1 of His death.  According to Jewish time, the new day commences when the sun goes down, so when the sun set on the Friday, Day 2 began.  It was on the third day (Sunday) that Christ arose from the dead.  During this time not much is known but speculation (by me and others I know) suggest that they were preparing the body of Christ for embalming, tending His family (mother, brothers ans sisters) and making known His death through the church.

Resurrection

Now here is the meaning of Easter for on the third day from the cruxification, it is recorded that Jesus Christ arose from the dead and received an immortal body of flesh and bone.  HE LIVES!  This is the great message of Easter that Jesus conquered death and overcome the grave.  Because of Christ through the atonement and resurrection, this is a gift that is freely given to everyone on the earth – that they too will one day be resurrected as well and receive an immortal body.  Christ paved the way for new life.  This is a glorious message and such a lovely meaning behind the original Easter story.

Once Christ was resurrected He showed Himself to His Apostles as well as many other people in Jerusalem and other countries.  He showed them that they more bear their own record of what they saw – that He really does live again.

Influences of the World

Unfortunately, over time, as the true church of Christ diminished with the deaths of the Apostles, the true meaning got destorted and coming to today, the true meaning is almost lost.  Easter tends now to be more of a commercial enterprise where shops can sell more items and market the idea of a chocolate easter, and workers have an excuss to have an extended holiday from work duties.  What a sad world we have come to live in, where the glorious message of Easter, Jesus, the resurrection and new life is almost like a whisper from history.

What will happen next?