Biblical Facts About Easter
Passover And Easter
Easter is linked to the Jewish celebration of the Passover. Passover is the celebration of God delivering the Israelites out of Slavery from Pharaoh, the Egyptian Ruler. The Angel Of Death "passed over" the houses where Blood of the lamb was on the door. When the Pharaoh's son was killed by God, then the Pharaoh let the Jews go free. God commanded the Israelites to remember the Passover as a festival to the Lord for generations to come (Exodus 12:14).
The Last Supper
When Jesus and His disciples ate the "Last Supper" it was on the first night of the Passover festival, or the Seder Meal. During that Seder Meal, Jesus explained to His Disciples that the bread was His body and the wine was His blood of the new covenant. It was the first day of Passover which is a week long celebration.
God instructed the Israelites to eat 3 foods which are roasted lamb , to be eaten with bitter herbs, and unleavened bread.
8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast (Exodus 12:8).
Perhaps Jesus ate this at the Last Supper:
Three whole Matzos or unleavened bread
This is a reminder that the Israelites did not have time to wait for the yeast bread to rise because they had to be ready to move when God said. A piece of the middle one is hidden for a child to find.
A roasted lamb which is placed to the host's right
This is in memory of the lamb sacrificed by Israelites the night before their flight from Egypt.
A roasted egg which is placed to the host's left
This represents mourning for destroyed temple.
Maror or bitter herbs which are placed in the middle
This is a reminder of the bitterness of slavery in Egypt.
Charoseth which is chopped almonds, apple, wine, sugar and cinnamon
This symbolizes the mortar which the Jews had to mix in making bricks for the king of Egypt.
Salt water
This signify the Red Sea which was parted by God to let the Israelites across.
Karpar which is celery, parsley, greens
The represents the Hebrew word which means 600,000 which is the recorded number of people who left Egypt.
Wine or grape juice
When each plaque is mentioned, each person sips a little of the wine meaning the joy of freedom.
Elijah's cup usually filled with wine
The cup is placed on the table to await the arrival of the Messiah. Elijah was the one to announce the Messiah's coming, thence the name. For Christians this cup does NOT remain untouched since Christ has already arrived.
The Disciples And Easter
The Disciples spent all of the Holy Week with Jesus. It was a week that led up to Christ arrest, death, and resurrection from the dead. It was on Holy Wednesday that Judus betrayed him. Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him (Matthew 10:1-4).
Lent and Ash Wednesday
Lent involves fasting, penance and prayer. In the 8th century CE, the period of Lent was set at 40 days. The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday. Ashes are put in the foreheads of Christians to remind us we too will die and to remind us Jesus died for all of us. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away (Matthew 24:35).
Holy Week
Holy Week is the week before Easter Sunday. It is celebrated as the following:
Palm Sunday: This is held on the Sunday before Easter Sunday. It recalls Jesus' was given Palms from the believers when he arrived into Jerusalem one week before his execution.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord (Luke 4:18-19).
Holy Monday: This commemorates Jesus' cleansing of the temple of merchantsmoney by overturned their tables. It maybe why he was arrested.
And then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Behold, He is there’; do not believe him; for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance (Mark 13:21-23).
Holy Tuesday: This recalls Jesus' description to his disciples on the Mount of Olives of destruction of Jerusalem.
All flesh is like grass, And all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, And the flower falls off, But the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word which was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:24-25)
Holy Wednesday:This recalls Judas' decision to betray Jesus in exchange for 30 pieces of silver.
And He said to them, O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory? Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures (Luke 24:24-27).
Maundy Thursday: This commemorates the Last Supper, Jesus agony in the garden and his arrest.
It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God (Luke 6:13).
Good Friday: This recalls Jesus' death on the cross.
When his disciples heard about this, they came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb (Mark 6:29-30).
Holy Saturday: This is the final day of Holy Week and of Lent.
But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled (Acts 3:18).
Easter Sunday: This commemorates Jesus' resurrection from the dead.
For David himself says in the book of Psalms, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, (Luke 20:42).
Ascension
The Feast of the Ascension is a celebration of Jesus' ascension up to heaven. The book of Acts said Jesus ascended into Heaven 40 days after Jesus rose from the dead. This feast is celebrated on a Thursday, 39 days after Easter Sunday. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God (Acts 1:1-3).
Pentecost
Pentecost is now celebrated 49 days after Easter Sunday. It recalls the visitof the Holy Spirit to the apostles. They spoke in tongues or foreign languages that they had not previously known to the crowd. Three thousand were baptized. When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance (Acts 2:1-4).
