Easter day
Easter is the most important festival in a Christian;s life. Easter is celebrated by all the Christians all over the world. It is celebrated in immortalizing the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus, as a Son of God and a Holy one, came to this world as a small baby boy without any mark of sin, to die for all the sins of man kind. Being the omnipotent and powerful God, he died and rose on the third day gaining victory over death. Death could not bind the powerful God, Jesus. Easter day is not only celebrated on Easter Sunday but the week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday is called Easter week.
Jesus came to this world to wash away all the sins of mankind. Man started sinning after the entry of Satan. All the people were affected by the charms of Satan and sinned against God. God so loved mankind, that instead of pouring out his anger, he loved them and sent his only begotten son, Jesus to this world to teach the people the way of life and truth. Jesus came to this earth through Virgin Mary by the power of Holy Spirit. Jesus came to this world in the form of a baby to know all the sufferings and temptations that are faced by man kind. Jesus lived an exemplary life on this earth, teaching every human the solutions to avoid sin and live a perfect life, through which one can reach heaven. Jesus started his teachings in his 30th year. Jesus loved the sinners and forgave them. Jesus living on this earth performed many miracles. He healed the diseased, he cast out devils from the possessed people; he raised the dead. Through his miracles he proclaimed that he was the son of God. He taught all the good deeds to be done by man kind with parables and illustrations in order to make them understand easily.
Jesus after his three and a half years of preaching was given into the hands of persecutors. These persecutors who were the followers of Satan bruised him, insulted him, stripped him and nailed him to the cross. Jesus went through all the sufferings only for the sins of man kind. He shed every single drop of his blood to redeem mankind from their sins. He died on a Friday. This day was called as Good Friday; and he was resurrected on a Sunday. This day is called as ;Easter;. People who accept Jesus as their personal savior can be cleansed with the precious blood that was shed on the cross of Calvary and reach heaven. Easter day is celebrated by the people remembering the wonderful love shown by God for the sinners in this world.
The Word Easter
In the 2nd century, some of the Christian missionaries went to preach the gospel in the northern part of Germany. There they met Saxon tribal people. They shared the word of god with them and explained all the sufferings that Jesus underwent for the sins of man kind. Some of the tribal people accepted Jesus as their lord and savior. These tribal people celebrated a pagan festival at the arrival of spring, worshipping their goddess Eastre. Rabbit is the symbol of the goddess. As celebrating that day became habitual and some of them were not willing to celebrate the pagan festival, missionaries advised them to celebrate that day as Easter remembering the rebirth of Jesus Christ. From that day people started celebrating Easter as a festival proclaiming the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ.
Easter Day
The date of Easter varies because of the ecclesiastical full moon day. The day when Jesus was surrendered to the persecutors was the day on which Jesus celebrated Passover festival with his disciples. Passover is celebrated on the basis of the full moon day. So, according to these calculations, Easter falls between 22nd of March and 29th of April every year.
Easter day celebration
Easter day is celebrated with joy and happiness. Easter is enjoyed with Easter eggs, Easter cakes, Easter crafts, Easter recipes and Easter gifts etc. The week from Palm Sunday to the Easter Sunday is called as Easter week. When Jesus was living on this earth 2000 years ago, people praised him with palms and spread clothes on his way. So, that day is called as Palm Sunday and it is celebrated to this day. People celebrate the whole week with some programs. There are games and special programs that are conducted by churches and Christian organizations to enjoy the occasion. There are games held as bunny’s race, suspended eggs, and running race in an oval ground. One who wins in these games will be awarded with eggs.
On Easter eve, there will be a baptism service in which people get baptized in the water. People take baptism to be cleansed from all their sins. Water is a symbol of Jesus precious blood that is shed for all the sins of man kind. People who get baptism will have new apparel, white in color which signifies that they are free from all their sins and became pure by the blood of Jesus. Parents on the eve, get some Easter eggs that are stuffed with Easter candies and hide it all over their house. The next morning, on the Easter day, kids run out find as many eggs as possible and enjoy the sweet taste of the candies. Parents award the one who finds many eggs.
Easter day church service
Easter day Sunday will start with a morning service in which all the families gather together, sing Easter songs and hear a sermon along with a last prayer. Most of the churches and Christian organizations will arrange a feast after the service, in which Easter eggs and cakes are the special items. People will meet their friends and relatives and share their gifts as a token of love and care. Easter dinners are also arranged in a grand way. In some places grand parties are arranged and in some places people celebrate within their family with all delicious and yummy recipes.
Easter day message
Thus, Easter promotes the togetherness of all the relatives and neighbors according to the first important command that was proclaimed by Jesus i.e. Love thy neighbors as thyself. People exchange gifts, eggs and cakes as a symbol of love between each other. Easter mainly delivers the message of Love of God. The cross on the Calvary stands as a symbol of Love shown by God.
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