What is Easter Sunday all about?

"Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance." —John 20:1

Easter tends to mean different things to different people, depending on their past experiences. It might mean hunting for eggs hidden by the Easter bunny. It might mean having an extravagant meal with friends and family. It might simply mean a day off work.

What does the Bible say about Easter?

"[Jesus] prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood." —Luke 22:44 (NLT)

While the focus of Easter services is usually on the miraculous resurrection of Jesus Christ (John 20:1, 19), the Bible doesn't actually mention setting aside an annual observance of this pivotal event in the history of Christianity.

Many churches around the world have holy day observances on certain days during the week leading up to Easter Sunday. This period of time is often called "Passion Week," referring to the passion with which Jesus willingly went to the cross in order to pay for the sins of His people (Isaiah 53:4-12; ).

Where did Easter come from?

Basically, the word Easter likely originates from an old word for "east" or the name of a springtime month. Other than a couple sketchy myths about goddesses, there's not much other evidence about the name. Easter happens on a Sunday because the Bible says Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, 19).

Many Christians feel that associating our Savior's return to life with the pastel silliness that is commercialized Easter is kind of silly at best, and absolutely disrespectful at worst. But that doesn't mean it's sinful to play Easter bunny games or giving gifts or making a holiday meal on Easter.

Ultimately, whether we choose to observe holy days or what we do on those day is a matter of personal conviction (Romans 14).

"Some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable." —Romans 14:5 (NLT)

For Bible references in this video, check the description on YouTube.

Should Christians celebrate Easter?

Since the Bible never mentions setting aside a day of celebration for Christ's resurrection, Christians are not required to celebrate Easter Sunday. Of course, there's nothing wrong with celebrating either!

If you do choose to celebrate Easter, just remember: while fun and games are great, they shouldn't distract attention from acknowledging the glorious miracle of Jesus' coming back to life. His resurrection proved that He is indeed God and affirmed that His promises of an eternal home in Heaven can be trusted (1 Corinthians 15:17; Romans 6:4).

If you don't fully understand how Jesus Christ's death and resurrection provided for your eternal salvation, please learn more about the Gospel of Jesus.

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TL;DR

Different Easter Sunday traditions have developed over the years, but the Christian tradition is to spend Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ after His sacrificial death on a cross. Jesus' resurrection proved He is God and affirmed His promises of an eternal home in Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:17; Romans 6:4), so it's a day worth celebrating! Since the Bible never mentions setting aside a day to celebrate the resurrection, Christians are not required to do so. Whether you choose to celebrate Easter is a matter of conviction (Romans 14:13-23). Whatever you decide, the important part is acknowledging the glorious miracle of Jesus coming back to life—not just on Easter Sunday but every day.

Writer & Managing Editor: Catiana (Cat)

Cat is the web producer and managing editor of 412teens.org. She is known as "412teens" on the 412teens Discord. She loves audiobooks, feeding the people she cares about, and using Christmas lights to illuminate a room. When Cat is not cooking, gardening, or practicing creativity, she enjoys spending time with her two adult kids, six socially-awkward cats, and her amazing friend-amily.

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