Easter Is Not of Eggs And Bunnies

A friend of mine recently asked me what Easter is all about. She wondered about the connection of it to Easter eggs and such. So here are a few stories that explain Easter. And there is nothing about eggs or bunnies. Lol.

It starts on a Friday, which we now come to know as Good Friday.

John 18:1-19:42

Judas led soldiers of the Roman battalion and guards from the chief priests and Pharisees, who went there with lanterns, torches and weapons. Jesus knew all that was going to happen to him; he stepped forward and asked, "Who are you looking for?" They answered, "Jesus the Nazarene." Jesus said, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, stood there with them.

When Jesus said, "I am he", they moved back and fell to the ground. He then asked a second time, "Who are you looking for?" and they answered, "Jesus the Nazarene." Jesus replied, "I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, let these others go." So what Jesus said had come true: "I have not lost one of these of those you gave me."

Jesus was then brought before Pontius Pilate. Pilate was the Equestrian procurator of the Roman province of Judaea from AD 26-36.

Luke 23:1-49

Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "You said so." Turning to the chief priests and the crowd, Pilate said, "I find no basis for a case against this man." But they insisted, "All the country of the Jews is being stirred up by his teaching. He began in Galilee and now he has come all the way here."

When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. Finding the accused to come under Herod's jurisdiction, Pilate sent Jesus over to Herod who happened to be in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was delighted to have Jesus before him now; for a long time he had wanted to see him because of the reports about him, and he was hoping to see Jesus work some miracle. ... Finally, Herod ridiculed him and with his guards mocked him. And when he had put a rich cloak on him, he sent him back to Pilate.

Pilate then called together the chief priests and the elders before all the people, and said to them, "You have brought this man before me and accused him of subversion. In your presence I have examined him and found no basis for your charges. And neither has Herod, for he sent him back to me. It is quite clear that this man has done nothing that deserves a death sentence. I will therefore have him scourged and then release him." ... Since Pilate wanted to release Jesus, he appealed to the crowd once more, but they shouted back, "To the cross with him! To the cross! ...

So Pilate decided to pass the sentence they demanded. A large crowd of people followed him; among them were women beating their breast and wailing for him, but Jesus turned to them and said, "Women of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, weep rather for yourselves and for your children." Along with Jesus, two criminals also were led out to be executed. ...

One of the criminals hanging with Jesus insulted him, "So you are the Messiah? Save yourself and us as well!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Have you no fear of God, you who received the same sentence as he did? For us it is just: this is payment for what we have done. But this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus replied, "Truly, you will be with me today in paradise." ... The Jesus gave a loud cry, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." And saying that, he gave up his spirit.

3 days later, which is now known as Easter.

Luke 24:1-12

On the sabbath the women rested according to the commandment, but the first day of the week, at dawn, they went to the tomb with the perfumes and ointments they had prepared. Seeing the stone rolled away from the opening of the tomb, they entered and were puzzled to find that the body of the Lord Jesus was not there.

Two men in dazzling garments appeared beside them. In fright the women bowed to the ground. But the men said, "Why look for the living among the dead? (You won't find him here. He is risen.) Remember what he told you in Galilee, that the Son of Man had to be given into the hands of sinners, be crucified, and rise on the third day." And they recalled Jesus' words.

Returning from the tomb, they informed the Eleven and their companions. Among them women who brought the news were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. But however much they insisted, those who heard did not believe the seemingly nonsensical story. Then Peter got up and ran to the tomb. All he saw there on the bending down were the linen cloths. He went home wondering.

So there you go. On a Friday, Jesus was sentenced to death and was crucified on the cross. He was then buried in a tomb. 3 days later, He risen from the dead. And this is the real deal behind Easter. Nothing to do with the eggs and bunnies. :)

I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed posting it! Lol. And last but not least...

"Happy Easter!!!!" :)