Easter is not a Christian invention and is never mentioned in the Bible as a Christian holiday. The single use of the word "Easter" in the King James Version (Acts 12:4) suggests that Easter was already a Roman holiday when Christianity was born. Furthermore, the Greek word (pascha) that is translated as Easter is on 20 other occasions in the New Testament translated as Passover. A cursory look at the beginning of the Easter celebration shows its association with pagan goddesses of fertility like Oestre and Isis. The Easter bunny symbol reinforces this idea of fertility since rabbits are known to breed excessively. Other symbols and practices like the Easter lily, painted eggs, new clothes and special foods are all secular in origin and have nothing to do with the Christian message, which would be more appropriately called Resurrection Day celebration.

It is unfortunate that this pagan word "Easter" has come to be intertwined with the Gospel message of the Resurrection of the Christ. Such syncretism robs the Resurrection story of its powerful symbolism and ability to revive one's soul.
Nevertheless, those who take the time to focus on the Resurrection can still find spiritual rejuvenation in the story and practices of this holy season. However, there are some issues that must be carefully considered and believers in the Christ will have to make choices concerning whether to participate in the secular commemoration of Easter or focus strictly on the biblical message.

First, should Christians participate in the egg hunts, painted eggs, Easter bunny and new-clothes practices at Easter? Parents and pastors must decide, but participation might send mixed messages to these young minds about the Christian religion which is already thoroughly secularised. The Christian lifestyle is not a hybrid existence of secular cum sacred practices. It is living the new life in the Christ, moment by moment, but there are still practices that the Bible regards as "worldly" and from which believers should abstain. Second, should Christians participate in the commercialism and decorations and special shopping sprees that occur during the season? Again, each individual must decide, but it would be instructive to consider relevant biblical injunctions when making
one's decision.

Jamaican cultural practices at Easter include eating bun and cheese and the "setting" of eggs on Good Friday morning. The latter tradition says that if the albumen (egg white) is poured into a glass of water and placed outside in sunlight, certain images will appear. A ship might appear to suggest that travel is in the near future for the one setting the egg. A coffin suggests that death is imminent and a ring or wedding veil suggests marriage on the horizon. There are other local superstitions associated with Easter and especially with holy week, such as eating no meat but fish on Good Friday. Some people also believe that a year of bad luck will follow those who skip church on Easter Sunday. The Bible does not support these superstitions but many Jamaican Christians will swear to their authenticity. Some Jamaicans also copy the Roman Catholic rituals of fasting during Lent and of honouring Ash Wednesday, none of which have biblical basis.

A more serious issue is the message preached and taught by churches at Easter. For example, Good Friday is celebrated as the day of the crucifixion of Yeshua (Jesus), the Christ, and Easter Sunday remembered as the day of his resurrection. The problem is that Yeshua predicted that he would spend three days and three nights in the grave before his resurrection and it is mathematically impossible to fit three days and nights between 3:00 pm Friday (when Yeshua died) and Sunday morning (when he was resurrected). Some theologians explain this anomaly by teaching that the phrase "three days and three nights" is a Jewish idiom for "fractions" of three days and nights.

However, the Christ was very specific when he compared his sojourn in the grave with the stay of Jonah in the belly of the fish (whale) and that was definitely three days and three nights. Others say that Yeshua must have been crucified on holy Thursday, thus spending Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in the tomb and was resurrected early Sunday morning. Christendom seems confused about this issue although the Bible makes it clear that Resurrection day was a Sunday, thus marking the day of fellowship for the apostles and the early church.

We must also ask if Yeshua was crucified on a tree, a cross or a single beam. The Bible uses both "tree" and "cross" for the stave on which Yeshua died, but Roman history teaches that a single beam was often used to crucify criminals. Even the Gospels give varying accounts of this matter of the death of Yeshua. The Synoptists said that Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry the cross of Yeshua, but the Fourth Gospel (John) said that Yeshua carried his own cross. Based on the priority of Mark, this discrepancy might be resolved by noting that John focused on the times when the Christ carried his own cross but the Synoptists added the detail of Simon helping the Christ when he became weary.

We summarise the Easter saga by saying that at least three different celebrations coincide during this season. They are the pagan celebration of fertility and sun solstice, the Jewish feast of the Passover and the Christian commemoration of the Passion of the Christ, in that historical order. Being last on the list, the Christian celebration has been impacted by the other two in ways that not even the Bible escaped, as seen in the KJV use of the pagan word "Easter". In spite of this syncretism, the biblical message of the Passion of the Christ is unsurpassed in its power to revive one's soul and bring one's spirit closer to the Creator. The resurrection of the Christ is indisputable for those who have a personal relationship with him, despite the recent documentary claiming to have found an ossuary with the bones of Jesus. On that basis, though it might not be wise to wish one a "Happy Easter" it is certainly safe to say, "Have a blessed Resurrection Day!"

Rev Mervin Stoddart is a freelance writer out of Florida.

Executive Class

Gardens with Gravel

Necessary Luxury