THE TRADITIONS OF EASTER
#599 THE TRADITIONS OF EASTER
Scripture Acts 12:4, NIV Orig. 4/15/1973
Rewr. 4/1976, 3/24/1991
Passage: After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
Purpose: To share with my people some of the background enabling some of the Easter traditions to surface and to be sustained.
Keywords: Easter Traditions
Timeline/Series: Easter
Introduction
V4, And when he had apprehended him, he put him (Peter) in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
If you are following me in any version other than the conventional King James, then you probably are wondering about the reading of the word Easter. And rightly so!
Of all of the versions that I have checked, including the New King James, the translation is appropriately rendered “Passover.” It was the Passover season. Herod Agrippa was interested only in ingratiating himself to the Jews. He was the grandson of Herod the Great who, by the way, killed his father, Aristobulus. Agrippa was brought up in Rome in its imperial society. He helped Caligula become emperor. He was rewarded with the tetrarchy of Phillip, Galilee and Perea. At Caligula’s death he helped Claudias to become emperor, and was further rewarded with Judea and Samaria. His ancestry was Edomite as well as Jewish, but his heart and soul were Roman.
At the Passover season, he would scrupulously accommodate Jewish tradition to win the approval of the Hebrew leaders. He has put James to death. In discovering the pleasure this brings to the Jews, he takes Peter for the same purpose. But it is Passover, and not Easter, in the context of these current events.
In the mindset of a translator fifteen hundred years later, it was also Easter, and so called.
I. A First Concern Ought to be for Developmental Religion. The word “Easter” does not rightly appear in the New Testament. As we have seen, this is a mistranslation. But we well know that over time traditions surrounding Easter will develop. Some of them are based on honoring Jesus. Others are simply superstitions brought over from other religions.
We are quite secure with date of Easter. Christmas is an illustration of the problem. During third century [Christmas] began to be celebrated. [December 25th] was chosen because it was the day of the festival of Mithra, the sun god. Jesus was “the light of the world.” The date of Easter (resurrection) leaves us with little doubt. Jewish believers chose 14 Nisan, Gentile Christians, a week later. The Council of Nice in 325, settled the matter, eventually adopted. The first Sunday after the full moon following vernal equinox; if full moon on Sunday—following.
We are still inclined to get worked up over festivals. We have our own. Others have Watermelon, Peach, Possum, Turkey, etc., etc., ad nauseam.
II. Our Next Concern is the Word “Easter.” Check any dictionary. It will refer you to the Old English ēastre —the goddess of Spring. Some may refer to Germanic ostern. We begin to muddle around in fertility cults: Assyrian/Ishtar; Hebrews/Ashtoreth; Chaldean/Astarte. The Latins had their own: Aurora/the goddess of dawn. Her son: Phosphor/bright morning star. Thus the reference of Jesus in Revelation 22:16, I am the bright morning star.
The Canaanite fertility cults created serious problems for Israel as they settled. Joshua is a book of victory. Judges shows Israel to be a people beset. Judges 2:13, They forsook the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtoreth. Judges 10:6, And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord and served Baal, and Ashtoreth, etc. I Samuel 7:4, So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only. Which, of course, explains the stringent measures pronounced against Canaan. How many times through this period do we see capitulation and compromise?
For the origin of Easter, we are indebted to the Venerable Bede. Great scholar of early English churches. Linked it to the Spring fertility celebrations. April called Eostre. For us, the celebration needs to be both appropriate and right. Paul helps us here. I Corinthians 8:1, “Now as touching things offered unto idols” reminds us that “neither if we eat are we the better, or if we eat not are we the worse.” “Take heed less by any means liberty become a stumbling block to the weak.”
III. Probably, the Most Significant Adaptation is the Egg. The old Chaldean story involving Astarte. A great egg fell from heaven into the Euphrates. The goddess of Spring came from this egg. Common to pagan myth, it was the story of the incarnation of what was otherwise unexplainable. The best way to get gods and goddesses is to hatch them out of eggs.
The easter egg became a symbol of reviving life. Early color represented blood of Christ. Over time colorfulness adapted its use to childish games. Egg rolling came from Greenwich, England, introduced by President Madison on the White House lawn. Egg hunts are alright, but Easter is about the love of God.
The egg brings us to the rabbit. Also a fertility fetish. I remember a story of German origin of a poor woman during famine, who took the last egg before starvation, hid them to bring a last pleasure. The children stirred up a rabbit that saved their lives.
IV. One Final Concern has to be in Regard to Lent. It is a forty day period of mourning from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. Historically, it was a period of fasting rigidly enforced. Not of Christ, or scripture, but from the church. (About 9th century). Carnival, by the way, from Latin/Italian meaning “farewell to meat.” Fat Tuesday.
For most adherents it is meaningless. Over time dispensations have excluded many. Fasting for Lent may mean nothing more than giving up chocolate. It does not behoove us to be critical. Most never fast. Yet, the scripture enjoins it. Matthew 4:2, Jesus fasted forty days and nights. 6:16, When you fast, . . . don’t give the appearance of fasting. Acts 9:9, Paul fasted 3 days and nights. II Corinthians 6:5, Approving ourselves as ministers . . . in fasting.
We must give evidence of our faith in the practice of every aspect of faith. Statement by charismatic priest in New Orleans, “We must not let speaking in tongues keep us from being filled with the Holy Spirit.” It is important that we know our doctrine, and that we give expression of it in the way we live.
THE DAWNING OF THE AGE OF EASTER
#372 THE DAWNING OF THE AGE OF EASTER
Scripture John 20:11-18, NIV Orig. Date 3-26-1967
Rewr. Dates 3-1978, 3-19-1989
Passage: 11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Purpose: To share an Easter message exemplifying the hope that is in our Christ.
Keywords: Christ, Saviour Easter Hope Resurrection Special Day, Easter
Introduction
There have been times over the years when I was the first to leave the scene of someone’s darkest hour. Other times I have lingered at the grave-site following a committal service. Occasionally, I have even returned with the family to the family home.
I have watched bereaved and broken-hearted people shuffling away from some flower-bedecked grave. The flowers, for all their beauty, did not change in one iota, all that that grave represented. I have seen men and women leaning heavily on the stronger arms of some other loved one because the grief had sapped all strength.
“Oh, ‘tis the pang severest
That human hearts can know,
To lay what we hold dearest
Thus, in the dust below.”--unknown
A painting pictures Mary Magdalene in such an hour as this. It is called The Return from Calvary. Mary Magdalene and another woman, Mary (Zebedee’s wife), Salome, Joanna, we are not told which. Grief is etched on Mary Magdalene’s face. Despondency is her destination.. Against the horizon, in the background of the picture can be seen the three crosses of Calvary. When first mentioned (Luke 8:2f) she is identified as one “out of whom went seven devils.” Jesus had occupied such a special place in her life. Now what?
As another has written that it was she:
“Who while apostles shrank, could dangers brave
Last at His cross, and earliest at His grave.”—Eaton Standard Barrett, 1786-1820
Those who went out on that first Easter morning did not know what Easter was. Too many still are not so certain of the meaning, of the “dawning of the age of Easter.”
I. The Dawning of Easter Confirms the Lordship of Christ. V16 “Jesus saith unto her, ‘Mary.’ She turned herself and saith unto him, ‘Rabboni.’” Other passages confuse us in the failure of disciples to recognize Jesus. Was it the semi-darkness of first light? Did tears distort her first look? Were their recollections altered by what they had seen of Him on the cross?
Make no mistake, this is the One who had lived among them as the Son of God. V17 “I ascend to my Father, . . . and to my God.” What Mary doesn’t need, and Jesus doesn’t impart is some well-intentioned philosophy. We have mentioned her “seven devils.” They could be medically derived. She could have been a social outcast. Likely, the problem was sin. I heard Dennie Duron tell about the conversion of a former team-mate during surgery for a self-inflicted gun-shot wound.
Whatever else it means, here is a woman of checkered past into whose life Jesus came.
Now Jesus is dead. What is left? No words will still the torrent in her breast. Times Picayune (3-23-1978): Killed cancer-stricken wife, then himself. Note: “I had rather spend eternity in hell, than see her spend another day in her hell.”
She waits for some hope that is equal to her grief. Uncle Tom had been sold and was on his way to Simon Lagree’s death farm. Reading scripture to a slave who could not read. Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all.” Slave: “Them’s good words, but who sez ‘em?”
Only God’s Son and Consort would dare to brig such outcasts into the Father’s presence. V17 (again) “I ascend unto . . . your Father, . . . and your God.” The One He called Father, He identified as her Father, also. Thus is the ascension of Christ surety for the believer.
II. The Dawning of Easter Declares Jesus Alive. V12 “Two angels in white sitting . . . where the body of Jesus had lain.” You see, we are not merely left an empty tomb. As important as burial places are. The tomb of Abraham has been a revered place among Hebrews for 4,000 years. Mohammed’s shrine has been marked in Medina since June 8, 632 A.D. Lenin’s tomb bears the inscription “He was the saviour.” But the empty tomb of Jesus brought no comfort to Mary Magdalene.
By His appearance to the disciples, Jesus showed Himself alive. What an impact those appearances had on the disciples. Cleopas: “Was not our heart burning within us, while he spake?” (Luke 24;32). “The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord” John 20:20. “Peter cast himself into the sea” John 21:7.
John 21:24 “This is the disciple which beareth witness of these things: and we know that his witness is true.”
Picture, then, what his sudden appearance would mean to Mary Magdalene. V15 “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” Tears of sincere remorse and conviction do not go unnoticed. Revival for most churches, believers, awaits such contrition. Every pastor’s burden is, “Is it something I lack?” It was to comfort such grief that Christ came. V15 “Tell me where thou has laid him and I will take him away.” The empty tomb has not assuaged. An unknown Jesus has not comforted.
In speaking her name, she at once sees. V16 “Mary!” “Rabboni! which is to say ‘Master.’” The flush of recognition pierces her broken spirit. So poignant the sound of her own name that the cobwebs are driven from her brain.
It is the intent of Christ, through his Holy Spirit to verify Lordship, Life today. V17 “Go to the brethren. Tell them I ascend to my Father, and your Father.” See v23.
III. The Dawning of Easter Evokes His Purpose—Provides the Resurrection. V17 “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father.” Up to now, they had been able to love Him as one whose physical presence was known. Mary reaches out to touch Him as she has done before. In the dark defile the shepherd does not lead, but accompanies the sheep. The staff is the extension of his hand.
It is for reason other than rebuke that Jesus denies her touch. Remember, the first Easter service was not to Peter and John. They had been there but are now returned to their homes (v10). It is to Mary Magdalene that He has made His presence known. Mark 16:9 “He appeared first to Mary Magdalene.” Faith in one’s living Lord must be paramount. Touch is not necessary.
The Holy Spirit’s ministry throughout the ages has been to manifest a living Lord. To this end, Jesus lived His life with the cross ever before Him. His ministry was among the people with whom He lived. The Holy Spirit would broaden that outreach to touch all ages. John 16:7 “. . . it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”
Conclusion
A story is told of a wealthy merchant whose friend and acquaintance of many years had come to a destitute condition. The merchant was moved with pity at the plight of his friend and determined to do what he could to help. He chose a trusted servant and sent him to the man’s home with gifts, and with a sealed envelope.
The man was out, himself seeking some relief from his dire circumstance. His wife received the offerings of friendship. The gifts were applied to household needs of which there were many. The envelope she placed among her husband’s private papers. At the merchant’s death she inquired. Found: a blank check, the account now closed. Have we acted on God’s benevolence?