Easter is about much more than candy, eggs, and fluffy bunnies. Easter is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. It's when we take a moment to celebrate and remember that our salvation was secured by Jesus' death and resurrection. While most people know the basic details of Easter, there are some interesting facts that you might not be aware of!
9 fascinating facts about the Easter story in the Bible
Here are some interesting facts you might not have known about Easter:
1. Easter is always on a Sunday
Have you ever wondered why Christmas can fall on any day of the week, but Easter is always on a Sunday? We don't know the day of the week Jesus was born but we do know the day of the week Jesus rose from the dead.
Jesus’ resurrection took place on the Sunday after Passover. In Matthew 28:1, it’s confirmed that "Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb." For this reason, Easter is always celebrated on a Sunday.
2. Good Friday is always the Friday before Easter
Jesus was crucified on the Friday afternoon before Passover. This is confirmed in Mark 15:42: "This all happened on Friday, the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath. As evening approached." For this reason, Good Friday is always celebrated the Friday before Easter.
3. Easter isn’t called “Easter” in the Bible
The Bible doesn’t actually name Easter the holiday. It comes from a translation of the German word Ostern. Easter is referred to in the King James translation of Acts 12:4, but is translated from the Greek word Pascha which means “Passover.”
4. Jesus died at 3pm
The book of Matthew gives us timestamps of Jesus’ crucifixion and death. Matthew 27:45 reads: "At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.” Imagine it going dark outside in the middle of the afternoon and how strange that would be – it was just as strange back then! The darkness symbolized the dwindling of Jesus’ life during his final hours.
5. An earthquake happened right after Jesus died
The Gospels paint a vivid picture of an Earthquake that shook the land upon Jesus' death on the cross. Matthew 27:51 tells us that “the earth shook, rocks split apart." What's fascinating is 2000 years later, geologists confirmed that there was indeed seismic activity that took place in that region around that exact time.
6. Jesus’ death was predicted in the Bible
The prediction of Jesus' death is found in several passages of the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament – a section of the Bible written over 400 years before Jesus was born! One of the most well-known predictions is found in Isaiah 53:5:
“But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed."
This passage was written 700 years before Jesus was crucified and yet it describes in detail what would happen!
7. Women were the first people to know Jesus rose from the dead
In John 20:14-16, it describes Mary Magdalene encountering Jesus at the tomb, making her one of the first witnesses to know he was alive! Women being the first to see Jesus after his resurrection was significant – it challenged the societal norms of the time and affirmed the valuable role of women in sharing the Good News.
8. Jesus’ resurrected body was flesh and bone
In Luke 24:39, Jesus reassures his disciples that he's not just a ghost but is physically alive. Then, in John 20:27, he invites Thomas to touch his scars from the crucifixion, proving his real presence. These encounters highlight the concrete reality of Jesus' resurrection, offering hope and assurance to all of us who follow him today.
9. Jesus’ resurrection is the basis of modern Christianity
The significance of Jesus' resurrection cannot be overstated. Without it, our faith would be for nothing and we’d be burdened by sin. This is best represented by 1 Corinthians 15:17-19: "And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world."
This passage underscores the critical importance of the resurrection to the Christian faith. It emphasizes that without the resurrection of Jesus, Christianity would be devoid of meaning, and our beliefs would be in vain. When Jesus rose from the dead, he gave us hope and the assurance of eternal life and redemption from sin.
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The hope Jesus gives all of us is that through acceptance of his death and resurrection, we have freedom from our sins and a promise of eternity with him in heaven. If you want to accept this gift, let us know! We would love to come alongside you in making that decision.
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