Easter Sunday: A few questions

[Pristine]

The other day my daughter asked me about Easter. While I was telling her as to what I knew of Easter, I realized I probably don't know much anyway. So here is what I knew and some questions. A christian person was telling me that Easter can fall either in March or April. How is Easter determined? Is it the Sunday after the last Friday of March?

The day before Good Friday, on Thursday night Christ had his last meal. I heard about his 12 disciples (which one was the betrayer? The name?). Also, I remember that jews were the rulers at that time. Did they need a betrayer to capture Christ or is there some other significance of the 12th disciple?.

Next day, on Good Friday, Christ was taken prisoner and was crucified. I have heard that christians believe that Christ took upon himself all the punishment of his followers. Is it true? What happened to Christ after he was crucified? Was he taken up by the God Almighty? What happened to his body?

On Sunday (Easter Sunday), Christians believe that Christ was resurrected. Did he physically come back or is it spiritual resurrection? What happened after that?

Lastly, what is the significance of Easter bunny and the eggs in this whole story? Is it just the commercial aspects of Easter, added in recent years, or are they carry over from some early pagan festivals (like Halloween)?

Pls provide answers in simple words, which are easy for kids. Long cut-and-pastes may please be avoided. I am seeking only the christian perspective on this issue, and not the muslim one or a comparison thereof.

Thank you in advance for your help and input.

[PakistaniAbroad]

Google it..

Easter



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There is No Spoon

[aishaA]

Originally posted by Pristine:
(which one was the betrayer? The name?).
Judas

Also, I remember that jews were the rulers at that time. Did they need a betrayer to capture Christ or is there some other significance of the 12th disciple?.

Romans were the rulers at that time.

Lastly, what is the significance of Easter bunny and the eggs in this whole story? Is it just the commercial aspects of Easter, added in recent years, or are they carry over from some early pagan festivals (like Halloween)?

The easter bunny and eggs are from a pagan German festival celebrating spring and(fertility etc. etc.)

[chris_wazir]

Originally posted by Pristine:
. A christian person was telling me that Easter can fall either in March or April. How is Easter determined? Is it the Sunday after the last Friday of March?
YES

[/b]). Also, I remember that jews were the rulers at that time. Did they need a betrayer to capture Christ or is there some other significance of the 12th disciple?.

THERE IS NO SIGNIFIGANCE OF NUMBER OR WHO THE DISCIPLE WAS...JUST THAT SINCE CHRIST WAS SO POPULAR AND THRONGS OF FOLLOWERS KEPT POLICE FROM TAKING HIM..THEY HAD TO PLAN A CAPTURE

Next day, on Good Friday, Christ was taken prisoner and was crucified. I have heard that christians believe that Christ took upon himself all the punishment of his followers. Is it true? What happened to Christ after he was crucified? Was he taken up by the God Almighty? What happened to his body?

YES,IN THE BIBLE EVER SINCE THE BEGINNING THERE IS REFERENCE TO JESUS (NOT BY NAME) THAT THERE WOULD BE ONE WHO WOULD TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD AND REPLACE GODS ORDER THAT SATAN CORRUPTED.
AFTER CRUCIFICTION HE WAS HUNG ON CROSS,WHEN THE BODY DID DIE..HIS SPIRIT WENT HEAVEN BUT ALSO GATHERED ALL THE SOULS WHO HAD DIED BEFORE THAT TIME..WHO WERE IN HADES(A PLACE OF WAITING...LIKE PARADISE) -SOME PEOPLE SAY HE SPIRITUALLY WENT INTO HELL(NO REFERENCE TO THIS IN BIBLE.) NO ONE KNOWS WHERE HIS BODY WENT...THE BIBLE SAYS HE WENT BODILY TO HEAVEN TO GOD.

Lastly, what is the significance of Easter bunny and the eggs in this whole story? Is it just the commercial aspects of Easter, added in recent years, or are they carry over from some early pagan festivals (like Halloween)?
YOU GOT IT...ITS ALL COMMERCIAL GREED FOR MONEY

Pls provide answers in simple words, which are easy for kids. Long cut-and-pastes may please be avoided. I am seeking only the christian perspective on this issue, and not the muslim one or a comparison thereof.

I AM CHRISTIAN SINCE AGE 8,HAVE READ THE BIBLE..IM NOT CLAIMING TO HAVE THE CORRECT ANSWERS BUT POSTING WHAT I KNOW..


Thank you in advance for your help and input. [/B]

WELCOME..

[The Old Man]

How is Easter determined? Is it the Sunday after the last Friday of March?

Easter falls on the dates that the Jews celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread which culminate in the last supper being called “Passover”. This religious festival was initiated when God led them out of Egypt. The story can be read in Exodus chapters 1 to 13 with the Passover initiated in chapter 12. I quote freely how and why God instituted it: This is a day you are to commemorate as a festival to the Lord. For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day hold a sacred assembly and another one on the seventh day. Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened bread, because it was on this very day that I (God) brought you out of Egypt.

Jesus and his 12 disciples went to Jerusalem to celebrate this feast, as they were all Jews. During the supper Jesus instituted the Christian sacrament called the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion (not the same as the Mass done by Catholics) as a remembrance to Jesus’ crucifixion and return one-day.

Some people say that the “unlucky thirteen” number originated because there were 13 people around the table.

which one was the betrayer? The name?

Judas also called Iscariot. The last name is normally given to differentiate between him and another disciple also called Judas.

Also, I remember that jews were the rulers at that time.

The Romans were in power, ruling with a governor appointed by Rome (Pontius Pilate). The Roman governor normally let the population’s appointed people rule things such as religious customs.

Did they need a betrayer to capture Christ or is there some other significance of the 12th disciple?

As said by “chris_wazir”, Jesus was very popular. The religious leaders of the Jews needed to capture him in secret and to rush through the proceedings before his followers could realise what happened.

Next day, on Good Friday, Christ was taken prisoner and was crucified. I have heard that christians believe that Christ took upon himself all the punishment of his followers. Is it true?

It is correct. Christ died not just for Christians but for all that wish to follow him. His death replaced Adam’s original sin and let people again stand before God without sin. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever beliefs in him shall not perish but have eternal life”

What happened to Christ after he was crucified? Was he taken up by the God Almighty? What happened to his body?

Christ died and soldiers piercing him with a spear confirmed this. His body was taken away by some followers and put into a borrowed grave. Soldiers were put on guard at his grave to prevent his followers stealing his body away and claiming he has risen again as Jesus prophesied during his life on earth. When some of the women followers came to the grave on the third day (our Sunday), they found the soldiers and the body gone. Jesus later appeared to several of his followers and finally was taken up to heaven in a cloud.

Just an interesting point: Romans when counting days, always count the present day as well. If one is on the 3’rd day of July, then there will be, according to a Roman, 11 days to the 13’th of July. The day of the 3’rd plus 10 days. That’s why we say Jesus rose on the third day although he was buried on the Friday and resurrected on the Sunday – normally only 2 days according to us but 3 days according to the Roman method.

On Sunday (Easter Sunday), Christians believe that Christ was resurrected. Did he physically come back or is it spiritual resurrection?

He came back physically. To proof that he came back physically, he ate with his followers and even asked one of his followers to put his fingers into the holes in his hands and side.

Lastly, what is the significance of Easter bunny and the eggs in this whole story? Is it just the commercial aspects of Easter, added in recent years, or are they carry over from some early pagan festivals (like Halloween)?

it is of pagan origin and as normal, people has started to make money out of the day. I think what helped in commercialising the festival is calling the Monday a holiday as well as it has absolutely no relevance to Jesus.

[bcsm57]

Originally posted by Pristine:
The other day my daughter asked me about Easter. While I was telling her as to what I knew of Easter, I realized I probably don't know much anyway. So here is what I knew and some questions. A christian person was telling me that Easter can fall either in March or April. How is Easter determined? Is it the Sunday after the last Friday of March?

The day before Good Friday, on Thursday night Christ had his last meal. I heard about his 12 disciples (which one was the betrayer? The name?). Also, I remember that jews were the rulers at that time. Did they need a betrayer to capture Christ or is there some other significance of the 12th disciple?.

Next day, on Good Friday, Christ was taken prisoner and was crucified. I have heard that christians believe that Christ took upon himself all the punishment of his followers. Is it true? What happened to Christ after he was crucified? Was he taken up by the God Almighty? What happened to his body?

On Sunday (Easter Sunday), Christians believe that Christ was resurrected. Did he physically come back or is it spiritual resurrection? What happened after that?

Lastly, what is the significance of Easter bunny and the eggs in this whole story? Is it just the commercial aspects of Easter, added in recent years, or are they carry over from some early pagan festivals (like Halloween)?

Pls provide answers in simple words, which are easy for kids. Long cut-and-pastes may please be avoided. I am seeking only the christian perspective on this issue, and not the muslim one or a comparison thereof.

Thank you in advance for your help and input.

Hello,
I was taught that Christ died for our sins, and that if we believe that to be true, and we live good and pure lifes that we will go to heaven. We are also taught that Christ was the son of God.
I am not a religious expert, but it is my understanding that the actual body of Christ was brought back to life on Easter Sunday.
Easter in March or April? I must admit that I have no idea how this is determined.
As to the Easter Bunny and candy, to the best of my knowledge that is a relatively new idea, and has no meaning as does Halloween.
In any case in the modern world Halloween, Easter bunnies and the candy that goes with it, are just fun stuff for the kids.
I understand that most of the world doesn't celebrate Halloween (I think just North America), but don't you think most kids would think it was fun to dress up as some favortie story person, and go around collecting candy?
Easter is also a lot of fun for kids. Parents hiding eggs in places like parks, and then the kids search for them, and get prizes.
Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

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Brenda McLennan