In April, there are alot of events that people celebrate for social, cultural, and religious reasons. Two of the most popular days that are observed are Easter Day and Resurrection Day.
Did you know that those days are completely different from each other? Attaining to the origins of Easter, it was first observed in Germany of the 2nd century. The name Easter parallels the German word Ostern, while it is thought to derive from Eostre (A western German goddess).
During the 2nd century, people would often idolize Eostre for their belief that doing so came resulted in increased fertility, which is the reason why eggs and rabbits/bunnies are often synonymous with the day. Resurrection Day, on the other hand, is a day observed by Christians as a means of commemorating the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
What many people do not know is that there are many events that led up to the resurrection of Jesus Christ that are still celebrated today, such as Passover. Passover is celebrated by many Christians as a means of observing the promises of God.
In the 5th century BCE, people of Israel celebrated a miraculous event of being protected from a destructive plague. During that time, each family sacrificed a lamb, spread the blood of the lamb on the sides and tops of the doorposts of their homes, and feasted. The reason why this is important is because it showed a fulfillment of God’s promise of protecting the people of Israel.
The people of Israel were known as people of God, meaning people who devoted their lives to following God.
In a modern sense, Christians now still observe the momentous event of Passover as the fulfillment of God’s promise and protection. The reason why the event is so closely related to the resurrection of Jesus Christ is because Jesus Christ is referred to as the “sacrificial lamb”, a term given to him for being the sacrifice for the sins/wrongdoings of humanity, when he was crucified on Calvary.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ was a spiritual act that transcended the physical realm. The reason why Christians observe the resurrection of Jesus Christ as important is because it fulfills the promises of God ensuring the spiritual death will not impact those who believe in Him and acknowledge Jesus as Lord, the one who saved them from spiritual death, by conquering death through His resurrection. This is supported in the biblical scriptures of John 3:16-17.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son [Jesus Christ], that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”-John 3:16-17 (clarification added).
You see there is a big difference between Easter and the observance of Resurrection Day. In addition to these April events, many other people observe days such as Ramadan, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Palm Sunday just to name a few. There are many ways people celebrate in the month of April. Whether it is for cultural, social, or religious reasons, April is an eventful month.