What is Easter and why do Christians celebrate it?

 

Easter is one of the traditions Christians appear to have a consensus about, since it is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ which all Christians believe in.

Here are five reasons Easter is celebrated by Christians.

1. Jesus Was Resurrected
On Easter (also known as Resurrection Sunday), believers celebrate the truth that Jesus rose from the dead. The Friday before, which is traditionally called “Good Friday,” Christ was crucified. He died and was buried that day in a tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:28-42).

 

2. The Resurrection Validates Jesus’ claim
Since Jesus rose from the dead, He proves that He is the Son of God, Messiah, and the Savior of the world. Jesus stated throughout His ministry that He would die and be raised to life on the third day (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:19; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34; Luke 24:7, 46).

When the Jews asked Jesus for a sign to prove that He is the Messiah, He gave them the sign of Jonah, which is His death and resurrection (Matthew 12:38-40).

If the resurrection had never occurred, then Jesus could not have been the promised Messiah. Instead, He would be a liar because He said He would be resurrected. His identity as the Savior, Messiah, and divine Son of God rests on the truth of the resurrection.

3. The Resurrection Is Foundational to the Christian Faith
During Easter, believers remember the resurrection because it is foundational to the Christian faith, like the foundation of a house. Without this foundation, the house (the Christian faith) would not stand.

As Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthian church, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).

 

4. Easter Reminds Us of Our Salvation
On Easter, we celebrate Christ’s resurrection and the salvation He has given us. God the Father sent His Son into the world with the mission of redemption and reconciliation (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

Although He is God, Jesus became a man at the incarnation so He could die for the sins of humankind (Hebrews 2:14-15). Only Christ, who is fully God and fully man, could have done this because of His sinless humanity.

5. Celebrating Easter Serves as a Testimony to the Gospel
A final reason Christians celebrate Easter is that it serves as a testimony to Jesus’ saving work. During a day when others are focusing on spring, believers meet for worship and declare that Jesus is risen indeed. As the old Easter hymn declares, “Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!”