Easter: Paganism vs Passover

With Easter comming up and the rememberance of our salvation through Christ's suffering I thought I'd look at exactly what Easter is and where it comes from.

Paganism:
Since Easter falls during Spring, near the vernal equinox, in the the Northern Hemisphere it has been linked with pagan fertility celebrations. Some historians have suggested that Easter is apparently named after the pagan goddess Eostre (Latin: Oestre), an Anglo-Saxon goddess of fertility. Some also link her to Ishtar / Astarte, the Middle Eastern goddess. The Easter Rabbit/Bunny is thought to have been included as the Hare is sacred to the goddess in Indo-European mythology and supposedly the markings of the moon (also linked to goddess worship) resemble a Hare. Eggs are also a clear symbol of new life and fertility.

Passover:
The Jewish observance of Passover begins on the 15th day of Nisan, which falls in the early Autumn here in Australia (spring in the Northern Hemisphere) and commemorates the Exodus and freedom of the Israelites from ancient Egypt. Passover marks the "birth" of the Jewish nation, as the Jews were freed from being slaves of Pharaoh and allowed to become servants of God instead. The term 'Pesach' or, more exactly, the verb "pasàch" is first mentioned in the Torah account of the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12:23). It is found in Moses' words that God "will pass over" the houses of the Israelites during the final plague of the Ten Plagues of Egypt, the killing of the first-born. On the night of that plague, which occurred on the 15th day of Nisan, the Jews smeared their lintels and doorposts with the blood of the Passover sacrifice and were spared. (Exodus 12:1-30)

Passover Links to Jesus - The Israelites were commanded to sacrifice a Lamb so that theirs children would be saved. Jesus is the Lamb who was slain to purchase salvation for His people.
The timing of Easter in relation to passover is due to the "Last Supper" being considered by most scholars likely to have been a Passover meal, celebrated on the Thursday night (Holy Thursday) before Jesus was crucified on Friday (Good Friday). This belief is based on the chronology of the Synoptic Gospels, but the chronology in the Gospel of John has the Last Supper occurring before the Passover, for in that Gospel, Christ's death occurs at the time of the slaughter of the Passover lambs. For this reason, some argue that a thorough examination of the Gospels indicates that the Last Supper was on a Tuesday, and that Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday.

See What day was Jesus crucified on? for more information about the day of the crucifixion.

While there are some pagan symbols which seem to have been apropriated in the celebration of Easter there are three important truths we should remember.

1. Jesus was cricufied for ous sins so that we might have life.
2. Jesus was buried in a tomb.
3. He rose again three days later, defeating death.

This is the gospel!

"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" - 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

This post was intended to encourage study and constructive conversation during this precious season. However the important thing is that the tomb was empty. The authorities made sure that this was indisputable. Indeed, Jesus our Lord and Saviour is risen!

There is no evil in celebrating Easter only a Great Truth!

See The Suffering and Glory of the Servant for the truth of Easter.