I remember a few years ago getting some harsh words from an esteemed individual because I used the word "Easter".
What's wrong with "Easter"? It's in the Bible, isn't it?
Isn't it?
Thus began my adventure.
As I searched through the King James Version of the Bible, I found that the word "Easter" is used one time in Acts 12:4
That's it?!
Just ONE time?!
I searched ALL the different Bibles available to me and I could not find "easter" at all, except for a wind current/storm mentioned in Acts 27:14
It was time to dig deeper.
The "textus receptus" is the greek text that the King James New Testament was translated from. The word that they translated to "Easter" is "pascha".
Utilizing a Strong's Concordance I found "pascha" (this is "G3957").
"Pascha" is in the textus receptus 29 times according to the King James Concordance.
Yes, it is used 29 times.
One time it is translated "Easter", the other twenty-eight times it is translated "Passover".
Huh?!
Same greek word, 29 times, but translated differently 1 time?!
So, what's up with that?
The original King James Version has it's origin in 1611. The King James Version we use today dates back to 1769. Granted, those are British. The U.S. of A. wasn't even around back then.
So why was the word "Easter" used that ONE time?
My ancestors, at least a lot of them were British. They are all dead now so I can't ask them. Even if they were alive, I'm sure their minds would be thoroughly thrashed from the mercury fumes (Hatter = hat maker) so it wouldn't do any good anyway.
So I turned to the internet to see what I could find.
A disclaimer is in order here:
If you have just eaten, are easily made nausious, or have a sensitive stomach, go get a barf bag or bucket. On the other hand, if you are like me and hate the "dry heaves" then eat something if you are between meals.
I studied several websites, but this one had the most concise information.
Bag ready or bucket in your lap-
This lady (IIRC) thinks she is a "goddess" and wants you to find your inner goddess.
Glad you got that bucket, aren't you?
She says,
"The history of Easter reveals rich associations between the Christian faith and the seemingly unrelated practices of the early pagan religions."
So, exactly how do you associate the Christian faith and pagan religions?
Worshippers of God associating with worshippers of Satan?
Oh, come on! You can't even have a friendly "discussion" amongst people of different denominations so how can you culminate devil worshippers with the things of God?
Oil and water do not mix. These don't either.
If you read that whole page I linked to, fertility goddesses, eggs, bunnies... then the summation at the end -
"...Christian and pagan traditions are gracefully interwoven."
Um, that just doesn't work. It never has and it never will.
Glad you got that bucket, aren't you?
So, I went back to the Bible. If we just stick with the majority rule (28 out of 29) we will call this "Passover", right?
Passover, a time when the Jews remember. No pagan blends here, just remembering when God warned them of a coming death of all the first born. The blood of a lamb was put on the door posts of their home to mark and separate them from the coming judgement. The lamb was eaten in haste and the rest of it burned. They ate it, fully clothed with their shoes on; they were ready to flee.
Read Exodus chapters 12 & 13.
The blood marked the house so God would "pass over" and not harm anyone living there.
This was right before the Jews were freed from slavery.
Make note of how the "pagans" were judged and killed.
This marked a new beginning.
This was a starting point for them walking and following God.
Passover; I like it.
The timing of Jesus' crucifiction coinciding with the Passover is just God's amazing perfection in all He does.
What the Passover represents and what the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ accomplished is a perfect union. Jesus was our paschal (Passover) Lamb. When that Blood is applied, God's judgement will pass over us. That Lamb was completely consumed. We meet Him today with our clothes and shoes on (just like the old Passover), ready to leave our captors and slavemasters behind us. We partake of this and have a new start, following God all the days of the rest of our life.
Passover? Yes, I think that is a better word. (28 out of 29...)
No eggs, Ostara, Ishtar, rabbits, Innana, cults, pagans, devils, or Satan.
Easter?
"Passover" admittedly is "old covenant", right?
We are under a "new covenant" because of Jesus perfect sacrifice, and He rose again.
So maybe we should call it "Resurrection Day".
After all, Jesus was the first to rise again, the First of many.
Resurrection Day.
Check it out for yourself.
Just thinking out loud...
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