Easter is a fun family holiday filled with bunnies, chicks, candy and eggs. However, there is a much deeper meaning in Christianity. 

On Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is one of the most well-attended Sunday services of the year for Christian churches. Christians believe, according to Scripture,* that Jesus was resurrected three days after his death on the cross. As part of the Easter season, the death of Jesus is commemorated on Good Friday, always the Friday just before Easter. This is an important time for Christians because Jesus’ death is such a pivotal part of our belief. 

Adam was created a perfect man, and he could have lived forever. Instead, he sinned, and the penalty for sin is death (Genesis 2:17). By sinning, Adam brought death into the world to be inherited by all of his descendants – the human race. Jesus came to earth to pay that price for Adam’s sin (the price was the death of a perfect man). When he died, that price was paid for (in place of Adam’s death), thus allowing Adam to be raised, which, just like sin, gets passed down to all of mankind. This means that the whole human race can now be resurrected from the dead and be released from the penalty of death through Adam. This logic is explained in scriptures such as Rom 15:12-21 and 1 Corinthians 15:22.

Easter is simply a commemoration of those events, and a time for reflection and meditation on their significance in our lives. 

Through the centuries, many traditions have become associated with easter. Eggs and bunnies are a common symbol of new life and fertility, so they seem to match well with a holiday that celebrates resurrection (new life). Over time, this led to candy and chocolate in the forms of eggs and bunnies, and games and traditions took hold. While these can be fun and entertaining, it is important to remember the true meaning of Easter, which is a memorial of Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection.

*See Matthew 27:45- 28:10, Mark 15:33- 16:20, Luke 23:26-24:35, and John 19:16-20:31 for the accounts of Jesus’ death and resurrection