Reflections on Resurrection Sunday (Easter)

Easter week is a great time to annually reflect on the last week of Jesus' earthly ministry, all culminating in the cross and his resurrection. Here are a few thoughts to help you do that, along with a free resource by John Piper at the end.

Palm Sunday is the name given to mark the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem, that glorious and yet ironic moment when the praises of men celebrated the King coming in the name of the Lord and fulfilling the Zechariah prophecy about entering the city on a donkey (Zech. 9:9; Matt. 21). It was those "branches of palm trees" they laid before Jesus that gave rise to the name of this particular day (John 12:13).

Good Friday is a look at the crucifixion itself, which occurred on a Friday morning perhaps in the year 33. It was there that our sins were paid for with the death of Jesus. And from noon till 3pm that day, the wrath of God was poured out on him. It was there that he faced abandonment by his heavenly Father in order to fulfill what our sins deserved.

And then followed Easter Sunday, three days later as the Jews would number them, when death was defeated and Christ became the first and greatest of all those who will be resurrected to a glorified body. His resurrection was a sign that his sacrifice was accepted, his life was perfect, and he was indeed "the Holy One" who would not face decay after death (Ps. 16:8-11; Acts 2:25-28). And because he was resurrected, then all those who believe in him and are thus united to him will also be resurrected.

Some History on Easter

The church has celebrated Easter Sunday from the earliest generations. As early as 325 A.D. at the Council of Nicea, there was some debate about when to celebrate this church holiday. Eventually they worked it out, and we celebrate it on the first Sunday after the 14th of Nisan, a month in the Jewish calendar and so connected to the moon's orbit and not the sun. The 14th of Nisan is significant because that's when the Jewish Passover is celebrated. That makes life a bit confusing for us, but it's the reason why the date of Easter changes from year to year. Lunar months are as long as the cycle of the moon or about 29 days.

The name "Easter" has a story of its own, though one filled with more questions than answers. Brittanica.com tells us that

The English word Easter, which parallels the German word Ostern, is of uncertain origin. One view, expounded by the Venerable Bede in the 8th century, was that it derived from Eostre, or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. This view presumes—as does the view associating the origin of Christmas on December 25 with pagan celebrations of the winter equinox—that Christians appropriated pagan names and holidays for their highest festivals. Given the determination with which Christians combated all forms of paganism, this appears a rather dubious presumption. There is now widespread consensus that the word derives from the Christian designation of Easter week as in albis, a Latin phrase that was understood as the plural of alba (“dawn”) and became eostarum in Old High German, the precursor of the modern German and English term. The Latin and Greek Pascha (“Passover”) provides the root for Pâcques, the French word for Easter.

A Free Resource by John Piper

John Piper has written a short devotional to be used between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. It is available for free in electronic formats and for purchase in soft cover. Here is what his website says about it.

Love to the Uttermost: Devotional Readings for Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, ends on Easter Sunday, and aims to focus our attention on Jesus as he displays his love to the uttermost (John 13:1). These meditations on the self-giving love of Christ are all excerpted from the preaching and writing ministry of John Piper.

To download the PDF Version of the book, click here (other e-book formats are on the website).

Extra Time this Week

I hope you are able to take some extra this week and reflect on the glories of our Savior who was both crucified and raised for our salvation:

This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, "'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool."' 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:32-38)