The Truth About Easter

Easter as the world knows it, is a time of eating turkey, thinking about the Easter bunny and searching for hidden eggs. When the parents are stuffed till they feel like they are going to burst and the children have sore tummies from all the sugar they've eaten, all is forgotten for another year. What follows is the real truth about Easter.

Easter was originally the first Jewish Passover. The Pharaoh of Egypt would not allow the children of Israel to leave, even after the Lord had sent many plagues to get His point across. The following are verses from the Old Testament, that tell of the final act of God to get Pharaoh's attention, so that he would let God's people go.

Exodus 12:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, (KJV)

Exodus 12:2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. (KJV)

Exodus 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: (KJV)

Exodus 12:4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. (KJV)

Exodus 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: (KJV)

Exodus 12:6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. (KJV)

Exodus 12:7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. (KJV)

Exodus 12:8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. (KJV)

Exodus 12:9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. (KJV)

Exodus 12:10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. (KJV)

Exodus 12:11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover. (KJV)

Exodus 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. (KJV)

Exodus 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (KJV)

Exodus 12:14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. (KJV)

Exodus 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. (KJV)

Exodus 12:16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. (KJV)

Exodus 12:17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. (KJV)

Exodus 12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. (KJV)

Exodus 12:19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. (KJV)

Exodus 12:20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. (KJV)

Exodus 12:21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. (KJV)

Exodus 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. (KJV)

Exodus 12:23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. (KJV)

Exodus 12:24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. (KJV)

Exodus 12:25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. (KJV)

Exodus 12:26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? (KJV)

Exodus 12:27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. (KJV)

Exodus 12:28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. (KJV)

Exodus 12:29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. (KJV)

Exodus 12:30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. (KJV)

Exodus 12:31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. (KJV)

In the New Testament, John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus Christ. This is his testimony found in the Gospel of John, concerning Jesus being the Lamb of God.

John 1:19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? (KJV)

John 1:20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. (KJV)

John 1:21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. (KJV)

John 1:22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? (KJV)

John 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. (KJV)

John 1:24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. (KJV)

John 1:25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? (KJV)

John 1:26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; (KJV)

John 1:27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. (KJV)

John 1:28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. (KJV)

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (KJV)

John 1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. (KJV)

John 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. (KJV)

John 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. (KJV)

John 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

John 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. (KJV)

John 1:35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; (KJV)

John 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! (KJV)

In the Old Testament, the Passover was conducted yearly to atone (cover) the sins of the Children of Israel. Once a year the High Priest was to enter the Holy of Holies with blood, to be sprinkled upon the mercy seat to atone for the sins of himself and the sins of the children of Israel. The following verses are from the Old Testament book of Leviticus. They speak of the ceremony that the High Priest went through.

Lev 16:14 And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. (KJV)

Lev 16:15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: (KJV)

Lev 16:16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. (KJV)

Lev 16:17 And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. (KJV)

Lev 16:18 And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. (KJV)

Lev 16:19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. (KJV)

This ceremony had to be repeated over and over. This did not take away their sins it just covered them. The following verses from the New Testament book of Hebrews, show how Christ's sacrifice "once", took away the sins of the world forever.

Heb 9:6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. (KJV)

Heb 9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: (KJV)

Heb 9:8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: (KJV)

Heb 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; (KJV)

Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. (KJV)

Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (KJV)

Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (KJV)

Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: (KJV)

Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (KJV)

Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (KJV)

Heb 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. (KJV)

Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. (KJV)

Heb 9:18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. (KJV)

Heb 9:19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, (KJV)

Heb 9:20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. (KJV)

Heb 9:21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. (KJV)

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (KJV)

Heb 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (KJV)

Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (KJV)

Heb 9:25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; (KJV)

Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (KJV)

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (KJV)

Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (KJV)

As I noted earlier, John the Baptist testified that Jesus Christ was the "Lamb of God".

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (KJV)

Moses was commanded by the Lord to tell the children of Israel to offer a sacrificial lamb without blemish before the Lord.

Lev 23:12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD. (KJV)

Jesus, the Lamb of God was without sin or blemish.

1 Pet 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (KJV)

1 Pet 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (KJV)

All the congregation of Israel had to kill the unblemished lamb during the first Passover.

Exodus 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: (KJV)

Exodus 12:6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. (KJV)

All of the congregation of Israel killed Jesus, the Lamb of God.

John 19:12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. (KJV)

John 19:13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. (KJV)

John 19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! (KJV)

John 19:15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. (KJV)

John 19:16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. (KJV)

So the TRUE meaning of Easter is not bunny rabbits and Easter eggs. It involves God's wonderful plan of the Redemption and Salvation of fallen humanity.

When you think about Easter, think of the terrible Roman cross that Christ hung upon for your sins and mine and bow your head and give thanks.