Easter Sunday

Let me start our lesson here by pointing out that today is the Sunday that much of the world observes as a “special” day of worship, IE: Easter Sunday.  Then let me ask a question of you - do you believe that this particular Sunday is some sort of “special day of worship?”   I posit to you that it is not, but allow me to explain why I believe that this Sunday is no different than any other Sunday of the year.

First and foremost, the only reason that the world views Easter Sunday as a “special” day of worship is because man has made it such.  The Scriptures, the Word of God, has not done so.  That right there should be enough said on this subject, but let me further explain the reasons as to why there’s “no difference.”

The first thing I’ll point out to you is the way in which this day is chosen to be “special.”  If the reason given for observing the day is to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, that day has been set by the Scriptures:  every first day of every week, to wit: Sunday.  (Acts 20:7 and 1Cor. 16:2).

But man apparently didn’t see it as being that simple.  No, we have to have a “special” Sunday for this commemoration but, like most all of man’s efforts at deciding how something is to be observed, it becomes a convoluted process, sort of like the current nuclear talks going on in Switzerland right now.

In the 4th century they held a series of “synods” (which is simply a term meaning an official type of meeting of religious leaders) for the purpose of setting the time of this “special” holy day.   There was a lively debate over when to observe it.  Some wanted it held on the 14th day of Nisan (Jewish Passover) but the problem with that was that it would fall on any day of the week.

The other side said that this “holy” day should be observed on a Sunday because that was the day Christ rose from the tomb and this was the whole reason for having the observance.  Well, obviously we know which side won the debate. 

But then, how to arrive at which Sunday to make “special.”  As simple as I can explain it, here is how Easter Sunday becomes “special.”  It’s the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox.  Since the Vernal Equinox occurs about the 21st of March each year, Easter Sunday could be any Sunday between the 22nd of March and the 25th of April.  Pretty easy for me to see the hand of man involved here.

And, of course, anything man devises man changes, adds to or alters in some way, doesn’t he?  By our current day and age, it’s not just one day of holy observation, it has become a “Holy Week” in several religious entities with the various days having “holy” names attached to them.

Here’s another interesting addition: once the date of Easter Sunday is set, then many observe the 6 weeks leading up to that date as being a “special” period of penance known as “Lent.”  The period that is supposed to be for a person to get themselves ready for the “renewal of baptismal promises” that are to occur on Easter Sunday. 

However, since they’re going to have to be good for 6 whole weeks, then there must be a party before this period begins.  In New Orleans it’s called “Mardi Gras” which in reality is several days of debauchery and revelry.  Then the 6 weeks of being good, therefore Easter Sunday is looked on as being the day of freedom from penance.  It becomes a day of release rather than a day of commemorating Christ’s resurrection.  IE: We can go back to being our old selves again.

Because the “special” Sunday has evolved to the degree that it has, it’s my opinion that it has become similar to something the religious leaders of Christ’s day were doing and He condemned them for it.  I’m referring to their “traditions” which they were imposing on others in the form of religious service.  “Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”  Notice what Jesus called this: “vain worship.”  (Matt. 15:3-9)

If you turn to Mark 7:6-13 you’ll read further of His condemnation of those leaders and their “traditions” and practices.  And it’s there that we find Him revealing why their religious “traditions” were condemned.  Because they made “the word of God of none effect...” 

So, back to my original question of whether this Sunday is anymore special than any other Sunday of the year, the simple answer is - No.  We have no command or inference in Scripture to set aside a particular 1st day of the week as to be, in some way, more holy or special than any of the others.  The fact that we have this so-called Easter Sunday is because it is totally man-made and has had many traditions added to it since it’s inception in the 4th century.

By man’s making this day what it has become to many of the religious world, a specially significant holy day, it has had what I see as an adverse effect on true religion.  It has had the effect of lessening the importance of the other Sunday’s of the year.  In other words, one can just save up their religious obligations for just one special Sunday of the year.  The rest of them become insignificant.

If that’s the case then I can only echo what Christ said about these practices: “In vain do they worship me.”   (Matt. 15:13)

--Ron Covey