Reflections on Jesus’ death, resurrection

13.APR.07

Editor: Last weekend many people in Christendom stopped to celebrate ‘Easter.’ A time to commemorate the death and resurrection of Christ, they say, although the early Christian Apostolic Church never had such festivities (lent and Easter) as part of their worship.

“…The forty days abstinence of lent was directly borrowed from the worshippers of the Babylonian goddess. Such a lent of forty days in the spring of the year…” The Two Babylons, pg 104, Alexander Hislop.{{more}}

“It is well known that the word Easter is not a Christian expression-not in its original meaning. The word comes from the name of a pagan goddess-the goddess of the rising light of day and spring. ‘Easter’ is but a more modern form of Ostera, Astarte, or Ishtar, the latter, according to Hislop, being pronounced as we pronounce ‘Easter’ today.” Babylon Mystery Religion pg 135, Ralph Woodrow.

The facts of history clearly show that these festivities have been borrowed and preserved, under the garb of Christianity, by the Roman Catholic Institution.

“To conciliate the Pagans to nominal Christianity, Rome, pursuing it usual policy, took measures to get the Christian and Pagan festivals amalgamated…But at last when the worship of Astarte (Easter) was rising into the ascendant, steps were taken to get the whole Chaldean Lent of six weeks, or forty days, made imperative on all within the Roman Empire of the West. The way was prepared for this by a Council held at Aurelia in the time of Hormisdas, Bishop of Rome, about the year 519, which decreed that Lent should be solemnly kept before Easter.” The Two Babylons pg 105-107, Alexander Hislop.

Now, having been enlightened about the historical evidence surrounding the origin of Lent and Easter, it is worthwhile to understand the significance of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and how it should be commemorated. Undeniably the great truth about Christ’ crucifixion cannot and should not be lost sight of at all. Over 2000 years ago Jesus Christ walked this earth, physically died and was resurrected. This is scripturally and historically verified. In the twenty seventh chapter of Matthew, the crucifixion scene is vividly depicted. Christ is delivered bound to Pilate, the wicked Jews shout for his murder, choosing Barabas (a murderer) to be released, instead of the sinless, innocent Jesus. “And they crucified Him and parted his garments…Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost” (vs. 35, 50).

Jesus’ death means the suffrage (Mat26:38) he experienced on our behalf so that we can be awakened to the horribleness of sin (disobedience to His Law), forsake the sin and accept the gift of eternal life. The death of Christ is not about spending a few days weeping and abstaining from certain foods, and re -enacting the scenes of Calvary. Real Godly sorrow worketh repentance (2Cor.7:10).

Sadly, this world continues to degenerate because of the rapid deterioration of human characters (2 Tim.3:1-5). This degradation is as a result of minds that are twisted and directed towards iniquity. The world’ greatest need is men and women with characters that are formed and preserved by the love/truths of the risen Saviour. This is the solution to escalating crime, injustice, hopelessness, wars, selfishness, malice, evil speaking, anger, bitterness…

So when you contemplate and commemorate the Death of Jesus and his Resurrection, consider, seek and receive a life that is freed from the aforementioned evils and replaced by a spiritual regenerated experience of holiness, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, temperance and all the fruits of the Spirit. The Death and resurrection of Christ should mean, for each individual, a departure from sin and a life of newness in righteousness. “Knowing this that our old man (the carnal mind) is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth WE SHOULD NOT SERVE SIN.” Romans 6:6

Ann-Marie John