Tomorrow is Easter, the most special day of the year for Christians. I prefer the name Resurrection Sunday; it clearly describes what this day is all about.
In the Early Church era, Easter was celebrated as an overnight service, beginning on Saturday. Much of its content and imagery were drawn from the Jewish Passover celebration. Thus, the Scriptures that were read not only included the New Testament accounts of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, but also Exodus 12 and 14. These chapters consist of instructions for celebrating the first Passover and an account of the actual Exodus from Egypt, culminating in the victorious escape of the Children of Israel through the Red Sea and the decimation of Pharaoh’s legions.
Easter was partially a solemn vigil. But it also included a love feast, highlighted by the celebration of Communion, or the Lord’s Supper.
By the fourth century, churches were holding baptismal services to commemorate the day, reflecting the new spiritual life brought by Christ’s resurrection. A special opening light ceremony illustrated the transition from darkness to light brought by the saving work of Christ.
I believe it is especially appropriate for us to remember the Passover roots of this great day. The deliverance of God’s people in the Old Testament foreshadowed the wider spiritual deliverance that the death and resurrection of Jesus would bring. As the early Christians did, we also should celebrate this day as a passage from bondage to deliverance, from death to life, from sorrow and pain to joy and spiritual prosperity.
When we receive the two elements of Communion, representing Christ’s body and blood, it should be a solemn, then joyous time. Solemn, as we recall the terrible price that was paid to win our salvation. Joyful, after the elements have been received and we recall that Jesus came that we might have life — a life that should be abundant (John 10:10)!
Abundant life in Christ is the heritage of Resurrection Sunday.
