Alleluia! Christ has risen! Easter celebrates the victory of Jesus over death and sin. He has conquered and He shares that victory and His peace with mankind that we might also live! Easter is a time of great joy as we rejoice in His victory and the blessing He imparts to us because of it especially the new life we have in Him: “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15 : 57). We pray that this video helps you discover the sights, sounds, and symbols of Easter and help you to also share this wonderful resurrection news with your family and friends! He has risen!
How do churches celebrate Easter?
Easter is such a momentous event in the life of God’s people that it both occupies a specific day in the Church year (Easter Sunday) and a season (seven weeks!) Easter is such a big event because it connects to Good Friday, which is the reason for Christmas—for God coming down in human flesh. The Lord God came down into the world for the purpose of dying to forgive all mankind of our rebellion against Him. Easter confirms that Jesus did, in fact, accomplish His mission to remove our sins and fully take care of all the punishment associated with it. Since He atoned for all our rebellion, death could no longer hold Him since death was the result of our rebellion against God (called sin or sins). Thus, Easter proclaims that our sins and the punishments associated with them, include physical death and everlasting death (eternal imprisonment in hell), have been forever removed. Easter celebrates Jesus’ victory which He shares with all people.
In celebration of this, many churches use white to decorate their altars and the spaces around them. While symbolizes purity, eternity, perfection, celebration, and joy as God is not only the Creator and Giver of light but He Himself is the source of light since He is the Light (John 1:3-4; 8:12). With the angels in gleaming white announcing His resurrection and Jesus Himself appears clothed in white in Revelation and at the Transfiguration, white is tied to Him as the perfect, pure, and holy God. And this is most clearly seen and recognized in His victory over sin and death which His resurrection made plain and clear. A few churches may even use a gleaming gold to decorate the space as color shows both the radiance of God and the glory and wealth of His victory, which He shares with us. The use of such a gold color is reserved for the Easter Day celebration as the highest celebration day on the Christian calendar.
Beyond this, churches often have flowers on Easter day to symbolize the springing forth and budding of “new life” from Christ’s rising from the dead. Like a seed that has fallen to the ground and “died” in order to spring up as a new plant, so has Jesus fallen to the ground dead and buried only to rise again anew and alive. Since His rising brings life, such flowers are used to communicate that the winter of sin has ended and God’s people have been born to new life.
The word “Alleluia” (“Praise God”) which was given up during Lent, now returns to the lips of God’s people as they rejoice in Jesus’ victory. Other celebratory parts of the liturgy return. Many churches also change their hymn of praise in the liturgy to include the newest addition to the liturgy, “This is the Feast” which details Jesus’ endtimes heavenly banquet already entering our space and time this very day.
Often, the Lord’s Supper is celebrated as Jesus instituted this meal to proclaim His death. And as we proclaim His death and what it means, we proclaim His resurrection, too! Thus, it is very appropriate to celebrate His resurrection with the meal that proclaims His victory by dying for us; after all His resurrection has revealed and made plain that victory unto us.
Throughout the Easter season, God’s people meditate on the significance of Jesus’ resurrection and how His death and resurrection has changed everything for us. We also consider how we should live in light of His resurrection even as we move toward Pentecost and the fulfillment of His promise to send His Holy Spirit to abide with us so that we are not left alone as orphans.
Near the end of the Easter season, we celebrate Jesus’ ascension, which recalls how Jesus’ departed and how this was for our good.