Each year, our calendars contain the words"Easter Sunday". On Easter, many people attend sunrise services. There are Easter eggs, Easter bunnies, Easter clothes, and Easter dinners. By the way, is this the day of our Lord's resurrection? Are you sure? What does Easter mean? It comes from the Greek word pascha, from the Hebrew word pesah. If one goes back to the original language, the word, correctly translated, is Passover.

Is this word in the Bible? Yes. "So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover."{Acts 12:4} The King James version (KJV) uses the word Easter instead of Passover. Some say the word was used in the KJV to relate to the English reader the time frame of the events in Acts 12. Where did it come from? When did it begin to be observed as a religious day?

The term Easter derives from the Anglo-Saxon Eostre, the name of the goddess of spring. Sacrifices were offered to her. By the eighth century, the term came to be applied to the anniversary of Christ's resurrection. For many years, the Jewish and Gentile Christians debated the date of the festival. The Jewish Christians determined the date of observance by the date of the Hebrew Passover. Gentile Christians, however, tended to celebrate the resurrection on Sunday. Who was right? Neither! Why argue over something that cannot be determined and that has no merit?

The Council of Nicea, in 325 A.D. took steps to settle the dispute. The Council unanimously decided that all churches should celebrate resurrection on the same Sunday. But which Sunday? It was suggested that each year, the church leaders in Alexandria could determine the date. By the seventh century, the practice had become reasonably uniform. The time agreed upon? The first Sunday following the full moon that comes after the vernal equinox. Equinox was set for March 21. This allowed for a variation in Easter dates, from March 21 to April 25.

It should be obvious that in this whole scenario, God's wishes are not considered. This holiday was fixed and determined by men; it was never commanded by God. Should we remember the Lord's resurrection? Do we know the exact date when it occurred? Do we need to know? The answers to these questions are, of course, "no". Yet, we do need to remember our Lord's resurrection.

"And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead."{Romans 1:4} "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."{2 Peter 1:3} "And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!"{1 Corinthians 15:17} "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."{Hebrews 2:14,15}

What we must do is remember what that resurrection means to our salvation. His overcoming the grave gives us hope of one day overcoming the grave also. "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death."{Revelation 1:18} No council of men has the authority to tell us how often, and how to remember Christ's victory over the grave and Hades. Satan's greatest defeat was this stunning victory of Christ! Do you believe it is something that should only be remembered once a year? Surely, it must be more to us than a "once-a-year observance." The apostle Paul dedicated one whole chapter to discussing the events and facts of the resurrection. One grave difference here needs to be remembered. The Holy Spirit directed Paul to write the account. Can the Council of Nicea make the same claim?