The Days Before Easter, What Do They Mean?

[vekin]

Easter is coming and most of you are looking forward to it because it’s a free day or a day to spend with family. But for Christians this is more then just that, it’s an important day, even more important then Christmas. Easter is the conclusion of a week we Christians call the Good or Holy Week.

Because not everyone of you will know what all these days are about, I explain them shortly, to guide you through this week.

Palm Sunday

This Sunday (yesterday) reminds Christians of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, on a donkey. To show he had come in peace, he was riding on donkey. The people were waving with palm branches and proclaiming him as the messianic king.

Maundy Thursday or Holy Thurseday

On the night before his death Jesus had a final meal with his friends. After the meal he went outside praying in the gardens and there Judus betrayed him.

Good Friday

On Good Friday Christians remember the day that Jesus was killed on the cross.

Silent Saturday

The day after Jesus died we think about Jesus in the Grave. It’s a day of silence and praying.

Easter

Easter Sunday is a happy day for Christians because they believe that Jesus rose from the dead on this day. They believe that Jesus' resurrection shows that death is not the end of everything.

Why eggs??

Eggs are a sign of fertility because out of the egg comes new life. There was an old custom to put them in the ground to make the ground fruitfull. So started the tradition that kids are searching for eggs on Easter morning.

[ObscuredBeyond]

More notes on Palm Sunday:

Even as early as the Maccabean era, a lot of confusion was going around in the Jewish world concerning exactly where the Heavenly and Earthly Governances drew their borders. And what at "King from David" exactly meant.

In times of political duress, it became tempting for many to assume that the Messiah would be a political messiah, much as modern America is looking for one via the presidential elections (however mad that may be.)

"Hosanna" literally means "Deliver us." But they weren't remembering that he came to deliver from the Curse that came about in Genesis 3. They assumed he was merely there to reestablish Israel as a world power - and topple Rome, which had grown decadent.

Which is why his "My kingdom is not of this world" speech was of such deep meaning to Pilate. (Not to mention, confusing to how Roman minds operated!)

The Jews throwing palm branches didn't realize it was about the entire human race being offered a path to be saved from sin - something which otherwise has a stranglehold on each and every one of us, and will never run out of ways to twist our thinking to make futile excuses for itself.

They were convinced that Jesus was going to march in, and topple Caesar. Their every thought was bent on it. When Peter confessed to believing Jesus' mission was also to topple sin itself, Jesus replied that Peter's confession was the rock "upon which the church shall be built."

Riding in on a young donkey also bore significance. A young donkey was the ride of a peasant farmer, evidence that Jesus was not looking to be elected president; but to restore a spiritual kingdom. Kings and other Earthly Governors were granted mules to ride during peace time, because mules were more sure-footed than donkeys. Kings at war rode horses. Choosing a young donkey was to make a statement that the Jews were wrong to want an Earthly Governor on a war horse. Yet, they still didn't get it.

Hence, mourning that their stubborn spiritual ignorance concerning the relationship between the spiritual and the political would result in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. (Luke 19) Since many of the disciples were also looking for an Earthly Governor "messiah," they too failed to grasp what Jesus was talking about at first.

[vekin]

thanks for this!

[angelagunning]

NONE of the days you mention are in the Bible. Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Silent Saturday, Good Friday and Easter are just the doctrines of MEN!! Give me just ONE verse from Bible that mentions these Pagan Fertility festivals and I will start to keep them.

[Paris13]

@angelagunning you do not have to be snotty about it.
Palm Sunday is mentioned.. Read your bible more.

[Spiorad_Aisce]

I was raised a catholic in Ireland (atheist now) not withstanding my mother would kill me if I didn't know what each day of holy week meant (though Silent Saturday a new one on me). Also I didn't know the origin of the Easter Egg.
Very informative take.

[ObscuredBeyond]

Pharoah's army (navy), or what is left of it after thousands of years, has been discovered at the bottom of the sea. I can't claim to know all the specifics of Catholic living, but you don't have to throw everything away. Remember: even CS Lewis thought there was no hope for him at one point.

[Raven1990]

@ObscuredBeyond nice advice

[TheFlak36]

This is the most boring week of the whole year besides Christmas and New Years Eve. Especially during my teens I thought I will die every year. All of my family and my friends going to church. The only thing I had was my computer with its games.
And by the way, Easter is a pagan celebration that was adopted by the Christians. For everyones information.

[Raven1990]

Just one thing to correct... we don't believe Jesus rose from the dead... we are bloody sure that he did rise from the dead!

[jacquesvol]

Easter is usually about the end of Winter, beginning of Spring.
These days and their legends don't influence my life. The weather forecast does it. (dry and windy here today, but rainy the next days. The dry spell is over :-p )

[Paris13]

Beautifully Put and Good work, @vekin.. Blessings for the Holiday. xx

[vekin]

thanks! The same to you

[Paris13]

You are so welcome and dank you, @vekin.. Love you, sweetie. xxoo

[EmiliaRose2355]

Hmm. All is fair enough. However, as far as aware? The rolling of the eggs is to do with the rolling of the stone from the tomb.

[warren18]

To me, the days before Easter are just for buying Easter Eggs.

[skeptic007]

Easter is a pagan holiday has nothing too do with jesus
plus Easter is a sign of fertility like playboy bunny

[Arthur1970]

Nicely done

[legalboxers]

all thought provoking comments... except one