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1Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky and came and rolled away the stone from the door and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men. 5The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. 6He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. 7Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.”

8They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word. 9As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!”

They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.

10Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”

11Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city and told the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12When they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers, 13saying, “Say that his disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept. 14If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.” 15So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until today.

16But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them. 17When they saw him, they bowed down to him; but some doubted. 18Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Is Easter a Reference to the Resurrection, the Rising of Christ from the Dead?

Is Easter a Reference to the Resurrection, the Rising of Christ from the Dead?

Topical Study | Matt 28:1 | Hershel Wayne House

Why is Easter called Easter?

It has become common for some to view the word Easter as a derivative of the Babylonian Ishtar,[1] so that Christianity has simply adopted a pagan holiday or a pagan god.[2] Certain questionable academic sources, and ones often hostile to Christianity, have furthered this error. Sometimes claims are made from sources, which seek to undermine Christian history and beliefs regarding the virginal birth of Christ or other Christian doctrines, use questionable academic sources, or those predisposed to an anti-Christian position.[3]

Regarding the source for the term Easter, regularly used by Christians and non-Christians at this time of the year (related to Passover or pascha), I refer you to the work of Hans J. Hillerbrand, Professor Emeritus of History and Religion at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, published in Encyclopedia Britannica (online).[4]

"Easter, Latin Pascha, Greek Pascha, principal festival of the Christian church, which celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. The earliest recorded observance of an Easter celebration comes from the 2nd century, though the commemoration of Jesus’ Resurrection probably occurred earlier. Easter is celebrated on Sunday, April 4, 2021.

The English word Easter, which parallels the German word Ostern, is of uncertain origin. One view, expounded by the Venerable Bede in the 8th century, was that it derived from Eostre, or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. This view presumes—as does the view associating the origin of Christmas on December 25 with pagan celebrations of the winter solstice—that Christians appropriated pagan names and holidays for their highest festivals. Given the determination with which Christians combated all forms of paganism (the belief in multiple deities), this appears a rather dubious presumption.* There is now widespread consensus that the word derives from the Christian designation of Easter week as in albis, a Latin phrase that was understood as the plural of alba (“dawn”) and became eostarum in Old High German, the precursor of the modern German and English term. The Latin and Greek Pascha (“Passover”) provides the root for Pâques, the French word for Easter."

[1] The name of the biblical figure Esther, who was a spouse of the Persian emperor, does have a name from either the Old Persian word stara (meaning "star") or from the Babylonian goddess of love, Ishtar.

[2] I want to refer you to a balanced approach on the matter of the word and practice of Easter for Christians. See Mark Ward, "Is Easter a Pagan Holiday? Some Say Yes—but is It Really?

[3] I have dealt with these efforts  elsewhere: H. Wayne House, "The Jesus Mysteries: Was the 'Original Jesus' a Pagan God?'

[4]See article on Easter at Hillerbrand, Hans J.. "Easter". Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Easter-holiday. Accessed 4 April 2021.

*Emphasis mine.