My subject for this article is SEVEN ASPECTS OF EASTER. A number of years ago, God gave me a new view of this wonderful old truth. May God help me to unfold it in such a way that it will mean to all of us what it ought to mean.

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter declared, "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses" (Acts 2:32). I think that it is very significant that the first sermon of the Book of Acts, and nearly if not all of the sermons subsequent, were Easter messages. In nearly if not all of the proclamations of these early followers of our Lord, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ was the central theme. It should go without saying that the resurrection of Jesus should still be the central message of His Church.

As we pursue this subject, let us notice--

Previously, Peter had quoted a prophetical passage, "Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither will thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption" (Acts 2:27). Thus we see the resurrection was not an afterthought. God planned every aspect of His Son’s mission to earth. His birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, and His coming again were all planned in advance. Prophetic Scripture proves this without a shadow of doubt.

Note that the resurrection was foreseen by the prophet–king, David. Peter, in our Scripture passage, quoted from Psalm 16, one of David’s Psalms, "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption" (Psalm 16:10).

Peter further proved that David spoke prophetically, and not of himself. "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption" (Acts 2:29-31). Consider--

The resurrection of Christ is typified by the cleansing of the leper. In Leviticus chapter 14, verses 4 through 7, we read, "Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field."

Leprosy is a type or picture of sin. Speaking of Christ’s sacrifice, Paul says, "Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification" (Romans 4:25). The bird slain is a type of Christ "delivered for our offenses." The "earthen vessel" speaks of His humanity. The "running water" speaks of the Holy Spirit’s agency in His atoning work.

The bird let loose in the open field is a type of Christ

"raised again for our justification." The resurrection proved that God accepted Christ’s work of atonement on our behalf.

The resurrection of Christ is pictured by Jonah swallowed by the whale. This is the incident to which our Lord Himself made reference as a type of His death, burial, and resurrection. "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12:40). In passing I note that according to W. E. Vine, the Greek word ketos here rendered "whale," "denotes a huge fish, a sea-monster."

It seems probable to me that Jonah actually experienced death in the belly of the "great fish." Examine closely his own testimony, The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped around my head. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me forever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God" (Jonah 2:5, 6).

Jonah’s body was "in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." "Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights" (Jonah 1:17).

Jonah experienced a resurrection, in type if not in fact, when the fish "vomited" him out "upon the dry land." "And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land" (Jonah 2:10). Thus Jonah, the disobedient prophet, became a picture of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Again consider--

It has often been questioned, but never disproved. It actually happened! On one glorious day in history, Jesus came forth from the grave, laid aside the wrappings of death, and is "alive for evermore" (Revelation 1:18)!

The resurrection of Jesus is a proven fact. Dr. William Edward Biederwolf related that "DeWette, one of the greatest leaders of rationalism, labored on this thing with the most precise and scientific investigation and he said, ‘The resurrection of Jesus Christ cannot be called into doubt any more than the historical certainty of the assassination of Caesar.’ This is the statement that made Neander, the great church historian, shed tears when he read it."

One of the strongest proofs of the resurrection was the fact that the apostles and disciples were eyewitnesses. According to Dr. Clarence Edward Macartney, the great fundamentalist Presbyterian defender of the faith, He made thirteen different post-resurrection appearances. The Scriptures tell us that His appearances were made over a period of forty days. Acts chapter 1, verse 3, says, "To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God."

Among these "infallible proofs," consider that He was seen by as many as five hundred at one time. Paul tells us in First Corinthians chapter 15, verses 5 through 8, "And that he was seen

of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as one born out of due time." Next consider--

As to the origin of Easter, according to the Encyclopedia Americana, "Easter is a convergence of three traditions. (1) Pagan. According to the Venerable Bede, English historian of the early 8^th century, the word is derived from the Norse Ostara or Eostre, meaning the festival of Spring at the vernal equinox, March 21, when nature is in resurrection after winter. Hence, the rabbits,

notable for their fecundity, and the eggs, colored like rays of the returning sun and the northern lights or aurora borealis. (2) Hebrew (the Passover). (3) Christian (resurrection of Christ)."

As to the observance of Easter, the early Jewish Christians seemed always to have observed Easter in connection with the Passover, following the Jewish (Babylonian) calendar. The western world follows Rome in its celebration of Easter (Rome follows the Egyptian solar calendar). At the Council of Nicaea which was called by Constantine the Great in 325 A.D., "It was decided that Easter must be celebrated everywhere on the same day and this day must be a Sunday. It must be the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox, March 21, with one reservation. In the English prayer book it is stated thus: ‘and if the full moon happen upon a Sunday, Easter-day is the Sunday after’."

The time of the observance of Easter is not as important as the reason for its observance. In a sense, Easter is more important that Christmas. The truth of the resurrection made the church. How appropriate it is then that we commemorate the triumph of the living Lord! Consider further--

The early Jewish Christians seemed at first to observe both the Sabbath (the seventh day) and the Lord’s day (the first day) as days of worship. This is indicated in the Scriptures. It is also corroborated by the writings of the early church fathers. Ignatius (35 A.D.-107), a pupil of the Apostle John, became the bishop of Antioch. Shortly before his martyrdom in Rome he wrote fifteen epistles. In one of them he says, "And after the observance of the Sabbath, let every friend of Christ keep the Lord’s day as a festival, the resurrection day, queen and chief of all days."

He further states that, "Those who were concerned with old things have come to newness of confidence, no longer keeping Sabbaths, but living according to the Lord’s day, on which our life as risen again through Him depends."

Finally, as the church became more Gentile in content, the first day (Sunday) became exclusively the day of worship. Christ arose on the first day of the week. In John chapter 20, verse 1, it is recorded, "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre."

He appeared to Mary Magdalene on this day (John 20:11-18). He appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus on the first day (Luke 24:13-35). He appeared to the assembled Apostles on the first day (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23). Notice especially John chapter 20, verse 19, "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you." One week later He again appeared to the Apostles on the first day, "And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you" (John 20:26).

Thus we see that most if not all of the Lord’s post-resurrection appearances were upon the first day of the week. The first day of the week is subsequently mentioned as the Christians’ day of gathering. In Acts chapter 20, verse 7, it is recorded, "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight." Later, Paul instructed the Corinthian Christians, "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no

gatherings when I come" (1 Corinthians 16:1, 2).

The seventh day commemorates the completion of the old creation (Genesis 2:1-3). The first day celebrates the beginning of the new creation which will culminate in the creation of "new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13). Consider--

Apart from a personal relationship with Christ, Easter is just a cold, meaningless ritual. You know not nor care whether it is a miracle or a myth. It means nothing and does nothing for you.

In salvation, Easter becomes a personal reality. Only through believing in a resurrected Christ can we be saved. Romans chapter 10, verses 9 and 10 promises, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

When we put faith in Christ, He becomes a living reality in our souls. Paul testifies, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). Then to the Colossians, Paul wrote, "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

As the chorus of the grand old hymn, He Lives, testifies,

"He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along

life’s narrow way.

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart."

Consider--

FINALLY, THE ETERNAL EASTER

Christ’s resurrection was not just a personal victory. His resurrection was a victory He won for all of us. Because he lives we shall live also. He assured us, "...because I live, ye shall live also" (John 14:19). He is "the resurrection and the life." To Martha Jesus said, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John 11:25, 26).

Yes, some glorious day, whether living or dead we shall be raised to be forever with Him. Paul declares, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

A most unusual story is told about General Robert E. Lee. A lady said that during a revival meeting she ate at the same table with General Lee and the preacher who was doing the preaching. During the conversation at the table, the preacher asked the great General for a good illustration of the resurrection.

General Lee related that at the close of a great battle during the Civil War, it was cloudy and very cold. Dead soldiers were thickly scattered throughout the camp where the living ones had wrapped themselves in their blankets and had laid down to sleep.

The next morning, the General arose and looked out of the door of his tent. To his surprise the ground was covered with a five inch snow. As he viewed the snow-clad field where both dead and living soldiers lay sleeping, he could not distinguish the living from the dead. He looked upon the scene for several minutes in great heartache and wonder. After a while, he raised his bugle to his lips and blew reveille. Living soldiers broke through the snow and arose. General Lee said he saw in this a picture of the resurrection of the saved. When Christ comes again, the dead in Christ shall be raised. This is our great hope–the hope of life everlasting.