Author, Sharon K. Connell lives in Houston, Texas from where she writes Christian Romance Suspense, containing a bit of mystery and as much humor as she can get into a story. She’s also written many award-winning short stories in a variety of genres. Sharon attended college in Illinois, graduated from the Pensacola Bible Institute in Florida, and holds a certificate in fiction writing from the International Writing Program through the University of Iowa. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Scribes Critique Group, Houston Writers Guild, and CyFair Writers. She is also the founder of the global Facebook Christian Writers & Readers group forum. Her monthly newsletter, Novel Thoughts, goes out every month to its subscribers in all parts of the world. Visit the offical website of Sharon K. Connell https://www.authorsharonkconnell.com/
WHY CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE EASTER by Sharon K. Connell According to the Encyclopedia Britannia, the earliest recorded observance of an Easter celebration comes from the 2nd century, although the commemoration of Jesus’ Resurrection probably occurred earlier, as word spread that Christ had risen from the dead. While I attended the Pensacola Bible Institute, I learned Easter stemmed from the celebrations for Astarte, the great goddess of the ancient Middle East and chief deity of Tyre, Sidon, and Elat. Hebrew scholars feel that the goddess Ashtoreth, mentioned so often in the Bible, is a variation of the Greek name Astarte. Astarte, goddess of war and sexual love, was worshiped. Ishtar, Isis, Hathor, Aphrodite, Artemis, and Juno are other names associated with this so-called goddess. There is no definite origin for the start of Easter. However, it is mentioned in the Bible with reference to when Jesus was crucified. “And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” (Acts 12:4 AKJV) And we know that missionaries to the heathen, after unsuccessful attempts to convert the native practices from their worship of multi-gods, decided to turn their festivals into Christian holy days. Easter is one of them. 30 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 3 30
It’s certain that most of the information I’ve mentioned about Easter is accurate because of the celebration of the holiday. Easter bunnies. The rabbit is a very prolific producer of offspring. The Easter egg. Long associated with fertility. Today, Christians celebrate Easter because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who rose on the first day of the week. At least, that’s why I celebrate the day. John 20:1-9 (AKJV) says: “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. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.”
