The Full Story
Easter
Easter, the principle celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, actually was a pre Christian era pagan celebration of spring and fertility. Named after the Greek goddess Eastre. It is not right, that this pivotal moment in history, that would mark the birthday of Christianity itself, would be named after a pagan goddess. Yet every year around this time we celebrate our Savior's resurrection, and call it Easter. Because Christians lived amongst pagans, in order to 'get along' peacefully and inspire conversions of pagans to Christianity, they began incorporating aspects of pagan traditions into Christian worship. That has now caused confusion, and even disbelief, among many of God's children who don't yet know Him. The Passover, celebrated in Judaism is still called the Passover, yet Jesus ,the Passover Lamb, that was slain once and for all, for the sins of the world, has been given a name that in all truth has nothing to do with Passover or Salvation. Easter has been commercialized and celebrated every year with eggs (a sign of fertility), rabbits (another sign of fertility), baskets, grass and candy. Did you know that pagans to this day sacrifice rabbits to determine a fetus' gender, not to mention the lucky rabbits foot? It is a form of divination and witchcraft, that is symbolized and celebrated every year, honoring the Greek goddess, Eastre, under the auspice of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And to further complicate, confuse and compound this time of salvation, is the timing of Easter and the different calendars that mark it.
God set time in place by the sun, moon and stars. "Easter" is always changing calendar dates, no matter which calendar you go by. Most people do not realize that this Holy time was commanded and set by God to the Hebrew people as a lasting ordinance. God set the date and time Exodus 12:2 " This month is to be for you the first month of your year." The Passover occurred on a New Moon, because in God's great design, the New Moon marks the first day of a Month. This particular month, God said began the first month of the year. Exodus 12:6 "Take care of them until the 14th day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight." (The Hebrew word ussed in the scripture here means 'dusk' or evening). Exodus 12:14 "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD - a lasting ordinance." and again in verse 17 "Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come." Exodus 23:15 "...Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv,.." Aviv in Hebrew means spring time. It corresponds to the modern Hebrew calendar as the month of Nisan.
But even in ancient Israel, the religious leaders would change the date each spring by seeing if the roads were dry enough for pilgrims to travel and if the lambs were fat enough for slaughter. If not they would add one more month. So even though the date may change on the calendars, or be changed by man, this is an appointed day that does not change, because it was set and appointed by God, and He directed it by the moon. God does not change, He is the same today as He was then, and He specifically commanded us to celebrate this day for the generations to come. So the true story is that the first new moon in Spring begins the first month of the year. And the 14th day after the first new moon is the day that Passover begins, according to the Word, regardless of what the calendars or commercials say. The first new moon of spring 2022 is April 1st. That means Passover this year begins April 14th. Exodus 12:3 "...In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb." Exodus 12:6 "and ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month..." So they were to begin preparation on the 10th day and on the 14th day in the evening they were to sacrifice the Lamb and it was to be eaten that night. Exodus 12:8 "And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it." Today the 14th of Nisan begins at sundown on the 13th and it is used as a day of preparation for the Passover meal that will be eaten on the 15th of Nisan. However, the Word says that the Passover Lamb is to be eaten that night that it is scarified and any of it left in the morning should be burnt . Exodus 12:10 "And ye shall let nothing of it remain until morning; and that which remained of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire." It seems we all, through the ages, have been caught up in the web of lies and deceit of the world, in order for the enemy to try to divide and separate us from our Heavenly Father.
One of the most confusing things for Christians is that we are trying to follow a tradition where the day actually begins in the evening. The Hebrew people have always began their day in the evening based on the creation story of Genesis, where it is repeated "And the evening and the morning were the first day" and so on. Genesis 1:16-19 "And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide light from darkness; and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day."
So from the time of creation until Jesus' birth, you could say that we have been ruled by darkness given the fact each day of life here in the shadow of death, began at the twilight of the lesser light that rules over the night It was prophesied in Isaiah 9:2 "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." Isaiah 42:6 "...I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." Also Isaiah 60: 1-3 "arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." Revelations 22:5 "There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. Jesus is that light. John 1:4-5 "in him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" John 8:12 " Again Jesus spoke to them saying," I Am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 9:5 "As long as I AM in the world, I AM the light of the world." John 12:46 " I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness." Acts 26:23 "that the Christ must suffer and that by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."
Clearly we can see, as prophesied in the old testament, and came to pass in the new, and is to come in Revelations, that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, IS THE LIGHT, that has reconciled us to God 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 "therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;"
Jesus came into this world that we should not remain in darkness ( John 8:12 ). Before, our days began in darkness, but all things are made new( 2 Cor 5:17 ) for those who are believers in the Passover Lamb that was slain for our sins( 1 Peter 1:19 ) , who being the Light of Life ( John 8:12 ) was resurrected from death and the grave ( Mark 16:6) , and who has filled us with the Light of Life ( John 8:12), reconciling us to God ( 2 Cor 5:18 ), that we should be as One ( John 17:21 ) and no longer walk in darkness ( John 12:46 ).
Living for Him, our days are now ruled by the Greater Light of day, that we should begin our day with the rising of the Sun, because the Son arose in victory! Beginning our day at sunrise does not make us disobedient in following God's commands or the ordinances He set in place for us to observe and remember. If you follow Jesus, the Light of Life, and follow Him closely regarding the Word, being Himself the Passover Lamb, you can see that He followed God's ordinance of Passover directly as set by God, not as set by the religious leaders of His days here on earth, or as we celebrate it today under a falsehood of Easter. Resurrection Day: The remembrance of God saving His people; The New Blood Covenant of God; The birthday of Christianity! Hallelujah!
For all Christian believers, Passover should be called the Great Passover, because Almighty God Himself, provided the sacrificial Passover lamb, Jesus Christ, God's only Son, fulfilling every prophecy and every law that was given to the prophets in ancient days. As it was required by God in the Old Blood Covenant, He Himself has fulfilled it in the New Blood Covenant, through Jesus Christ. The following timeline is the full true story as it is written in the Word, (when it was given in the Old Testament, and how Jesus observed it in the New Testament), observed in the real time of today...
Passover
As Recorded in the Old Testament
Passover was an ordinance given by God to Israel to be kept as a remembrance to all generation forever of how God saved His people. (Exodus 12: 14, 17)
-
First new moon of spring (Aviv) is the first day of the first month of the year. ( Exodus 12: 2 ) (April 1, 2022 was the first new moon this spring)
-
The 10th day of Aviv it was appointed to choose the sacrificial lamb, a male of one year old without blemish of either a sheep (Jew) or goat (Gentile) and keep it until the 14th day. ( Exodus 12:3-6)
-
The 14th day of Aviv it was appointed to Israel to
-
Sacrifice the Lamb
-
Take the blood of the Lamb and cover the top and sides of the doorway of each home with it.
-
Cook the Lamb, roasted with fire, with head, legs and internal organs intact with no broken bones.
-
Eat the Lamb that night with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, leaving nothing remaining until morning, and any remaining in the morning should be burnt with fire.
-
Keep vigil that night, while the plague of death passed over the homes covered by the blood.
-
Remove all leaven from their homes.
-
A Holy Convocation (Exodus 12:8 - 16)
-
-
The 14th of Aviv (first day of Feast of Unleavened Bread) for seven days through the 21st of Aviv it is appointed to Israel to do not work and eat unleavened bread. (Exodus 12:15 - 16)
-
The 21st of Aviv (last day of the Lord's Passover) it is appointed to Israel to do no work, eat unleavened bread and hold a Holy Convocation. (Exodus 12: 15-16)
The Great Passover and Resurrection
As Recorded in the New Testament
These events are recorded in the New Testament and following the timeline of the New Moon (Aviv 1) in 30 AD. Keep in mind, the day began at sundown the evening prior and continues through sundown that day.
-
Aviv 1, 30 AD (April 1, 2022, Friday, began Thursday evening) - Feast of Trumpets (Rash Hashana) New Year
-
Aviv 10, 30 AD (April 10, 2022, Sunday, began Saturday evening) Palm Sunday - Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a Donkey as the crowd waves palm leaves shouting "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord" - a kings entry.(Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:12-19) This is the day God appointed Israel to choose a sacrificial lamb and keep it until the 14th day.
-
Aviv 11, 30 AD (April 11, 2022, Monday, began Sunday evening)
-
Jesus cleansed the Temple from the money changers (Matthew 21:12-22, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48, John 2:13-17)
-
Jesus curses the fig tree (Matthew 21:19)
-
Jesus continues teaching and healing
-
-
Aviv 12, 30 AD (April 12, 2022, Tuesday, began Monday evening)
-
Jesus passes the withered fig tree on his way back to Jerusalem and teaches about the importance of faith.(Matthew 21:21)
-
Judas Iscariot negotiates with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16)
-
Jesus continues teaching and healing in the Temple
-
Jesus is challenged by religious leaders for a final time (Matthew 22:46)
-
Jesus goes to Mount of Olives and prophesies (Matthew 24:3-51; 25:1-46)
-
Jesus tells his disciples that in 2 days He will be crucified. (Matthew 26:1-2)
-
-
Aviv 13, 30 AD (April 13, 2022, Wednesday, began Tuesday evening)
-
Judas meets with the Sanhedrin again and agrees to the betrayal. (Luke 22:1-6)
-
Jesus spends the day at Simeon the Leper's house in Bethany where a woman anoints His head with perfumed oil, for His burial.(Matthew 26:7-13)
-
-
Aviv 14, 30 AD (April 14, 2022, Thursday, began Wednesday evening)
-
Israel prepares the Passover meal
-
Jesus sends His disciples to prepare the Passover meal(Luke 22:7-8)
-
Jesus eats the Passover meal (A Seder meal, but with no sacrificial lamb) The Last Supper (Luke 22:14-20)
-
Judas meets the Sanhedrin the third and final time(John 18:2-3, Luke 22:3-6)
-
Jesus washes His disciples feet (John 13:4-12)
-
Jesus tells Peter he will deny Him 3 times before the cock crows(Luke 22:34, Matthew 26:34)
-
Jesus goes to Gethsemane and prays drops of blood while his disciples fall asleep (Luke 22:39-45, Matthew 26:36)
-
Jesus is arrested by the Sanhedrin after Judas betrays Him with a kiss.
-
Jesus is taken to high priest Annas house (John18:13)
-
Jesus is taken to Caiaphas'. (John 18:24)
-
Peter denies Jesus 3 times as the cock crows (John 18:27)
-
Jesus is blindfolded, mocked, beaten and spit on
-
Jesus is brought before religious council
-
Jesus is taken to Pilate who finds no fault in Jesus
-
Pilate hears that Jesus is from Galilea and sends him to Herod (Luke 23:7)
-
Herod and his soldiers mock Jesus and put a robe on Him and sends Jesus back to Pilate (Luke 23:11)
-
About the 6th hour, the crowd demands Barabas be released and Jesus be crucified
-
There was darkness from the sixth hour through the nighth hour. (Matthew 27:45)
-
Pilates soldiers strip Jesus, put a purple robe on Him, place a crown of thorns on His head, and beat Him.
-
Bearing the cross, Jesus is taken to Golgotha and crucified with two theives (John 19:17)
-
Simon, from Cyren, is made to carry Jesus cross. (Luke 23:26)
-
Pilate writes a title in Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" and nails it above Jesus(John 19:19-22)
-
His garments are torn into four pieces and given to soldiers and His coat is gambled over amongst the soldiers (John 19:23)
-
After being nailed to the cross Jesus says "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)
-
Jesus says to the thief beside Him, "Verily, I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)
-
Jesus looks at His Mother Mary and says "Woman, behold thy son!" To His brother He says "Behold thy Mother!" (John 19:26-27)
-
About the Ninth hour Jesus cried " Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? (My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" then Jesus said "I thirst" and was given vinegar. After receiving the vinegar He said "It is Finished" and "Father, into they hands I commend my spirit;" and having said that, He gave up the ghost.(Matthew 27L46-50, John 19:28-30, Luke 23:46)
-
The Centurion glorified God and said certainly this was a righteous man. (Luke 23:47)
-
The veil of the temple tore from top to bottom; the earth quaked and rocks split. (Matthew 27:51)
-
The Soldiers did not break Jesus' legs because they saw He was already dead. They peirced His side with a sword and blood and water flowed. (John 19:31-34)
-
Joseph of Arimathaea begs Pilate for Jesus' body, wraps Jesus' body with clean linen and places Jesus in a new tomb hewn out of rock and rolls a great stone to the door. (Matthew 27:57-60)
-
-
Aviv 15, 30 AD (April 15, 2022, Friday, began Thursday evening)
-
The Pharisees place a seal on the door of the tomb and set watch over it. (Matthew 27:62-66)
-
The women went home and prepared spices and ointments for Jesus body. (Luke 23:56)
-
-
Aviv 16, 30 AD (April 16, 2022, Saturday, began Friday evening)
-
The is the Sabbath day, everyone rested. (Luke 23:56)
-
-
Aviv 17, 30 AD (April 17, 2022, Sunday, began Saturday evening)
-
Very early in the morning the women went to the tomb with spices for Jesus body and found it empty. (Luke 24:1-3)
-
Two angels appeared at the tomb and told the women "He has risen!" (Luke 24:4-11)
-
Mary Magadelen goes back to the tomb with Peter and another desciple. Mary stands outside weeping. Peter finds the burial linen and he finds the face napkin folded and laid by itself (It was customary at that time that if the master of the house folds his napkin at dinner, it means he is coming back) (John 20:9-11)
-
Mary sees 2 angels in the tomb, turns around and is met by Jesus who tell her to go and tell His brethren. (John 20:12-18)
-