Easter All Over Again
Jesus did not rise from the dead on April 4, 33 A.D. All we know is that He rose a few days after Passover on the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1). Post resurrection His followers began to gather on the first day of the week, which is on our calendars, Sunday. One indication of this is in 1 Corinthians 16:2 in which Paul directs the church to collect and offering on the first day of every week. Acts 20:7 indicates that the regular habit of the church was to meet on the first day of the week and take communion together. When Jesus rose from the dead, the first day of the week became a marker on the calendar of His followers.
We know that for the nation of Israel the sacred day was the last day of the week, the Sabbath, Saturday. As the followers of God, they marked their calendars weekly to commemorate the day on which God finished His work in creation (Genesis 2). God set this day apart, He made it Holy, and commanded them to carefully observe and protect the Sabbath day (Exodus 20:8). One very obvious way someone could tell whether or not a person followed God was to watch what they did with the final day of their week.
One very obvious way someone can tell whether or not you follow Christ is to watch what you do with the first day of your week. Followers of Christ do not commemorate the finished work of Christ in the resurrection only once per year, the followers of Christ place a marker in their week, every week, to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus. The last day of the week became different when God finished the work of creation. The first day of the week became different when Jesus finished the work of salvation. I know that in a secular society many people do not have the opportunity to have time off on Sunday. In large measure, this is the church’s fault. I too am guilty. If people who truly followed Christ did not patronize restaurants and places of business on Sunday, things would change. The demands for a Sunday workforce would change and more people would have time off on Sunday. Yet, if you do not have to work on Sunday, the question remains, what do you do with the first day of the week? If you follow Christ, the answer is easy, you commemorate the day of His resurrection by gathering with other followers of Christ on the first day of the week.
Do not celebrate the resurrection of Jesus yearly. Easter Sunday alone is not the Christian holy day (holiday), every Sunday is! If you follow Christ, celebrate the risen Christ weekly. I will look for you this Sunday.
We know that for the nation of Israel the sacred day was the last day of the week, the Sabbath, Saturday. As the followers of God, they marked their calendars weekly to commemorate the day on which God finished His work in creation (Genesis 2). God set this day apart, He made it Holy, and commanded them to carefully observe and protect the Sabbath day (Exodus 20:8). One very obvious way someone could tell whether or not a person followed God was to watch what they did with the final day of their week.
One very obvious way someone can tell whether or not you follow Christ is to watch what you do with the first day of your week. Followers of Christ do not commemorate the finished work of Christ in the resurrection only once per year, the followers of Christ place a marker in their week, every week, to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus. The last day of the week became different when God finished the work of creation. The first day of the week became different when Jesus finished the work of salvation. I know that in a secular society many people do not have the opportunity to have time off on Sunday. In large measure, this is the church’s fault. I too am guilty. If people who truly followed Christ did not patronize restaurants and places of business on Sunday, things would change. The demands for a Sunday workforce would change and more people would have time off on Sunday. Yet, if you do not have to work on Sunday, the question remains, what do you do with the first day of the week? If you follow Christ, the answer is easy, you commemorate the day of His resurrection by gathering with other followers of Christ on the first day of the week.
Do not celebrate the resurrection of Jesus yearly. Easter Sunday alone is not the Christian holy day (holiday), every Sunday is! If you follow Christ, celebrate the risen Christ weekly. I will look for you this Sunday.
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