Easter

Prior to the 4th century, Good Friday and Easter were celebrated as one festival in the church. This is the background for the sermon-drama for Easter. They were not observed as historical pageants as we do today, commemorating the death of Christ on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. Rather, the early church observed a festival of redemption, combining the death and resurrection of Christ within the framework of an all-night vigil, concluding with the first rays of sunlight on Easter morning.

The resurrection cannot be understood apart from the crucifixion. We cannot talk of butterflies and Spring flowers without acknowledging the caterpillar and seeds that must die to give them life. In the same manner, we cannot speak of the resurrection without discussing the human…