What is Easter
Some people use “Easter” to refer to the entire Easter weekend (including Good Friday and Easter Sunday), and in a broader sense, Easter can also mean the entire Easter season (the 50 days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost). But when most people say “Easter,” they usually mean Easter Sunday – the most important celebration in the Christian faith.
Easter Sunday is the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It’s the moment when light breaks into darkness, when hope triumphs over despair, and when life conquers death.
Jesus’ followers thought all hope was lost after Jesus was crucified on Good Friday. He was buried in a tomb, and it seemed like the end. But everything changed on Easter Sunday. The stone was rolled away, the tomb was empty, and Jesus had risen.
The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of Christianity. It’s not just a historical event; it’s a life-changing reality. Because Jesus is alive, Christians have hope. Because He conquered death, we can have eternal life. Because He rose again, we can know God personally.
Easter is an invitation to believe, to receive God’s love, and to step into the fullness of life that Jesus offers. Churches around the world rejoice with songs, prayers, and services, remembering that we have the promise of new life in Christ because of what happened on that first Easter Sunday.
However, Easter is not only a single day – it is a season of celebration that lasts for 50 days, beginning on Easter Sunday and ending on Pentecost. During these 50 days, the Church reflects on Jesus’ appearances to His disciples, His teachings after the resurrection, and the hope that He brings to the world.
One key moment in the Easter season is Ascension Day, celebrated 40 days after Easter. This marks the day Jesus ascended into heaven, promising that He would send the Holy Spirit. The season then concludes with Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples, empowering them to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Upcoming Dates
Easter Sunday falls on the following dates in upcoming years:
2025 – April 20
2026 – April 5
2027 – March 28
2028 – April 16
Calculating the Date of Easter
The date of Easter Sunday is calculated based on the lunar calendar and falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox (March 21). This means that Easter can be celebrated anywhere between March 22 and April 25.
This method of calculation follows the tradition set by the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, which established that Easter should always be on a Sunday and should not be tied directly to the Jewish Passover. Instead, the Church chose a formula based on the Paschal Full Moon (the first full moon of spring), ensuring that Easter always falls in line with ancient biblical symbolism of renewal and resurrection.
Because the Western (Roman Catholic and Protestant) churches use the Gregorian calendar, and the Eastern Orthodox churches use the Julian calendar, Western and Orthodox Easter often fall on different dates. Occasionally, they coincide, but most years they are a week or more apart.
This unique way of determining Easter’s date keeps it deeply connected to the cycles of nature and the ancient biblical traditions surrounding Passover, which was the time of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.
Key Scripture References
The following scripture references that highlight the significance of Easter, from Jesus’ death on the cross to His resurrection and victory over sin and death. They are taken from the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible.
The Crucifixion (Good Friday)
- Isaiah 53:5 – “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
- Matthew 27:45-46 – “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’).”
- John 19:30 – “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
The Resurrection (Easter Sunday)
- Matthew 28:5-6 – “The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.’”
- Mark 16:6 – “‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.’”
- Luke 24:6-7 – “He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’”
- John 20:27-29 – “Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”
The Meaning of Easter
- Romans 6:9 – “For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 – “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
- 1 Peter 1:3 – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”