Matthew 26:2

[mesue]

Matthew 26:2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
Why are we celbrating Ressurection Sunday on March 27th when Passover doesn't start until April 23rd and therefore Ressurection Sunday would be May 1st?
Does it bother you that March 27th is not the traditional day and does not hold to the Biblical standard?

 

[Terri]

Well, even after a long study of this on the internet by my dear husband and my self we don't understand it completely but this is what I think I know about it:

Under ideal conditions the Passover is the first full moon after the vernal equinox. But in ancient times the priest made the decision depending on the condition of the harvest at that time. If the conditions aren't right at the first full moon then they would delay until the second full moon after the vernal equinox.

I don't understand it, but somehow they use some kind of charts to figure out whether it will be celebrated on the first or the second full moon after the vernal equinox in modern times.

This year it will be celebrated on the second full moon.

 

[SonOfThunder]

why do we get the dates out of order? beats me.

As a former Jehovah's Wintess we used to have Memorial day on the exact day, but this year for some reason unknown to me it has been changed and is a month out.

I guess it's an interesting question, either way I try to take these days that the world have for the purpose of remembering what Jesus did for us and use them to glorify him.

James

 

[Peggy~Soo]

It's just a date, OK a date that is very important to all Christians, but surely if we live by His word then not a single day passes without us praising God for his ultimate sacrifice made for us?
It IS significant that we have an 'official' date that we can as a body unite and both reflect and give thanks to our Lord but the actual date is insignificant in my eyes.
I DO think that it is best to celebrate in the Spring as there are so many of Gods wonderful creations reminding us that there is new life in abundance ~ trees in blossom, new shoots on plants, spring bulbs bursting into flower and birds busy nest building in readiness for their new offspring ~ God is incredible, wonderful, faithful and what is so fantastic that I do not have a superlative that is good enough to describe how great it is that he loves a sinner like me enough to sacrifice his only Son.
Go out today and wonder at God's creation and give thanks.
Watch & pray.......

 

[Terri]

Well, to continue my story of what little I know...

It appears that in 325 A.D at the Council of Nicaea (under Constantine) they decided that Easter should be the same day everywhere and it should always be a Sunday. It is the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox.

The one exception--if the full moon is on a Sunday, then Easter is the following Sunday. It appears the reason for this is to actually avoid having Easter and Passover fall on the same day.

This seems rather sad to me. I do think it would be a better witness if the Christian celebrations were on the same days as the original Jewish ones. But, it appears that even the Jewish Passover can vary by a full lunar month so it is really hard to pin down a date.

If I were going to celebrate it I think I would just pick the first full moon after the vernal equinox which would have been March 25 this year.

I am one of those people though that sees all days as the same so I don't really celebrate any special days so it is of little significance to me.

 

[mesue]

It IS rather sad that we allow men and not God tell us when to celebrate Resurrection Sunday.

If one were to say that Christmas is "just a date" I would have to wholeheartedly agree. I know of no specified date in a Book, Chapter or Verse that would say that Jesus was born on such and such a date. However, we don’t have that with Resurrection Sunday. We do know, and have a Book, Chapter and Verse for when our Lord and Savior was crucified for our sin and arose on the third day.
I think dates and celebrations of remembrances are important to God, a study of the Old Testament will prove this out. He wants us to remember Him and His mighty deeds and works.
Yes, we are under grace, but grace does not erase the Old Testament. The Old Testament shows us who God really is and what is important to Him.

Exodus 13:3 And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.

Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Deuteronomy 16:3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.

Esther 9:28 And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.

 

[ps139]

The difference in dates is all dependent on which calendar is used. The west uses the Gregorian calendar, and the East uses the Julian calendar. This year the E. Orthodox celebrate Easter on May 1.
Here is a recent thread which explains the whole thing, for anyone interested. http://www.christianforums.com/t1333880-easter-pascha.html

 

[seebs]

Matthew 26:2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
Why are we celbrating Ressurection Sunday on March 27th when Passover doesn't start until April 23rd and therefore Ressurection Sunday would be May 1st?
Does it bother you that March 27th is not the traditional day and does not hold to the Biblical standard?

Not really. We celebrate at times because of convention. It's not as if the calendar has been stable for the last two thousand years.

 

[Terri]

Mesue I respect that to you some days are special.

RO 14:5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

 

[mesue]

Not really. We celebrate at times because of convention. It's not as if the calendar has been stable for the last two thousand years.

This is true, however, Passover is Passover and Matthew 26:2 is still in the Bible.

 

[mesue]

Mesue I respect that to you some days are special.

Thanks Terri

RO 14:5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Amen and

 

[seebs]

This is true, however, Passover is Passover and Matthew 26:2 is still in the Bible.

Sure. But what's that matter? I can celebrate the Resurrection any day; indeed, I should celebrate it every day.

It doesn't really matter whether I follow the Eastern or Western liturgical calendar. Jesus died, and came back, nearly 2000 years ago. It doesn't matter which day. Our calendar has drifted. The earth spins a little slower now than it used to.

How should leap years affect our celebration? Should we celebrate a quarter-day earlier every year? Since 2004 was a leap year, and we're in 2005, should we contemplate the Crucifixion at 9AM instead of 3PM? Should we figure out which time zone it was in? Will Jesus come out of His tomb a day earlier in Australia?

We keep time as though we could answer such questions, but we can't. Over here, half a world from Golgatha, I nonetheless think of 3PM on a Friday as "when Jesus died".

When we think about these things is not important as that we think about them?

 

[Terri]

The earth spins a little slower now than it used to.

It only feels like it is spinning slower as you get older. It is actually you that is moving slower!

[disclaimer]This is only a joke. Please do not take the above message as truth. The truth is that I actually have learned to move faster to compensate for the slightly slower spin of the earth. [/disclaimer]

 

[mesue]

Sure. But what's that matter? I can celebrate the Resurrection any day; indeed, I should celebrate it every day.

It doesn't really matter whether I follow the Eastern or Western liturgical calendar. Jesus died, and came back, nearly 2000 years ago. It doesn't matter which day. Our calendar has drifted. The earth spins a little slower now than it used to.

How should leap years affect our celebration? Should we celebrate a quarter-day earlier every year? Since 2004 was a leap year, and we're in 2005, should we contemplate the Crucifixion at 9AM instead of 3PM? Should we figure out which time zone it was in? Will Jesus come out of His tomb a day earlier in Australia?

We keep time as though we could answer such questions, but we can't. Over here, half a world from Golgatha, I nonetheless think of 3PM on a Friday as "when Jesus died".

When we think about these things is not important as that we think about them?

Yes, you may celebrate Ressurection Sunday any day you please, especially if you live in the free world. But, alas my friend, that was not my point.
I don't have a Book, Chapter or Verse to compensate for time zones, leap years, Corporate Christians, the guy who spilled ink on the the Official Calander so he made up a day for Easter ... etc. etc. I only have God's word, and He says it's during Passover. And that was my point, plain and simple, just like the Bible is plain and simple in Matthew 26:2.
And, it's a celebration of an aniversary (of sorts) Jesus is currently seated at the right hand of the Father. His ressurection happened once for all. And it happened, once for all, during Passover. So, what are we doing celebrating it, tha aniversary, before Passover? Do you celebrate your birthday a month, or so, before your birthday? I don't. I may wait until the weekend to celebrate my birthday, but I don't wait a whole month, or so.
That's all I was trying to point out.

 

[seebs]

I have been known to do my birthday party a month or two off.

But I do take your point. I don't know why we now celebrate Easter when we do.

You did miss a second argument for celebrating later, though. Easter candy will go on sale Monday, and will certainly keep for a month or so.

 

[mesue]

Yeah, stale peeps to blow up in the microwave!!

 

[ZiSunka]

Matthew 26:2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
Why are we celbrating Ressurection Sunday on March 27th when Passover doesn't start until April 23rd and therefore Ressurection Sunday would be May 1st?
Does it bother you that March 27th is not the traditional day and does not hold to the Biblical standard?

Yes, it does bother me, so even though I will be celebrating "easter" with my family tomorrow, I will be celebrating Resurrection Day on May 1st, the first sunday after passover. The Orthodox faith will be celebrating that day, too.