Easter Sunday - What is it?

TL;DR:

Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter Sunday calls us to remember and celebrate the hope and new life found in the power of His victory over sin and death.

Easter Sunday is the day of the year on which Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is held the first Sunday after the first full moon following the Vernal Equinox, which puts it between March 22 and April 25 in the west and April 4 and May 8 in the Eastern Church. The term Easter Sunday does not appear by name in the Bible, but the event it celebrates—the resurrection of Jesus Christ—is a central theme in both the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament anticipates the resurrection through prophecy and typology, while the New Testament describes it as the pivotal moment of the Christian faith. Easter Sunday is a commemoration of Jesus’ victory over death and also a call to live in the hope and power of His resurrection.

from the old testament

While the Old Testament does not explicitly mention Easter, it points forward to the resurrection in several ways. For example, Psalm 16:10 says, “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption,” a verse Peter later quotes in Acts 2:27 as referring to Jesus’ resurrection.
Isaiah 53:10-11, part of the famous "Suffering Servant" passage, speaks of the Servant seeing the light of life after being crushed, suggesting a resurrection.
The story of Jonah (Jonah 1:17) is also seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus being in the tomb three days (cf. Matthew 12:40).

from the new testament

The New Testament describes the resurrection of Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. All four Gospels record the event of Jesus rising from the dead on the first day of the week—Sunday (Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18).
The day Jesus rose became known as the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10) and the primary day for Christian worship (Acts 20:7).
The resurrection’s significance is found in 1 Corinthians 15:17: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” The resurrection is not just a miraculous event but the foundation of Christian hope for eternal life (Romans 6:4-5; 1 Peter 1:3).

implications for today

Recognizing and celebrating Easter Sunday is more than a tradition—it is a powerful declaration that Jesus Christ is alive and that death has been defeated. When we focus on the resurrection, we remember that our salvation is not rooted in myth or ritual but in a real historical event that forever changed the course of human history. The resurrection proves that Jesus is who He claimed to be—God’s Son and our risen King. His resurrection assures us that His victory over sin and death is also our victory (1 Corinthians 15:20-22). This celebration realigns our hearts with the gospel, renews our hope, and reminds us that our faith is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:17).

In a culture that often reduces Easter to candy, bunnies, and brunch, we as believers have a chance to proclaim something far more meaningful. Although those cultural traditions are not wrong or sinful in and of themselves, resurrection Sunday is an opportunity to teach our children, encourage our friends, and declare to the world that Jesus lives—and because He lives, we can face whatever comes with courage, peace, and eternal hope (Romans 6:4-5; 1 Peter 1:3). Even if we include some cultural traditions, we must ensure they serve the central truth of Christ’s resurrection rather than overshadowing it. Celebrating Easter in this way helps us recommit to living in light of His resurrection power every day, not just once a year. Let Easter be a joyful reminder that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us (Romans 8:11), shaping our lives for His glory.

understand

Easter Sunday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Bible, though not using the term “Easter,” points to the resurrection through Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment.
Easter is a call to live in the hope, power, and victory of Jesus’ resurrection.

reflect

How does the resurrection of Jesus give you hope in your current struggles or uncertainties?
How do you personally live in the power and victory of Jesus’ resurrection each day?
What traditions or habits are helpful as you celebrate the meaning of Easter Sunday?

engage

How can we encourage others to make Easter about more than just a yearly celebration?
What is the significance of the resurrection?
How might we as believers boldly declare the hope of Christ’s resurrection in a culture that often makes Easter Sunday a cultural gathering to eat ham and search for eggs?