What to Remember About Easter

David Anderson
Apr 1
3 min read

It was Maundy Thursday, 2023, around 6:45 PM. I was getting ready for a 7:00 service when a lifetime member of the church I was serving at stopped me and asked a great question:

“What do bunnies and eggs have to do with Easter?”

My first thought was: that is a fantastic question.

My second thought was: I need way more than 90 seconds to answer it.

Like Christmas, Easter is often misunderstood. Some say it is rooted in pagan traditions. Others treat it as a day to dress up, go to church, and eat Reese’s Eggs. But the real question is this: What is Easter actually about, and why does it matter?

The earliest Christians did not call it Easter. That word would have meant nothing to them. For them, the death and resurrection of Jesus were not just important events—they were the center of God’s plan to save the world.

They understood these events through the lens of Passover. Just as God once delivered His people from slavery in Egypt, they believed Jesus came to deliver people from sin and death. That is why they called this celebration “Passover” (or some version of that word), a name still used in most languages today.

So where did the word “Easter” come from? It comes from an old word meaning “dawn” or “east.” It is a beautiful image—facing the sunrise, looking toward new life. And despite what many assume, it is not rooted in pagan gods.

Over time, cultural symbols like eggs, bunnies, and spring flowers became attached to the season. But those came much later. From the beginning, Easter has always been about one thing: the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

For the early Christians, this was not just a day on the calendar. It was an experience. From Maundy Thursday through Resurrection Sunday, they treated it as a single continuous celebration, entering into the story rather than merely remembering it.

They believed this was more than history. It was personal. Jesus did not just rise from the dead to prove a point—He rose to offer new life. Forgiveness. Hope. A restored relationship with God.

And that is where Easter meets us today.

Whether you have been in church your whole life or you are just beginning to ask questions, Easter is an invitation. It is an invitation to step out of old patterns, to receive grace, and to begin again. The resurrection is not just something to admire; it is something to enter into.

So as we walk through Easter week, here are a few simple ways to respond:

See Easter as part of God’s ongoing work in the world, and in your life.

Treat every Sunday as a reminder that Jesus is alive.