“What are the origins of Easter?”…The origins of Easter are rooted in European traditions. The name Easter comes from a pagan figure called Eastre (or Eostre) who was celebrated as the goddess of spring by the Saxons of Northern Europe. …A festival called Eastre was held during the spring equinox by these people to honor […]
“What is Good Friday?”……Answer: Good Friday is the Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday. It is celebrated traditionally as the day on which Jesus was crucified. If you are interested in a study of the issue, please see our article that discusses the various views on which day Jesus was crucified. Assuming that Jesus was crucified […]
What is Lent? Is it an official Christian holiday?…Was it instituted in the Bible? …What does it mean to observe Lent, and are Christians "required" to do so? ……Lentis the span of time in the church calendar that starts with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday commemorates the beginning of Jesus' 40-day […]
“What is Trinity Sunday?”……Answer: Trinity Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost to honor the Holy Trinity-the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Although the word "trinity" does not appear in Scripture, it is taught in Matthew 28:18-20 and 2 Corinthians 13:14 (and many other biblical passages). The concept of the trinity can never be completely […]
“What happened in the Garden of Gethsemane?”……Answer: The garden at Gethsemane, literally "oil-press," is located on a slope of the Mount of Olives just across the KidronValley from Jerusalem. A garden of ancient olive trees stands there to this day. Jesus frequently went to Gethsemane with His disciples to pray (John 18:2). The most famous […]
“Should Christians celebrate Passover?”……Answer: The celebration of Passover is in remembrance of the time in Israel's history when the angel of the Lord moved through Egypt destroying the firstborn of all people and animals (see Exodus 11 and 12.) This was the final of the ten plagues God visited upon Egypt designed to force Pharaoh […]
“Where was Jesus for the three days between His death and resurrection?”……Answer: 1 Peter 3:18-19 states, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached […]