Marshall McClung
One of the most recognized symbols of the Easter season is the cross.
Although it was also the cruelest form of death used by the Romans to execute prisoners, it became popular with the early Christians as a symbol of their faith. To them, the empty cross was a reminder of Christ’s victory over death.
Over time, the cross came to be even more popular and adorns church steeples worldwide, headstones of graves, and necklaces.
The day Christ died on the cross came to be called Good Friday and may have originally been “God’s Friday.”
This is a most revered day for those of the Christian faith. It was such a solemn day in older times that women would not wash clothes on Good Friday because Christ was wrapped in linen on that day. Miners refused to go underground, because they believed that the earth was cursed the day Jesus was laid in the tomb. No one would drive nails, because nails were used to crucify Christ.
George Frederick Handel wrote Messiah in 1741 using Bible verses for the text. Often when a servant brought food to Handel, he would find him so moved that tears would be streaming down his face.
Handel finished the work in 23 days. His work was then presented to King George II, who was so moved that he stood to his feet as did the entire audience. Although often presented at Christmas, Messiah was actually first presented during Lent, but is considered to be proper at any time.
Easter comes from the word “east,” and meaning to face the rising sun. It is a reminder that Christ is to appear in the east at his second coming.
The actual word “Easter” is only found once in the King James Version – in Acts 12:4, where Herod has imprisoned Peter, “intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.”
Other versions of the Bible translate Easter as “Pascha” or “Passover.” The Festival of Pasch or Pascha was a part of the Jewish Feast of Passover. From this, Easter was introduced to western religions.
If you are not into Christianity or any religion for that matter, you have only in spring time to consider the flowers, grass, trees, birds, and all of nature to see that there is a force far greater and beyond us and our knowledge. It is this force that touches even the very heart of mankind.
Easter reminds us that this force – this existence – is the very essence of God: the giving of his Son that we might have an “eternal springtime.”
Marshall McClung is the historical columnist for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, mcclungs@email.com.