Harry Osborn aka the new Green Goblin

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Sunday, April 4, 2010

Easter - Easter is the most impt festival for Christians. It celebrates Jesus' rising to life after his death. This event is called the Resurrection.

ORIGIN

Jesus Christ lived in Palestine abt 2000 yrs ago. He worked miracles which Christians believe were signs of his power to heal the whole person - body,mind & spirit. As crowds gathered round him & many became his disciples, the rulers of Palestine were afraid that he would become too powerful a leader. The Jewish priests actually wanted to have him killed for claiming to be divine & for not following their teachings.

After a special Last Supper with his disciples, Jesus Christ was arrested, given a mock trial & unjustly condemned to death by crucifixion the very next day. Crucifixion was the common form of punishment in those days.

He was buried in a cave-tomb. 2 days later, when some women went to the tomb, they found it open & empty. Later, he was seen by many of his followers. He spoke with them, ate with them & even allowed them to touch him to prove that he was truly alive.

SIGNIFICANCE

Easter is a victory celebration of Jesus Christ. He was put to death unjustly, but Christians believe that he rose from the dead & that he would never die again. For Christians, Jesus Christ's rising from the dead, called the Resurrection, is a very significant event as it shows that he is truly the Son of GOD & therefore all that he claimed is true. His death & resurrection also resulted in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all people. Christians believe that the Holy Spirit continues to guide the church & each of them personally.

The Resurrection was a gift from God the Father. Christians believe that the gift of new life through Jesus Christ is offered to all people. The resurrection of the body for all people is only possible because Jesus Christ made the supreme sacrifice of loving all people even when they didn't deserve or return his love. In spite of so much evil & hatred around him, he was able to love by forgiving & not taking revenge. He offered his life for all so that they can come to know & live with GOD forever. Christians know this from what he did & said on the night before he died. He had a special meal, commonly known as the Last Supper, during which he revealed his great love by offering himself & saying, "my body is given for you" & "my blood will be shed for you". In these words, he referred to his death. Therefore, Christians do not consider the death of Jesus as a tragedy. but as a victory & as a sign of GOD's love.

Christians recall this event yearly & renew their faith in Jesus Christ that they will be raised from the dead at the end of the time when Jesus Christ comes again. On the Friday before Easter, called Good Friday, Christians commemorate the death of Jesus Christ.

OBSERVANCES

Special services are conducted in most churches on Good Friday & Easter Sunday. During these services, believers recall the suffering, death & resurrection of Jesus Christ through prayers, worship, scripture readings, sermons & a communion meal.

For more info: You can search the internet or watch "The Passion of Christ"

5:45 PM