Easter is the primary feast of the Christian liturgical year. It is a time of proclamation, invoking Christians to share the good news of the sacrifice made to atone for all our sins and the promise of grace and redemption through faith.
On Easter Day, we celebrate the astonishing, miraculous resurrection of Jesus. Jesus has accomplished his mission and redeemed his people from slavery to sin and the death that results.
We are not only freed from sin, but we are also filled with grace. We are to be living witnesses of Christ’s resurrection by letting the grace it has brought us shine out for all to see in the holiness of true Christian conduct.
Easter is not a single day but a season of forty-nine days. On the 40th day, Jesus’ ascension to heaven is observed. The season concludes on the 50th day, the festival of Pentecost. It marks the descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus’ followers as they were gathered following Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Spirit allowed them to speak in tongues, and to understand one another. It typically marks the founding of the church.
Holiness is bestowed upon us as Christians — proclaimed and celebrated at our baptisms and shouted aloud at our celebrations of the resurrection. Easter clearly celebrates what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. It is the season of justification by grace. There is perhaps no other season which celebrates grace more.