why do Christians celebrate Easter?

Greetings, Asian Man

Can you explain where the Bible states that Jesus never got crucified or was resurrected?
I understand that the Qu'ran denies that these things ever happened, but the Bible clearly says otherwise.

You are right that Easter coincides with an older pagan spring/fertility festival.
As I understand it was arranged that way partly to encourage pagans to adopt the Christian celebration, but also partly because the theme of rebirth and new life fits very well into the story of Jesus' resurrection and his promise of new life.

So to answer your question, Christians celebrate Easter to remember the great sacrifice which Jesus made to restore the relationship between humans and God. We remember the words he spoke to his disciples at the last supper and the instructions he gave; we remember the suffering he took upon himself; the terrible desolation and despair his followers felt when he died; and the glorious joy and wonder of his resurrection.

Easter is a very special time for us indeed, and without a doubt the most important festival in the Christian calendar.
We spend 40 days preparing ourselves for Easter, and we try to relive the last days during Holy Week - the last week before Easter.

I am still buzzing from the joy Easter has brought for me this year.

format_quote Originally Posted by Asian man

The bible has been changed so many times, why would u believe what Paul said about jesus dying on the cross, Paul is not the prophet, he never met Jesus, why do people believe what he said about Jesus being resurrected?

There are many manuscripts of the New Testament, and four different gospels which confirm and compliment each other. The idea that the Bible has been changed and rewritten to make up the story of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection is really quite implausible! It would have required destroying all written material and verbal accounts and producing a new version altogether ... can you really believe that??!

Besides, you don't need to look as far as Paul to understand that Jesus died and returned from the dead. You can hear it from his own mouth in the gospels.
These are events recorded to have taken place after the crucifixion:

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. (Luke 24:13-16)

He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:25-32)

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." (Luke 24: 33-39)

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24: 45-48)

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:16-20)

Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"

"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

Jesus said to her, "Mary."
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).

Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her. (John 20:10-18)

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (John 20:19-21)

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:24-28)

All these things happened before Paul even became a Christian!

i dont get what eggs have to do with bunnies did i miss something

format_quote Originally Posted by Ummu Sufyaan

i dont get what eggs have to do with bunnies did i miss something

Now that is a good question!!

format_quote Originally Posted by Ummu Sufyaan

i dont get what eggs have to do with bunnies did i miss something

lol I remember watching this eggs thingy in Tom & Jerry and bunnies cartoon when I was a kid but had no idea back then why on earth they colored eggs till I knew that it was for easter..

EDIT: Well I am curios now to know what does eggs have to do with easter itself and why it has to be colored.

^ I edited my last post and added more........why does it have to be colored?

format_quote Originally Posted by Danah

^ I edited my last post and added more........why does it have to be colored?

I have no idea, Danah.
As far as I'm concerned neither the eggs, nor their colour, nor the bunny have the slightest thing to do with Christians celebrating the risen Christ.
Those may be traditions people take part in - but the reliving of Jesus' last days on Earth and the joy of his resurrection is something totally different! Easter is about a new life promised through Jesus. Chocolate eggs are really quite insignificant by comparison!

(I will do a search on eggs and their colours, if it's important to you. I'll let you know if I find anything ...)

Danah, I found some information here and here.

I hope that helps.

(You can always ask the question elsewhere. You know where I mean ... )

format_quote Originally Posted by glo

Danah, I found some information here and here.

I hope that helps.

(You can always ask the question elsewhere. You know where I mean ... )

Thanks for the links glo.........and check ur reps plz