Letter: Easter vs. Passover - examining the definitions

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Every year at this time, I am reminded of how much church tradition and prejudice have shaped the holidays. It has even crept into our bibles.

Passover, in the Greek language, is translated into “Easter” in Acts 12:4. Another example is the translation “sabbaton” (plural) as “sabbath” (singular) in English. This accomodates a Friday crucification so necessary to keep a distance between the actual dates of Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Feast of First Fruits from coinciding with these Jewish feasts that Jesus fulfilled.

This was done deliberately by Constantine at the Counsel of Nicea in 325 AD because of his hatred of all things Jewish. His statements concerning them sounds just like Adolf Hitler.

According to Leviticus 23, the first sabbath (high day) is “Unleavened Bread” and the day after “Passover,” making Passover a “preparation day” — the reason given for taking Jesus off the cross before sundown. Friday is the next “preparation day” to prepare for the weekly sabbath. This is why Matthew 28:1 and Mark 16:4 say (in the Greek): “When the sabbaths (plural) were past,” that Mary Magdalene and Mary (Jesus’ mother), “as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week (Sunday)” found the tomb empty.

According to Leviticus 23. the day after the weekly sabbath is “Feast of First Fruits,” which is why Jesus told Mary not to touch him — because he “had not yet ascended to the Father” to present himself as the “first fruits.” He then returned to Earth for 40 days before ascending back to heaven and awaits His return at the end of the age.

In order to fulfill the numerous prophecies of being dead for three days and three nights, Passover — in the year He was crucified — had to fall on a Wednesday in order for there to be two sabbaths and two “preparation days” before “first fruits,” which always falls on the first day, Sunday, according to Leviticus 23.

Tags: opinion, letters, religion, faith