Ellen Gould White
What does Ellen White write about...
Ellen Gould White über: "Meaning of Easter"
Answer
The meaning of the Easter festival in Adventist writings is closely linked to the Old Testament Passover, which both recalled the deliverance from Egypt and pointed forward to the sacrifice of Christ. While the slaughtering of the Passover lamb symbolized Christ's death, the sheaf of first fruits served as a model for his resurrection.
Historically, however, early conflicts arose among churches regarding the timing of the Easter celebration, with the Roman practice eventually prevailing through imperial support. In the Christian era, the Passover was replaced by the Lord's Supper, which now serves as a memorial of redemption from sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The Symbolic Meaning of Passover and Resurrection
»The slaughtering of the Passover lamb was a shadow of Christ's death. Paul says, “For we also have a Passover lamb, which is Christ, who was sacrificed for us.” [...] The sheaf of first fruits that was waved before the Lord at the time of the Passover festival was a model for Christ's resurrection. Paul, regarding the resurrection of the Lord and his whole people, says: “Christ as the firstfruits; thereafter those who belong to Christ at his coming.” [...] Just as the sheaf, which was the first ripe grain gathered before the harvest, Christ is the firstfruit of that immortal harvest of the redeemed, which will be gathered into God's storehouse at the future resurrection.«
Deliverance from the Bondage of Sin
»The Passover should be both commemorative and exemplary: it not only looked back to the deliverance from Egypt, but also pointed forward to the greater deliverance that Christ would accomplish by freeing his people from the bondage of sin. The sacrificial lamb represents the “Lamb of God,” in whom our sole hope of salvation lies. [...] It was not enough that the Passover lamb was slaughtered; its blood had to be splashed on the doorposts; likewise, the merits of Christ’s blood must be applied to the soul.«
From Passover to the Lord's Supper
»On the fourteenth day of the month, in the evening, the Passover was celebrated. Its solemn, impressive ceremonies recalled the deliverance from bondage in Egypt and pointed to the sacrifice that would free from the bondage of sin. When the Savior gave his life on Golgotha, the significance of the Passover ended, and the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was instituted as a memorial of the same event, whose model had been the Passover.«
Historical Controversies over the Easter Festival
»The bishops of Rome began very early to demand obedience from all churches. A striking example of this is the dispute between the Eastern and Western churches regarding Easter. This dispute arose in the second century. [...] The Christians in Asia Minor observed this feast on the fourteenth day of the first Jewish month, when the Jews celebrated their Passover. [...] The western churches, however, celebrated Christ's resurrection on the Sunday that followed the Jewish Passover... thereby linking the remembrance of Christ's death with that of his resurrection.«
The Decision of Nicaea
»By securing the support of imperial power for itself... Rome eventually prevailed. The Council of Nicaea decreed “as a favor to Constantine the Great that the celebrations of Easter should be observed everywhere on the same day according to the Roman custom.” This decree, “backed by the authority of such a great emperor,” was decisive.«
- Christ our sheaf meaning
- Difference between Passover and the Lord's Supper
- Council of Nicaea Easter date history
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
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