by Ann Marie Dwyer

Created on: April 04, 2007   Last Updated: February 19, 2009

What defines Christians as such is their belief that Christ rose from the dead and ascended to Heaven, as the final sacrifice in atonement for the sin of mankind. Easter is the celebration of that belief.

On Easter, many Christians, who have not been diligent in their church service attendance, will appear on pews worldwide. On that day, Christians are called by their belief to come together with the "body of Christ" to pay homage to the Savior. This is the celebration of the event in the life of Jesus Christ which procures each Christian's place in Heaven alongside the Father.

Although Christmas signifies the birth of Christ and the fulfilling of Old Testament prophecy, it does not bear nearly the weight on the beliefs of Christians as the crucifixion of Christ. As these are the two major events in the life of Jesus Christ celebrated by the church, they are the holidays which attract the most worshipers.

Easter represents the end of the old and the rebirth of the new. In His death, Jesus Christ became the ultimate sacrifice for sin, ending the old tradition of sacrificing animals. When He arose, reborn, from the grave, He embodied God's forgiveness of sin and the opportunity for eternal salvation. This was the ultimate gift from God, as prophesied throughout the Old Testament.

The message preached on Easter is of that sacrifice and the salvation offered from God through faith in the Easter story. The Bible states God's promise that all who believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior shall have eternal life.

The Easter story is the one over which no Christians quibble or disagree. By far, it is the one which most poignantly reminds Christians of the power of their faith. The Easter sermon applies directly to all Christians who hear it.

Some Christian religions partake of the Holy Supper, the bread and the wine, on Easter Sunday. Christians are penitent and seeking forgiveness for their sins as they are reminded of Christ's sacrifice for them. Of the "Easter service only" Christians, some come to church on this Sunday for a yearly profession of sin.

Still other Christians seek the body of Christ on Easter as a yearly renewal of their commitment to Christ. Many churches include a rededication service where Christians can pray and make a new commitment to serve.

On the remaining fifty Sundays of the year, some Christians do not feel that the message being professed is entirely applicable to them. Many do not feel the compulsion to worship publicly with others. Still, others feel the need to follow the scripture of worshiping in their "closet".

Whichever reason they choose not to attend on regular Sundays, Easter Sunday applies equally to all Christians. Christians will always appear in larger numbers on Easter Sunday than any other Sunday of the year.

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