Significance of Easter Celebration

The Easter Story

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it" (John 3:16-17).

The Last Supper (Mark chapter 14)
So the two disciples went on ahead into the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover supper there.

In the evening Jesus arrived with the twelve disciples. As they were sitting around the table eating, Jesus said,

"The truth is, one of you will betray Me, one of you who is here eating with Me."

Greatly distressed, one by one they began to ask Him, "I'm not the one, am I?"

He replied,

"It is one of you twelve, one who is eating with Me now. For I, the Son of Man, must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for My betrayer. Far better for him if he had never been born!"


As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God's blessing on it. Then He broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying,

"Take it, for this is My body."

And He took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them,

"This is My blood, poured out for many, sealing the covenant between God and His people. I solemnly declare that I will not drink wine again until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God."

Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
A La Croix (At The Cross) - Hillsong


Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

And they came to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said,

"Sit here while I go and pray."

He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be filled with horror and deep distress. He told them,

"My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with Me."

He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass him by.

"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for You. Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will, not Mine."

Then He returned and found the disciples asleep.

"Simon!" He said to Peter. "Are you asleep? Couldn't you stay awake and watch with Me even one hour? Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak."

Then Jesus left them again and prayed, repeating His pleadings.

Again He returned to them and found them sleeping, for they just couldn't keep their eyes open. And they didn't know what to say. When He returned to them the third time, He said,

"Still sleeping? Still resting? Enough! The time has come. I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let's be going. See, My betrayer is here!"

Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested

And immediately, as He said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a mob that was armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent out by the leading priests, the teachers of religious law and the other leaders. Judas had given them a prearranged signal: "You will know which one to arrest when I go over and give Him the kiss of greeting. Then you can take Him away under guard."

As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus. "Teacher!" he exclaimed, and gave Him the kiss. Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. But someone pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest's servant. Jesus asked them,

The Resurrection - Jesus Is Risen! (Mark chapter 16 )

The next evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Salome and Mary the mother of James went out and purchased burial spices to put on Jesus' body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they came to the tomb. On the way they were discussing who would roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb. But when they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone - a very large one - had already been rolled aside. So they entered the tomb, and there on the right sat a young man clothed in a white robe. The women were startled, but the angel said, "Do not be so surprised. You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead! Look, this is where they laid His body. Now go and give this message to His disciples, including Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there, just as He told you before He died!" The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, saying nothing to anyone because they were too frightened to talk.
It was early on Sunday morning when Jesus rose from the dead, and the first person who saw Him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and found the disciples, who were grieving and weeping. But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen Him, they didn't believe her.

Afterward He appeared to two who were walking from Jerusalem into the country, but they didn't recognize Him at first because He had changed His appearance. When they realized who He was, they rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them. Still later He appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their unbelief - their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
And then He told them,

"Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in My name, and they will speak new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them."

When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.
God continues to live! That's the message of Easter. He is risen. He is risen, indeed!

Muhammad died, and was buried. His faithful followers take pilgrimages to visit his remains, the same is true of Buddha and other religious leaders. But it is not true of Jesus. You cannot visit His remains, you can only visit His empty grave, because He isn't there. He Arose!

That's why we celebrate Easter! Jesus Christ is alive and He loves you!
He created you and longs to have a personal relationship with you. You can know Him personally by receiving Him into your life. Receiving Christ involves trusting Christ to come into your life to forgive your sins and make you want He wants you to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of your will.
When you are the neediest, He is the most sufficient.

When you are completely helpless, He is the most helpful.

When you feel totally dependent, He is absolutely dependable.

When you are the weakest, He is the most able.

When you are the most alone, He is intimately present.

When you feel you are the least, He is the greatest!

When you feel the most useless, He is preparing you.

When it is darkest, He is the only Light you need.

When you feel the least secure, He is your Rock and Fortress.

When you are the most humble, He is most gracious.

When you say that you cannot, remember that He can!

-Author Unknown

Easter Celebration Across Asia

Origins of Easter

Easter is a wonderful mix of Pagan, Hebrew and Christian traditions
2009 Easter celebration starts on Friday, April 10-11, 2009 in Hong Kong and many parts of Asia.



Easter's Pagan Roots
Pagan symbology of fertility in the shape of the easter bunny and easter eggs are still part of our easer tradition, while the word Easter itself may be a derivation of Eostre, Goddess of Spring.

So from ancient Pagan roots the forms of western easter emerged. However, the meaning was adopted and altered by early Christians.

Easter Bunny Origins
Where did the easter bunny originate from?
The easter bunny is a strange little tradition. A rabbit that hides painted eggs in the garden for children to find is either daft, surreal or downright spooky when you think about it.

So where did the little chap come from and how has he (is the easter bunny even male?) or she, get involved in easter?

Well firstly we have to go back in time and see when the easter bunny first appeared.

The written record only takes us as far back as the 1600s in the Alsace region of Europe (modern day France close to border with Germany).

It seems unlikely that the easter bunny was an invention of the 1600s because europeans at the time were turning against anything that smacked of superstition and idolatry. Therefore many people argue that the easter bunny is actually far older and is the remenant of pre-christian pagan practices.

Firstly a point about the name. In most of europe the Easter Bunny is refered to as the 'Easter Hare' to this day. When the German and Dutch immigrants to America took the tradition with them his species was changed from Hare to Rabbit and that is how he became the Easter Bunny.

Spring is a time of new birth and both hares and eggs are fairly obvious symbols of new life. Hares, because Spring is about the only time when they are seen by people, the young males fighting in the short grass is a common sight and led to the phrase 'mad as a march hare'. Eggs are even more obvious symbols of new life, because that is what they actually contain (unless we boil them for breakfast of course).


So old traditional associations between spring, hares and eggs don't get forgotten with the coming of christianity. In much the same way that Christian churches were often built on the sites of former Pagan temples, it seems that Christian festivals were overlaid upon older celebrations. Elements that didn't harm the Christian message (or were particularly popular with the people) were integrated into the new religion. Perhaps the origins of the Easter Bunny are many thousands of years old. Yet each year, the (mostly chocolate) eggs he brings us are fresh and delicious.



印尼腓力牧師
Review of the conference held at Full Gospel Assembly - FGA Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia.
Pastor Philip Mantofa & Joshua Team from Taiwan was serving in this conference.
Date: 4-7/6/2008


复活节的意义
一如圣诞节是庆祝耶稣的诞生，复活节则是庆祝耶稣从死里复活，并给全人类带来永生的盼望。
复活节的来历包括耶稣被处死、埋葬、及复活三部分，而其中的复活最为重要。

台灣信義會台南區會復活節聯合崇拜 2009年台灣信義會 善牧堂台灣信義會 靈糧堂台灣信義會 大道善牧堂台灣信義會 救主堂 音樂：You are my all in all、我在這裡敬拜
耶稣从死里复活的经过最权威的记载是四部"福音书"：耶稣死后第三天，最先是几个女人发现他的坟墓空了，接着耶稣在她们及耶稣的门徒们面前显现，并和他们同吃、同谈话。其中一个门徒不相信这真是复活的耶稣，非将手指探入耶稣十字架上的钉痕不可。在下面的四十天中，更有数以百计的人目击了复活的耶稣，直到他升天。

耶稣被处死前应许跟随他的人得永生。如果他的故事到死为止，那他和其他终得一死的宗教人物没有二致。因着他的复活，耶稣显示了他有胜过死亡的能力。也只有通过他，人类才有永生的盼望。耶稣说：神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不致灭亡，访得永生。（约翰福音3章16节）
复活节是最古老最有意义的基督教节日之一。它庆祝的是基督的复活，世界各地的基督徒每年都要举行庆祝。复活节还象征重生和希望。时间是春分月圆后的第一个星期日。

复活节是基督教纪念耶稣复活的节日。传说耶稣被钉死在十字架上，死后第三天复活升天。每年在教堂庆祝的复活节指的是春分月圆后的第一个星期日，如果月圆那天刚好是星期天，复活节则推迟一星期。因而复活节可能在3月22日至4月25日之间的任何一天。


典型的复活节礼物跟春天和再生有关系：鸡蛋、小鸡、小兔子、鲜花，特别是百合花是这一季节的象征。复活节前夕，孩子们为朋友和家人给鸡蛋着色打扮一番。这些蛋有的煮得很老，有的只是空空的蛋壳。复活节那天早上，孩子们会发现床前的复活节篮子里装满了巧克力彩蛋、复活节小兔子、有绒毛的小鸡及娃娃玩具等。据说复活节兔子会将彩蛋藏在室内或是草地里让孩子们去寻找。一年一度的美国白宫滚彩蛋活动经常被电视台实况转播。
在多数西方国家里，复活节一般要举行盛大的宗教游行。游行者身穿长袍，手持十字架，赤足前进。他们打扮成基督教历史人物，唱着颂歌欢庆耶稣复活。如今节日游行已失去往日浓厚的宗教色彩。节日游行洋溢着喜庆的气氛，具有浓烈的民间特色和地方特色。在美国，游行队伍中即有身穿牛仔服踩高跷的小丑，也有活泼可爱的卡通人物米老鼠。在英国，游行多以介绍当地的历史和风土人情为主，游行者化装成为苏格兰风笛乐队以及皇宫卫士，吸引了众多的游客。复活节的到来还使人们纷纷换上新衣。过去基督教教徒会在节前去教堂行洗礼，然后穿上自己的新袍，庆祝基督的新生。穿戴一新的习俗保留至今，因为人们认为节日里不穿新衣是要倒运的。复活节期间，人们还喜欢彻底打扫自己的住处，表示新生活从此开始。

2009神大能佈道會醫治訓練1

德国政府规定复活节休息两天。在节日里，家人团聚，品尝各种传统食品，亲戚朋友见面要互相祝贺。 象征生命的蛋、火、水、兔等成了复活节的吉祥物。鸡蛋和兔子在西方是新的生命和兴旺发达的象征。鸡蛋的本色象征太阳，把鸡蛋染成红色则象征生活幸福。在复活节中，父母要特地为孩子们准备制成鸡蛋、兔子形状的巧克力糖。亲友间要互赠彩蛋。在莱茵河中游和黑森东部的一些城镇，至今保留着“彩蛋树”这一古老习俗。人们把成百的蛋壳涂上彩画，串成蛋链，在复活节这天挂在松树上，制成彩蛋树，大人孩子围着彩蛋树唱歌、跳舞、庆祝复活节。而阿尔卑斯山的姑娘们则通过赠送红鸡蛋来表达自己的爱情。在复活节这天，姑娘如果向某一小伙子赠送三个红鸡蛋，表示姑娘向小伙子求爱。 关于兔子成为复活节的吉祥物，是有一段传说的。
在古代耶稣复活之日，正值斯堪的纳维亚地区居民庆祝大地回春的“春太阳节”，作为草原、森林动物中多产动物之一的兔子，它象征了春天的复苏和新生命的诞生，同时它又是爱神阿弗洛狄特的宠物，也是日尔曼土地女神霍尔塔的持烛引路者。因此，现在兔子作为给孩子们送复活节鸡蛋的使者，深受孩子的宠爱。'在复活节这一天孩子定会收到兔形礼物。 火不仅给人类带来了光明，也使大地获得了新生。作为耶稣再生的象征，复活节的许多活动都与火相关。
复活节这一天，人们在教堂前点烛以示圣化，并将圣烛迎进千家万户。这一天，孩子们最快乐的事是把圣火送到各家。他们在教堂前用圣火点燃树枝，然后奔跑着送到各家各户，其间充满着欢快的节日气氛。在德国的巴伐利亚地区，每年的复活节居民们都要举行火炬赛跑，以庆祝耶稣的再生。而北莱茵上威斯特法伦州的吕克台复活节滚火轮更是远近闻名。六个巨型大木轮被火点燃滚下山谷，就像六个火球从天而降，漆黑的山谷被大火轮照得通明，它与五彩缤纷的焰火交相辉映，再次显示了火给人类带来了新生。
Review of the conference held at FGA KL.
Pastor Philip Mantofa & Joshua Team from Taiwan was serving in this conference.

作为德国惟一的少数民族索布族人则是用百骑大合唱的形式来庆祝耶酥的复活。一个个身穿黑色上衣、头戴黑色礼帽的索布族人，骑在用彩带、鲜花和白色贝壳装饰的骏马上，浩浩荡荡地行进在林间小路上。他们边走边用粗犷雄厚的嗓音高唱赞歌，场面十分壮观。