Eastertide

Resurrection Sunday (Easter) is the highpoint of the Christian year, and the beginning of the Eastertide season. An early liturgy says, “Christ has risen from the dead trampling down death by death.” In the resurrection Jesus defeated death itself! This means that followers of Jesus who have been united to him in his death, are assured of sharing in his resurrection. Because of this event death no longer gets to have the last word in our lives. Instead, resurrection does! For two thousand years this reality has given Christians confidence in the face of death. In fact, they’ve even mocked death along with the Apostle Paul, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

In addition to defeating death, Christ’s death and resurrection has also set us free from sin. This is a big deal since sin is the thing that puts us at odds with God and others. But again the Apostle Paul tells us that those who have been united to Christ in his death and resurrection can consider ourselves “dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” The barrier that condemned us to alienation from God and others has been destroyed! Because of the resurrection we’re no longer enemies of God. Instead, we’ve been reconciled to God and have become ministers of reconciliation. With such a triumph as the resurrection of Jesus, how could we keep from celebrating! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!

At the end of the Eastertide season and beginning of the season of Pentecost (50 days after Resurrection Sunday), we celebrate three feast days that fall on three consecutive Sundays: Ascension, Pentecost, and Trinity Sunday.

Ascension marks the beginning of the Three Great Feasts. This feast day commemorates Jesus’ ascension into heaven.

Pentecost is when we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Christ-followers, from Acts 2.

This feast day is when we celebrate our Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.