Easter Themed Thread

[J.D.]

So I've been sitting around and contemplating the New Testament. I'm agnostic, or something undefined, but for some reason Easter still profoundly affects me. In any case, here's what's on my mind. I believe it is in John where Peter's denial of Christ is a bit different than in any of the other gospels. In this account, Jesus actually gives Peter a look when Peter denies Him -- as if to say, I told you that you'd deny me.

For some reason, this particular moment absolutely will not shake free of my mind. I find myself imagining the look on Christ's face. If I were an artist, it is this moment that I'd immortalize. It seems to me to be one of the most powerful moments not only in the New Testament but in all of literature.

Do you know this moment. Any comments?

[dzebra]

That scene paints a very vivid image in my mind. I always imagine the feeling I would have as my heart sunk to the ground if it were me in that situation.

[mdmeiser]

It was my sin that sent him to the cross. He drank the cup for me. I am a debtor to mercy forever. Indeed, Peter never heard a **** crow again without remember his Savior's face.

[Morten]

It was my sin that sent him to the cross. He drank the cup for me. I am a debtor to mercy forever. Indeed, Peter never heard a **** crow again without remember his Savior's face.

Really? Jesus died for the sins you committed some 2000 years after his death? Wow. Talk about science fiction, will ya?

[dzebra]

Really? Jesus died for the sins you committed some 2000 years after his death? Wow.

Yes, really. According to the Bible, Jesus died once for all the sins of all his people. That includes the past, present, and future. It's pretty cool.


Talk about science fiction, will ya?

I don't think science fiction is relevant to the thread topic, so I think it is best to refrain from talking about science fiction as you requested.

[Morten]

Yes, really. According to the Bible, Jesus died once for all the sins of all his people. That includes the past, present, and future. It's pretty cool.
Right. 'Cause if its in the Bible, it's just gotta be true. Like Moses parting the Red Sea, or Noah rounding up two of every animal and putting them on a wooden boat.



I don't think science fiction is relevant to the thread topic, so I think it is best to refrain from talking about science fiction as you requested.
"...best to refrain from talking about science fiction as you requested" - is this some high school-student attempt at sounding formal? Do you read what you write before you post it?

[El Viejo]

Right. 'Cause if its in the Bible, it's just gotta be true. Like Moses parting the Red Sea, or Noah rounding up two of every animal and putting them on a wooden boat.

Now, now, now...

It wasn't two of every animal. It was two each of the unclean, but seven pairs each of the clean animals. In God's creation I think cholera and smallpox fall into the 'unclean' category.

I wish the Bible was more clear. It doesn't say he left the dinosaurs behind, but he must have. And with germs Noah would only have to have brought one of each aboard, but they aren't even mentioned.

On a more serious note, that image of Jesus and Peter is a strong one, and touching.

[dzebra]

Staying on the theme of Easter, how did things like a bunny and chocolate eggs come into a holiday that has to do with Jesus coming back to life from the dead? Were there some pagan holidays that mixed with the Christian version of Easter?

[Morten]

Staying on the theme of Easter, how did things like a bunny and chocolate eggs come into a holiday that has to do with Jesus coming back to life from the dead? Were there some pagan holidays that mixed with the Christian version of Easter?

Jesus and Santa Claus and The Easter Bunny and all these fictional characters all sat together and tried to figure out who got which holiday. Because he could walk on water, and therefore possessed greater magical skills than Claus and the Bunny, Jesus agreed to split Christmas with Claus and Easter with the Bunny, provided they allow him to get most of the spotlight.

Not a fair deal, I know, but I mean he did walk on water. That beats fitting 300 pounds of flesh down a chimney.

[dzebra]

Does anyone know for real?

[El Viejo]

Does anyone know for real?

I considered looking it up, but decided to just tell you what I was told as a little Catholic:

As Catholicism spread into new territory it ran into the problem of getting people to ditch their old religions and embrace the new one. Wherever they went, people tended to have important celebrations at the solstices and equinoxes, so the Church tried to overlay those celebrations with Christian trappings. They turned the winter solstice into Jesus's birthday, and the vernal equinox into the resurrection. The resurrection moves around though because they had to maintain a relationship with the Jewish calendar and Passover.

The only problem was the old beliefs stayed in the hearts and minds of the converted, so we have, for example, juvenile-ized fertility symbols and rites mixed in with the Resurrection. And other, later legends, such as St. Nicholas or the tannenbaum, also became associated with these major holy days. And so on.

[andave_ya]

The Real Origins of Easter (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33742)

As a teen columnist, I wrote the paper in the link based on my research. I am a Christian, but there is a huge difference between Easter and Resurrection Day, as my column outlines.