EASTER 2014!

EASTER SUNDAY: RESURRECTION
OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

www.ibtimes.co.uk - On Easter Sunday, Christians around the world celebrate the resurrection of their Lord, Jesus Christ. The account of Jesus' rising from death was recorded in the Gospels of the New Testament. Prior to his crucifixion, Jesus had told his disciples that he would rise again on the third day after his death. He had been buried in a tomb, guarded by an enormous stone so that no one could steal the body. 
When some women visited the grave, days after his death, they found that the stone had been moved and the tomb was empty. Jesus was seen that day and for several days later, when he revisited his friends and disciples. One disciple did not believe Jesus was alive again until he touched his fatal wounds from the crucifixion.

In the following 40 days, hundreds of people witnessed Jesus' return from death, proving all he had prophesied was true – that Christ had indeed risen from the dead before ascending to heaven. For Christians, the fact the Jesus rose from death demonstrated He has power over death, and only through Him can people have hope for eternal life. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). 
With his resurrection Jesus broke the power of death and gave a hope permanent to all mankind. Following the sombre mood of Good Friday which marks the crucifixion of Christ, Easter Sunday is therefore a time of great celebration for Christians.

Today (April 20) the Christian community around the world is all set to celebrate Easter. Easter Sunday is typically the most well attended Sunday service of the year for Christian churches as the Christian community holds prayers and special ceremonies to mark the Easter week. The Friday before Easter Sunday is observed as a mourning day due to Jesus died on Good Friday while Easter Sunday is celebrated as ‘the day when Jesus resurrected.’ Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion.  His resurrection is celebrated today, Easter Sunday (also Resurrection Day or Resurrection Sunday). Just as the birth of Christ is at the center of Christmas, the story of his death and resurrection is at the core of Easter Sunday or Resurrection Day. For Christians, Easter is the greatest manifestation of God’s love that gives hope amid the evils of the world. Also for the Jews is a day to celebrate because Passover marks the passage of the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt.  We should remember that Lord Jesus preached the love of God, forgiveness and compassion; however, He was tried and crucified without mercy. He preached the consciousness of God, therefore He is our spiritual master, He is our Guru. For those who are not Jews, nor Christians, nor believe in the stories that tell the life and death of Jesus, this is also an auspicious time to perform introspection and evaluation of their daily actions, so it would be nice if we transform all our existence so that not only today, but all our days become a continuous Easter Sunday or Resurrection to a new spiritual life in harmony with God and our brothers and sisters. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam states that any bona fide preacher of God consciousness must have the qualities of titiksā (tolerance) and karunā (compassion). In the character of Lord Jesus Christ we find both these qualities. He was so tolerant that even while he was being crucified, he didn't condemn anyone. And he was so compassionate that he prayed to God to forgive the very persons who were trying to kill him. (Of course, they could not actually kill him. But they were thinking that he could be killed, so they were committing a great offense.) As Christ was being crucified he prayed, “Father, forgive them. They know not what they are doing”. A Vaisnava is unhappy to see the suffering of others. Therefore, Lord Jesus Christ agreed to be crucified - to free others from their suffering.

Śrīla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda :
“The Science of Self Realization”
Chapter IV “Understanding Krishna and Christ”
“Krishna, Christos, Christ”
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International

 

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/