Easter

    Jesus Christ died on a cross on a Friday almost two thousand years ago.  Christians believe that on the following Sunday, Christ rose from the dead and, in doing so, proved that He is the Son of God.  The day Jesus died and was buried is known as Good Friday.  The following Sunday is Easter.

    Christians celebrate the resurrection of the Son of God each year between March 22nd and April 25th (the first Sunday after a full moon and after the vernal equinox).

    Religious celebrations include family gatherings and special Easter church services.

    For Christians, there is no holiday more important than Easter. Easter is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. He had been crucified and was buried for three days. All his disciples had believed that he was gone for good. None had understood that his sacrifice was the primary purpose of his short life and the only way for us to obtain righteousness and restore our fellowship with God. No man had taken His life. There was no sin in Him and no way for Satan to take His life. It was freely given for us all.

    For the secular world, Easter is about new clothes, hidden eggs, and bunnies. But to those that really understand all that was accomplished on that first Easter morning, this is the greatest day in all of history.

    大约在2000多年以前，耶稣基督在一个礼拜五被钉死在十字架上。基督徒确认，在紧接着的那个礼拜天，耶稣就从死里复活了；这就证明了他是上帝的儿子。耶稣被钉死和埋葬的那一天就被称为“Good Friday”，而那个紧接着的礼拜天就是“复活节”。

    每年，基督徒都庆祝上帝的儿子，耶稣基督从死里复活。复活节是在三月22日和四月25日之间，确切地说，复活节是在春分以后第一个月圆以后的第一个礼拜天。

    宗教仪式包括家庭聚会和教堂里的复活节特别崇拜。

    对基督徒来说，复活节是最重要的一个节日，因为在复活节我们庆祝耶稣基督的复活。他被钉在十字架上，然后又被埋葬了三天。他的门徒相信他是为了他们的益处而来的。但是他们都不知道耶稣基督来到世间的目的就是为了人类而钉死在十字架上；因此，我们就有可能被称为义人，从新与上帝和好。实际上，人们不能把耶稣处置于死地，因为耶稣是没有罪的，魔鬼也无法夺去他的生命。耶稣之所以死在十字架上，完全是他自愿的摆上。

    对于俗世的社会来说，复活节只是穿穿新衣服，让小孩子在草地上找鸡蛋，买些巧克力做成的兔子之类的活动而已。但是对于真正明白在第一个复活节所成就的事情的人们来说，复活节是人类历史上最伟大的一天。