YOU'LL NEVER LIVE TO SEE ANOTHER EASTER THIS EARLY
Commentary 
Courtesy of Bill Ellis
Syndicated Columnist

Easter cannot be any earlier than March 22nd or any later than April                                  25th. The last time                                Easter was as early as                            March 23rd was in                                   1913. I read that the                                next time it will be on                             March 23 will be 2160.                             Enjoy it this year                                       because you will not                                   live long enough to                             celebrate another                                    Easter this early in the                              year.

The last time Easter                                  was observed on March                                   22nd, the earliest                                possible date, was in                               1818. It will not                                    happen again until                                  2285. Nobody is alive who was living the last time or will be alive when it happens again. 

The last time the latest possible Easter fell on April 25th was in 1943. It will happen again in 2038.

Easter generally falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.  The first day of Spring will be Thursday, March 20th.  The full moon will be on March 21st, which will be Good Friday, the day that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  Easter Sunday is the annual celebration of the resurrection of the Christ.

Like you, I have heard of people who refuse to celebrate Easter. They say it is not mentioned in the Bible. The first Bible I ever had did mention Easter. It was a King James Version of the Bible. It is in Acts 12:1-4. The first three verses tell about Herod’s persecution of Christians and his arrest of Peter. Verse four reads: “And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.”  More modern translations often use the word Passover instead of Easter.

You must read the rest of the story beginning with verse five. You probably would not believe it if I told you what happened so you may find out for yourself. The pace really picks up and no novel could ever be as exciting.

Holy Week, the week before Easter Sunday, and Easter itself are all filled with unbelievable excitement.  Early on Easter Sunday morning, many churches will have what they call a “Sunrise Service”.  On the first Resurrection Sunday, just before dawn the greatest event of all history was revealed.

Here is a brief description of how the most eventful day since the creation itself emerged.  “Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb” (Matthew 28:1, NKJV). Hold on to your chair and read the rest of this sensational chapter.

You will read about these two women who worship the Risen Lord in verse nine. The sun was just coming up and God’s Son was already up -- from the grave. That is what the Sunrise Service is all about. You may read many pages about Easter in commentaries, encyclopedias and other books on the subject.

You can make some good memories that may last for many years by attending Holy Week and Good Friday Services as well as the Sunrise Service and the other Easter observances that will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Pay close attention to all that happens surrounding Easter Sunday, before and after that day, and be sure you capture and are captured by the significance of this greatest of all Christian celebrations. Because He lives we may live also.

Publisher's Note: Bill Ellis, Award Winning Syndicated Columnist, P.O. Box 345, Scott Depot, WV 25560.  Phone:304-757-6089
www.BillEllis.Net.