A long time ago I used to think that the Jesus crucified at Easter and the baby Jesus at Christmas were 2 different people. and I didn't really know who this Jesus person was. I was wrong. I now know them to be one and the same person - Christ Jesus, Savior, King of kings and Lord of lords. So yes, Christmas and Easter are related, whereas the other holidays of the year don't really have too much to do with Jesus (except maybe Valentine's Day in a remote way).
Is it time for Easter? Is it really about bunnies and eggs and spring & pastel colors, or is it really about something else? actually, it's about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which paid for the gift of new life in Christ Jesus to us. We can have new life in Jesus because of the sacrifice he made at the cross.
"All we like sheep have gone stray..." we need to admit that to him. we've all sinned ("missed the mark" - an archer's term - ever shot a bow and arrow and missed the center of the bulls-eye?). Sin can be ignoring God, stealing, lying, lusting after someone or staying angry at someone, and many other things like that. We pretty much know when we've done wrong.
the solution to the sin problem is to ask Jesus' forgiveness, and if you haven't done it yet, make Him Lord of your life.
Sometimes serving God can be difficult, but there can be a lot of fun too. And there's surprises. good and bad surprises, but Jesus will be with you through them all. Once you're his, Jesus said "...I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5 If you think you can't serve God, Don't worry, you can't. Its impossible to do without God. Jesus gives you what you need so you can through the Holy Spirit. Don't rely on yourself. When you need to, ask Him for strength or resources or favor.
Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Psalms 37:26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
Read more about the real Easter here.
Videos
That's My King
The Easter Bunny vs. Jesus
Happy Easter from Coral Ridge Ministries
The Tomb Is Empty
04-11-09 The Empty Tomb - Today's Christian Videos (for kids)
I AM ..... (Chapter 5) Way of the Cross - Music Videos
Skit Guys - Grace - Inspirational Videos
Skit Guys - The Birdcage - Inspirational Videos
Easter Messages
Easter 2009
Some prophecies about Jesus (Easter)
The KJV text is copyrighted only in the UK. so there may be limitations on copying or printing this if you are there? I couldn't get any clear answers from Cambridge University Press.
here are some scriptures from the King James Bible (KJV) which point to Christ Jesus:
prophecies
Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
Isaiah 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Isaiah 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Isaiah 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Isaiah 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 7:13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Christ Jesus on the cross, prophecy
Psalms 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
Psalms 22:2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
Psalms 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Psalms 22:4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
Psalms 22:5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
Psalms 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
Psalms 22:7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
Psalms 22:8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
Psalms 22:9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
Psalms 22:10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
Psalms 22:11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
Psalms 22:12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
Psalms 22:13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
Psalms 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
Psalms 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
Psalms 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Psalms 22:17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
Psalms 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Psalms 22:19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
Psalms 22:20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
Psalms 22:21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
Psalms 22:22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
Psalms 22:23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
Psalms 22:24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
Psalms 22:25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
Psalms 22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
Psalms 22:27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
Psalms 22:28 For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations.
Psalms 22:29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
Psalms 22:30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
Psalms 22:31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
more about Jesus, prophecy
Psalms 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Psalms 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
Psalms 2:3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
Psalms 2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.
Psalms 2:5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Psalms 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Psalms 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Psalms 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psalms 2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Psalms 2:10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Psalms 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Psalms 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Christ's betrayal for 30 pieces of silver
[This was prophesied about in the Old Testament (487BC?).]
Zechariah 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
Zechariah 11:13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
[this was the price of a slave. the money was used to buy a potter's field. it is there to this day. it is called the field of blood (foor good reason).]