Happy Easter, Kids!

It is almost Easter. Tomorrow morning millions of Christians will wake their poor unsuspecting children before the sun comes up, and drag them off to church meetings.

I doubt that many of the adults themselves truly appreciate the early rising.

However, it is required because of a misinterpretation of the Scriptures and a lack of knowledge concerning the Jewish calendar.

Thursday night at 7 PM is the official beginning of Friday. The Jews believe that the new day begins at sunset, because the Bible says, “And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” (Genesis 1:5b)

To the Jews of Jesus day, Saturday night at 7 constituted the end of the Sabbath and the beginning of the first day of the week, Sunday. “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.” (John 20:1)

I think many Christians would appreciate the historically correct time of Jesus’ rising from the grave, if only to prevent the annual zombie fests with sleepy eyed, screaming, fighting children.

For the most part, children are much more willing to sing and eat at 7 PM than they are to be dragged out of bed and dressed up like prom dates at 5:30 in the morning.

Happy Easter, Kids!