Why, you ask, is Easter so important? Well, if it wasn’t for Easter, there would be no such thing as “Christianity”! Isa Al-Masih’s death and resurrection is the basis of everything Christians believe! Isa’s death allows us to be reunited with God. His resurrection gives us hope that we too will live again, even after death (1 Corinthians 15:13-17). “And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).
Easter, or Resurrection Day, is the most sacred day of the year for Christians. It is even more important than Christmas. Unlike Christmas, the death and resurrection of Isa Al-Masih is historically dated. We know this based on the Jewish Passover celebration which has been celebrated for thousands of years.
Understanding Easter through the Jewish Passover
Passover celebrates Israel’s exodus from Egypt. God delivered Israel from Egyptian slavery. On the night before the exodus, God sent the angel of death to kill the firstborn child of everyone who lived in Egypt.
But God told the Israelites that each family must sacrifice a lamb. They placed the lamb’s blood on the door posts of the house. When the angel of death saw the blood, the household was spared. Death and judgment passed over the house due to the blood of the sacrificed lamb.
God told the Israelites to celebrate the Feast of Passover every year. Passover was a reminder of what God had done in the past and what God was going to do in the future. The Passover lamb symbolized the need for a sacrifice to protect the people from death. It was given as a sign of an event that would happen later in time.
Isa Al-Masih is the True Lamb of God!
Isa Al-Masih is referred to as “The Lamb of God” (Injil, John 1:39, 36). He became the Passover Lamb for the whole world, to save people from death. Only Isa Al-Masih could be the Passover Lamb because He is the only person who never sinned. Isa Al-Masih was perfect.
During the Passover in AD 33, Isa Al-Masih was crucified on Friday. He fulfilled His mission from God. He became the perfect sacrifice. He said, “This is my blood of the covenant [testament, promise], which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Injil, Matthew 26:28).
Why is “Good Friday” Good?
Christians now call the Friday before Easter Good Friday. Many find it strange to call it “good” since Isa Al-Masih was killed that day. But it is good for all people that He was sacrificed. He became the ransom for all people’s sins (See Mark 10:45).
Freedom from sin is promised to those who accept the sacrifice of Isa Al-Masih as the payment (punishment) for their sins, both past and future. “If we confess our sins, he [Isa] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Only Isa Al-Masih Can Save You from Sin and Death
God is Holy and He cannot co-exist with sin. “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23). No amount of religious practice or good deeds can “balance” out our sinfulness and make us holy. The answer is not in doing more religious things. The answer is in accepting the righteousness God has already provided through Isa Al-Masih.
Isa Al-Masih is God’s gift. He has provided salvation as a gift to us. “The free gift of God is eternal life…” (Romans 3:23). Since Isa was sinless, we only need his sacrifice. One perfect sacrifice is enough to fulfill the requirement of God’s law for all people for all time. Isa Al-Masih was this sacrifice.
Easter is the Celebration of the Resurrection of Isa Al-Masih
Easter Sunday
is not a celebration of Isa Al-Masih’s death. That would be on Good Friday. Easter is the celebration of a victorious Isa Al-Masih. His death was not in vain. On the Sunday after His death, Isa Al-Masih was raised back to life. His was the first resurrection.
[We invite you to visit us at https://www.isaandislam.com/way-of-salvation to learn more about God’s gift of Salvation. God loves you and waits to hear from you. Isa clearly said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Injil, John 14:6) For a deeper understanding of Isa we suggest you subscribe to “Isa, Islam, and Al-Fatiha” at this link.]
SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW
We encourage our readers to comment on the article above. Comments that don’t directly relate to the topic will need to be removed. The Staff at Isa and Islam invites your comments. Please start a dialogue with us by focusing on one of the following questions:
1. Why is everything in Christianity based on Good Friday and Easter?
2. Why might a Muslim consider Isa the Perfect sacrifice? Why not?
3. Why is Good Friday “good”? Would it be better to call it “bad” Friday? Why?
If you have a question regarding this article, please contact us by clicking this link.
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Why is your story about Isa Al-Masih the same as the story of Jesus Christ? Are you saying in Islam, you have the same story as the Christian story of crucifixion and resurrection? Please clarify.
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Nin,
The story about Isa Al-Masih is the same as the story of Jesus Christ because they are the same person.
The Quran does not tell all of the same things about Isa as the Injil, and in the places where the story differs, we must disagree with the Quran. One of the places where the stories disagree is the story of the Crucifixion and resurrection. According to the Quran, Isa did not die on the cross, and therefore did not rise from the dead, but the Injil clearly teaches this as truth.
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I have a lot of questions.
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Pradeep,
We will gladly answer them! You may either post them here, or you may email us with them. Please remember, post one at a time!
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Why do you use the name Isa Al-Masih instead Jesus Christ?
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Lucky,
We use the name Isa Al-Masih because He is the same person as Jesus Christ! This website is for Muslims to learn more about Him, and they are more familiar with the name “Isa Al-Masih” because this is the Arabic name for Him.
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Dear Friends: We highly value all comments on our website. Yet we do have some guidelines:
1. No one may enter more than one comment at a time. Thus you may not fill multiple comment boxes.
2. Your comment should be directly related to the theme of the lead article.
3. It is best if you only put forward one or two questions at a time.
4. Use good English. If the comment is not clear, we may edit it.
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Unfortunately, the one passage that does mention the crucifixion has often been used by fellow Muslim brothers to prove that he did not die on the cross. However, the following surahs are part of an anti-Jewish polemic, whose aim is not to deny the crucifixion as such, but to vindicate Isa’s prophethood before the Jews, who defamed his name and status as “Messiah.” Well, it is important for us discerning Muslims to understand, that according to the Holy Quran, the Jews actually did not kill Isa themselves.
Qs 4:157-158 says, “… and they (the Jews) have said, ‘Verily we have slain Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the apostle of Allah’. But they slew him not, neither crucified him, but it seemed to them as if (they did it)…. They did not kill him with certainty (as they handed him over to the Romans who crucified him) No; Allah took him up unto himself” (The resurrection on the third day)
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Stefan,
Yes, it’s not the Jews who crucified Isa Al-Masih, but the Romans soldiers. Thank you for your good comment.
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Isa Al-Masih was crucified on Friday. He fulfilled His mission from God. He became the perfect sacrifice.
How could God be dead? Who preserved and protected His creatures while He was dead?
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Halaby,
Isa is not the Father God, but He is God in that he has a divine nature. To be more specific, Isa Al-Masih is God’s word who became flesh. He was sacrificed and He died. It’s His mortal body which died, not His spirit. He let himself be sacrificed so that God’s plan could be fulfilled in Him to save mankind. He became the perfect sacrifice to pay for our sin and to deliver us from sin’s bondage.
Regarding your second question, it is Allah (God), who preserved and protected His creatures. In order to learn more about God in the form of man who allowed Himself to be destroyed in the flesh, please go to: https://www.isaandislam.com/christian-beliefs/how-can-god-die.html
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Why would the Almighty God sacrifice innocent and sinless person for the sake of the sinners? Do you think it is really befitting for His majesty to beget a son?
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Abdullah,
Thank you for your comment. Sacrificing Isa Al-Masih is the proof that God so loves the world (Injil, John 3:16). Kalimah Allah who is God in nature incarnated into flesh and dies (because only flesh dies), to redeem us from sin’s penalty. “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; you have been healed by His wounds” (Injil, 1 Apostle Peter 2:24). Yet, Isa was resurrected from the death, with the new heavenly body. This was witnessed with many people, including his disciples (Injil, Acts 1:3).
Also, God doesn’t beget a son biologically. The term son of God has symbolic and spiritual rather than biological meaning. The son of God represents the close relationship with God the Father. To learn more about this term, please go to: https://www.isaandislam.com/christian-beliefs/qson-of-godq-what-does-that-mean.html.
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Praise God when you and i die, only our body (flesh). Live in spirit, we live with God forever. That is why we all believe in God, when man spirit can live after death. Why can’t spirit of God live to govern the world, can man limit God power. When Jesus Christ died, only His flesh died but his Spirit was living. God is spirit (Ruhu Alla). Please read where Jesus Christ was after His death in flesh (Injil, 1 Peter 3;18,19 &20).
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Ruban,
Thank you for your comment. Indeed, I agree that when Isa died, it’s His body which died. Yet, when he was resurrected, His spirit and His new body were also resurrected. This new body retained the wound inflicted by the crucifixion. “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have” (Injil, Luke 24:39).
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Nice presentation of the meaning of Good Friday. How about Maundy Thursday?
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Dear Gregorio,
Thank you for your comment. Maundy Thursday is the day before Good Friday. Usually, the Christians remember the last supper of Isa Al-Masih with His disciples (the Apostles). Maundy is derived from the Latin word “mandatum”, meaning a commandment. Isa’s commandment, at the last supper was: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (Injil, Apostle John 13:34). Thank you.
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Praise God. Injil, John 11:1-44, about Lazarus, when Jesus raised Lazarus from death, after four days, he did not have a new body. He was raised to life in the same body. Maybe he had marks of identification on his body. Jesus Christ was raised in the same body. The Bible does not teach Jesus Christ was raised in a new body. Please refer to Taurat, Isaiah 26:19; Injil, Acts 2:24-33; Injil, Hebrews 13:20; Injil, 1 Peter 1:21; Injil, 1 Corinthians 6:14, Injil 1 Corinthians 15:16, 20, 22; Injil, 2 Corinthians 4:14. All who died in Christ Jesus will be raised in the second coming of Jesus as Jesus was raised. That’s Christian’s believing.
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Ruban,
Yes, I understand your point of view. I said “new body” because the resurrected body, which is the same physical body, was glorified.
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We all know perfectly that Easter was never in any way endorsed by the Creator YAHWEH. Why don’t you use your medium to truly educate us the ignorant ones out her. Ishtar so called easter is a pagan feast and whatever YAHWEH does not approve is detestable. Easter and Passover are not the same and as a true believer, I employ you to do your research.
Thanks.
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Dear Wise,
Thank you for your comment. We have received your input. And we do understand your point of view. We were trying to explain about Easter, which name is well known nowadays as Easter. And we also explained it in such a way through the Jewish Passover as on the article.
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My question is; what would you say, if Jesus was not crucified, and therefore, he never died on the cross?
Thanks.
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What if? It means that there wouldn’t be forgiveness from Allah. “In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness” (Injil, Hebrews 9:22).
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Thank you so much. This message should be taught to every Christian and Muslim in the name of peace and understanding – for we are bound by one God.
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James,
Yes, you are right that Christians and Muslims have the same God. Therefore, the both people should have the same understanding of who God is and how He saves His people, that is through Isa Al-Masih, God’s word who became flesh. At the end of His ministry, Isa died to redeem His people from sin’s punishment. This is God’s way to save His people.
Blessings.
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Dear Friends: We highly value all comments on our website. Yet we do have some guidelines:
1. No one may enter more than one comment at a time. Thus you may not fill multiple comment boxes.
2. Your comment should be directly related to the theme of the lead article.
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4. Use good English. If the comment is not clear, we may edit it.
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