About Easter
关于复活节
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；这就证明了祂是上帝的儿子。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。祂被钉在十字架上，然后又被埋葬了三天。祂的门徒相信祂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，魔鬼也无法夺去祂的生命。耶稣之所以死在十字架上，完全是祂自愿的摆上。
耶稣已经复活 – 复活节
在第一个复活节那天清晨，耶稣基督的复活，无可置疑地证明了祂就是救世主。祂在事先就告诉过祂的门徒和当时的宗教领袖，祂会献出祂的生命，但是在第三天，祂要从死里复活。
当时的宗教领袖，记得耶稣说过的话，所以就在耶稣的坟墓前用一块巨石堵住坟墓的入口，而且加上罗马帝国的封条，还派了士兵值班看守。但是这些都无法阻止上帝的计划，耶稣在复活节复活了。又在复活节以后的40天里，许多许多人亲眼目睹了复活了的耶稣。魔鬼和当时的宗教领袖都无法阻止这个事实的传播。至今，还是没有任何力量可能阻止复活节这惊天动地消息的传播。
对于属世的社会来说，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。
讨论问题：
1. 复活节是什么？
2. 在上这堂课以前，你是否知道复活节？
3. 为什么耶稣要被钉死在十字架上，然后由复活？
4. 在耶稣复活了以后，祂又与人们在一起多少天？
5. 在你那里是否有庆祝复活节的活动？如果有的话，你是否有去过教堂参加教会的庆祝活动？
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.
Jesus Has Risen - Easter Sunday
That first Easter morning proved beyond any doubt that Jesus was the Messiah. He had told the religious leaders and his disciples that He would give His life and on the third day rise from the grave.
The religious authorities had remembered His words and tried to prevent it with a large stone in front of the tomb, a Roman seal and guards. But none of that prevented God’s plan for that first Easter. For 40 days after Easter morning, many people were eyewitnesses to the resurrection. Satan and the religious leaders were powerless to stop the truth. And they are still powerless to stop the spread of the wonderful message of Easter!
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.
Discussion Question:
1. What is Easter?
2. Did you know Easter before?
3. Why Jesus needed to die on the cross then risen again?
4. For how many days that Jesus was among local people after His resurrection?
5. In your area, do you know any Easter celebration? If so, did you ever attend Easter service in a church?
