Why is Easter important?

What does the Easter story mean for Christians today?

Easter is the key focus of the Christian faith. It is important because it explains the focal point of Christianity and the reason why many people choose to follow Jesus Christ. Here are some of the reasons people say the Easter story is important:

• Easter celebrates the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Jesus died in our place and he rose again because he conquered death.
• It reminds us that Jesus died so that we could be forgiven.
• Easter shows that death had no power over Jesus and if we belong to him, we will also rise again.
• Jesus defeated death and forgives all our sins because he laid down his life for us.
• Without Easter, we would have no hope of eternal life and everlasting redemption.

What is the best way to experience it?

Vivian Onyekwere watched the Chester City Passion for the first time in 2022 and was interviewed in an extended report for We Are Chester which you can read here. Vivian is studying for an MA in journalism at the University of Chester and she described watching the Passion Plays as ‘the most exciting and beautiful experience that has ever happened to me since I came to Chester.’

It was an emotional yet an unforgettable moment for me and every scene appeared so real, like in the days of Jesus…I followed the donkey as it was being pulled along by one of the characters and moving towards the Eastgate Clock, ready for the Chester City Passion to begin…

The actions and roles of each character were exactly as they were written in the Bible, from Jesus breaking the bread and sharing it amongst His disciples to the dismissal of food and bread sellers at the church.

Every scene before my very eyes looked so real as they happened. And the scenario when Jesus was finally scorned, denied, beaten, betrayed, spat on, and finally was crucified almost brought tears to my eyes as it reminded me of the movie Passion of Christ, one movie that always made me cry whenever I watched it.

Also, the scene where Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry the cross and finally being hung on the cross and saying the seven words on the cross before giving up the ghost were all emotional moments.

I had a quick flashback to my high school when Jesus said those seven words on the cross which reminded of how I learnt those words in one of my subjects at school.  These scenes will always be memories never to be forgotten.

Explore the Easter story through our blogs and experience the story of Easter for yourself at one of our Passion Plays this Easter.  We would love to hear about your experiences of the Passion story.