Information from an Angus Reid publication says that “for many Canadians, Easter weekend has become a secular holiday celebrated by students as spring break and marked with a statutory holiday for workers across the country. But the religious significance of the date still holds import for Christians, who celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and perhaps provides an opportunity for others to consider if there is life beyond what we know.
“New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute, in partnership with Cardus, finds three-in-five Canadians believe there is some sort of life after death – whether that is the heaven or hell of the Christian faith, the Jannah or Jahannam of Islam, or the reincarnation of the soul believed by Sikhs and Hindus. The belief in the afterlife has been held at a majority level steadily in survey data seen back to 1960. Two-in-five (40%) say there is no life after this one, but only one-in-eight (13%) Canadians ‘definitely’ rule it out.”
Life beyond death is a theme that flows throughout the Holy Bible and Resurrection is pivotal within the New Testament.
The man known as Jesus Christ was a Jew, born and raised in the land of Israel, crucified by the Roman government of the day at the behest of the Jewish leadership.
Yes, Abraham, the ancient father of Jesus and the Christian faith settled in the land of Israel some 4000 years ago. The original Hebraic name for Jesus would've been Yeshua. Yeshua Hamashiach means Jesus the Messiah. His Resurrection birthed Christianity.
Yeshua’s Crucifixion and Resurrection occurred at the time of the Jewish celebration of Passover when a sacrificial lamb marked the Jewish Exodus from slavery.
Yeshua’s timely death was foreshadowed by the words of his own cousin John (the Baptiser) stated, “Behold the lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,” the day after he was baptised by John, and years prior to his Crucifixion.
What is broadly known as Easter and the Resurrection is celebrated around the time of the Jewish Passover.
Yet for Jews, either by culture, national identity or orthodoxy, this is an inconvenient story. At this time, only a tiny fraction (about 0.01 per cent of Israelis) calls the resurrected Christ their Messiah and belief in life after death is highly uncertain in the land of Jesus’ birth.
The Angus Reid article says most look for life after death:
“As Christians celebrate the Holy Week, they do so with varying beliefs depending on their sect. Evangelical Christians are the most likely (92% say yes) to believe in life after death, while Roman Catholics express more doubt (67%). Among the other Abrahamic faiths, Muslims (87%) strongly believe while Jews predominately doubt the existence of life after death at a majority level (60%). Hindus (71%), who celebrated the arrival of spring with Holi this week, and Sikhs (67%) are also firm in their belief of life after death.”
For millions world-wide, the Resurrection brings hope. Easter eggs, small bunnies and daffodils reflect the hope that spring brings.
