Is Easter Pagan?

[Vic]

Quote:sari83 >>>>I began to wonder if the simple the fact that the sun rises in the east, explains why every year churches hold sunrise services on Easter

Well, Sarah, if sunrise and worshipping the resurrection of Jesus Christ is pagan because of the possibly doing that at sunrise--which happens to come from the east, then I suppose you could connect the dots to say Jesus rising in the early hours of the day aka sunrise, was also a pagan thing? And the Mary's going to the tomb in the 'early hours' were also being pagan? Is sunrise, the sun or directions pagan? Doesn't God mention directions in His Word starting in Genesis?

Luk 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
Luk 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
Luk 24:3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

Mat 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
Mat 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

Mar 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Mar 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
Mar 16:3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

Easter is merely the fulfillment of the shadow of passover, and is the 'passover' for the new covenant. Jesus is our passover lamb. OT passover is still celebrated in Judaism by those who reject the new covenant. Jesus brought in the new covenant and said:

Luk 22:17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
Luk 22:18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
Luk 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Luk 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.