A curious contradiction happens nearly every year. Virtually all the Christian world will observe the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in unison, on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox as decreed by the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. However, if this paschal full moon occurs on a Sunday, Easter is then moved to the next Sunday. The Council of Nicea also decided that the Christian Easter shall never precede or coincide with the Jewish Passover, but must always follow it, a rule still observed by the Eastern Orthodox Church, but not the Western Church. The Eastern Orthodox church also still uses the Julian calendar to calculate Easter, and so frequently does not agree with the Western Church on dates.
This presents a very interesting situation, since the Protestants generally will subscribe to the motto of Sola Scriptura, the Bible only for doctrine, yet the Catholic affirms the authority of Church Tradition.
Now if you strictly follow the Bible as your guide as to when to observe Passover, you would ALWAYS be observing the crucifixion in the middle of the biblical month, very close to the full moon. This is because the biblical month begins with the observation of the new moon (crescent visible), and Passover the Bible tells us, is celebrated on 14 Nisan, the middle of the 29.5 day lunar cycle (the synodic month):
Lev 23:5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover.
Because Passover is specifically designated as the 14th day of the 1st month, Passover is always in close proximity to the full moon. Ripened barley is required on 16 Nisan for the waving of first fruits (Lev. 23:10-11). If the barley is too immature at the sighting of the new moon, a 2nd Adar leap month is declared, and the the month of Nisan/Abib is delayed. The following calendar illustrates the difference between the biblical determination of Passover and the tradition of Easter Sunday.
For 2010, the barley was observed sufficiently ripened, and the new moon sighting occurring just after sunset on March 17th, then March 18th is the 1st day of the new year, and Passover, 14 Nisan, occurs on March 31 as shown above. 16 Nisan, the resurrection day, occurs on April 2nd, but Protestants and Catholics will observe Easter on April 4th.
Now isn't this a remarkable contradiction: "Bible Only" Protestantism has clearly cast aside the Bible as their teacher on this matter, and will celebrate "Easter" always on Sunday, a day that has no biblical foundation. Aren't Protestants, in practical effect, openly declaring they are actually followers of Catholic Tradition, and care nothing for the instructions of the inspired word of God, Scripture, which they claim to be their only guide? Isn't this a rather transparent case of hypocrisy on the part of "Bible Only" Protestants? Aren't they really declaring every Easter (and Pentecost), we are Catholics and prefer Tradition over God's word! ?
Indeed they are!
