Should Christians celebrate Passover? The celebration of Passover is in remembrance of the time in Israel’s history when the Lord moved through Egypt destroying the firstborn of all people and animals (see Exodus 11 and 12.) This was the final of the ten plagues God visited upon Egypt designed to force Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave the country and their captivity. The Israelites were commanded by God to take the blood of a male lamb—one without blemish—and smear it on the doorposts of their houses. When the Lord saw the blood, He would “pass over” that house. This is a foreshadowing of the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus, whose blood would cover the sins of those who believe in Him, causing God’s judgment to pass over them. Ever since that night, Jews have celebrated the Passover in remembrance of God’s grace to them. There has been an explosion of interest in adapting the Passover festival to Christianity. Various organizations, such as Jews for Jesus, have long promoted Christian Passover services as a means for Messianic Jews to retain their cultural heritage while professing their Christian faith. They have also used the Christian Passover as a means to communicate to Christians the Jewish religious heritage that they value. Many of the rituals associated with the Passover Seder have application to the Christian faith, and a Christian celebration of the Passover provides a unique way to bring the story of salvation to the ceremony. Whether or not a Christian celebrates Passover would be a matter of conscience for the individual Christian. Like all the Old Testament Jewish Feasts, the Passover Feast was a foreshadowing of Christ’s atoning work on the cross. Colossians 2:16-17 tells us that we should “let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (NKJV). Christians are no longer bound to observe the Passover feast the way the Old Testament Jews were, but they should not look down upon another believer who does or does not observe the Passover or other special Jewish days and feasts (Romans 14:5). While it is not required for Christians to celebrate the Passover, it is beneficial to study it and could be beneficial to celebrate it if it leads to a greater understanding and appreciation for Christ’s death and resurrection. The Passover is a wonderful picture of Christ’s atonement for His people and His deliverance of us from the bondage of sin. That is something we should celebrate every day of our lives. https://www.gotquestions.org/Christians-celebrate-Passover.html If you want to celebrate the Passover Feast then by all means do so … but according to … Luke’s passages below … Jesus celebrated it as a communion (unleaven bread and wine only) no man-made Talmud Seder was involved. That is the difference. Luke 22:1 , 14-21 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. 1 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 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. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. 21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. Whether or not a Christian celebrates Passover would be a matter of conscience for the individual Christian. Christians are no longer bound to observe the Passover feast the way the Old Testament Jews were. The Passover is a wonderful picture of Christ’s atonement for His people and His deliverance of us from the bondage of sin. While it is not required for Christians to celebrate the Passover, it is beneficial to study it and could be beneficial to celebrate it if it leads to a greater understanding and appreciation for Christ’s death and resurrection. And that might be a good place to stop? :heart: Luke 22:15-16 New King James Version 15 Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” To me, those verses indicate that Jesus was celebrating Passover with his disciples. They also indicate that He (Jesus) will eat it again in the kingdom of God which I presume to be the Millenium, as referenced in Ezekiel. Ezekiel 45:21 New King James Version 21 “In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall observe the Passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten. Anyway, Kolleen has advised to end the discussion and we can take it to PM if you like. :rose: Following up on what Geri had said about the Last Supper being a betrothal and then Passover happening on the next day, here are some further interesting thoughts I have been thinking about today. First of all, there has been a lot said about the Essenes who copied the Dead Sea scrolls and who were very much in separation from the Pharisees and Sadducees of that time. The Essenes saw the religious corruption in both the Pharisees and Sadducees and often kept a slightly different calendar as they believed the Pharisees and Sadducees were corrupt and incorrect. I have heard many teachings saying that both Jesus and John the Baptist may have “leaned towards” this sect called the Essenes and I have heard several teachings saying that Jesus celebrated the Passover one day earlier than the Pharisees because that was the correct day and the Pharisees were actually celebrating it on the wrong day, one day later. Not sure how legitimate this is, but I find it fascinating that Jesus could have celebrated His version of Passover with His beloved disciples, and then could have fulfilled the sacrifice of Passover one day later on the day the Pharisees and Sadducees recognized as Passover. Of course since, as Arthur said days are reckoned from sunset to sunset, I think its conceivable that it could have all occurred and been accomplished within the same 24 hour period. The other thought I have been thinking about all day is how the elements of Passover have transcended into communion. I can see a little debate has been going on over the purpose of Passover for the Christian in the New Testament dispensation or if there is any purpose? I was thinking today about the essential elements of Passover, the Lamb, the Matzah and the bitter herb. Symbolically, the bitter herb has been removed from us - we are no longer enslaved to sin or the bitterness of slavery to death in any way. The lamb - this represented Messiah’s sacrifice perfectly - when Jesus had the Last Supper and instituted Holy communion, He could have just as easily given all of the disciples a piece of lamb and said “this is My body”- the lamb was just as perfect of a representation of His sacrifice and just as edible so the thought I have been pondering all day today is why didn’t He? Why did He choose the bread instead? I think He chose the bread because of of its simplicity and ease of availability If He chose the lamb to represent His body, it probably would have had to be a yearly celebration out of necessity - meat was a luxury item and could only be consumed at special occasions like these Feasts of the Lord. But by using the bread, I think He intended the Communion to transcend far beyond the once a year remembrance into the more frequent celebration that we enjoy today. Not that there is not still a place to once a year consider the Passover celebration, So the question is why should Christians celebrate it? They don’t have to - but it does provide a wonderful opportunity to glorify God if approached with the right perspective and the right heart. No matter what denomination or flavor of Christianity you come from our whole faith is based on a review of all of the good God has done for us in the past. All of our faith in Him keeping His promises to us in the future is based upon remembering promises kept in the past and giving Him thanks and Glory for those kept promises, believing that He will also keep the promise that have not been realized yet. All Passover is is celebrating one of those kept promises to an ancient people, that if they were not delivered we would not even have a Messiah to save us. And then, having eyes and ears of the Spirit, we have the great benefit even over and above natural Israel, of seeing how the shadow found its fulfillment in Christ, and again we give thanks and Glory for that kept promise. Every time we take communion, we give thanks for that kept promise. The question keeps getting raised, why do we need to remember Passover, I would ask this question - will there be a day when we say the same of Holy Communion? Some glorious day when we have been there ten thousand years, will we say - “We have been raptured, we have been resurrected, why do we have to remember the communion anymore we are no longer mortal?” I think not. I think we will go on celebrating promises kept, with the simplicity of bread and remember back to the sacrifice that it cost to keep that promise. I know I have rambled on quite a bit, sorry, that’s what has been ruminating in my spirit all day, I hope it was edifying.
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