Passover, is it just for Jews?

Question

Passover was observed historically by a number of early Christians and is still observed today by a small number of Christian groups.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover_(Christian_holiday)

So what do you think, should i celebrate passover like Christ and the early christians did?

I know it is not necesarry i want to celebrate.

Answer 1

Christians were commanded directly by the Apostle Paul to keep Passover and remove the leaven. And not just the leaven of yeast, but spiritual leaven as well. Just as yeast causes dough to puff up, so too the spiritual leaven of pride causes one to become puffed up. Paul wrote:

Your arrogance isn’t good. Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are Matzah. For indeed Messiah – our Pesach – was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep this Feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the Matzah of sincerity and Truth. – I Corinthians 5:6-8

It is also interesting to note that while it is quite common for modern Orthodox Judaism to equate leaven with pride, apparently this was not a teaching 2000 years ago. See Matthew 16:5-12 and notice that the disciples were completely unaware of the application of leaven to pride. So it would appear that this was first taught by Yeshua, then taught by Paul and rabbinic Judaism picked up this concept from their teachings. Over the past 2000 years Christianity has pretty much forgotten the leaven is pride application, but now is perhaps learning this back from the Orthodox.

2000 years ago the followers of Yeshua observed Pesach - even in the Greek church it is still called Pascah. But subtitutions were made. Some of the Gentiles took the pagan fertility goddess Ishtar and adapted her worship system. The pagan Ishtar worshippers would kill infants and color eggs in their blood. The spelling of Ishtar has changed to Easter, but even today many Christians continue to color eggs with their children. (Minus the blood-letting of course). But the fertility symbols of Ishtar continue on. That is why Christians have Easter bunnies and Easter eggs. Christians tried to distance themselves from Judaism as much as possible. They have done a pretty good job of it. The entire Christian religion would be pretty much unrecognized by the followers of Yeshua from 2000 years ago.

Yeshua said that not so much as one iota of the Law would be done away with even if heaven and earth passed away (Matthew 5:17-19). Modern Christians claim that this is a lie and that their Jesus came to do away with the Law. They are following a "man of lawlessness" (isn't that what the "antichrist" is called?) There is no claim found in their Bible that the law is done away with other than the law of sin and death (which is the curse given in Torah upon everyone who doesn't follow the full Torah). 1 John 3:4 even defines sin as being the violation of the Law. So Christians should know that they are practicing sin when they say that they have no need to observe the Passover. It is a rememberance of Israel coming out of the bondage of Egypt on this date and it is likewise supposed to be a rememberance of the "Commonwealth of Israel" (which the Christians claim to be part of) being freed from the bondage of sin on this date. They need to study Scripture to show themselves approved.

Answer 2

While some might think it quaint to do some of the adorable things associated wiht Passover, realize that this is not just some hobby for Jews. This religion and its holidays have deep importance. The levels we go through to observe these holidays properly and competely reflect a long connection to the events. Simply eating a bit of unleavened bread or reading a paragraph or two means nothing. God gave us the Torah and its laws and charged us to observe it. If you want to observe it the way people "observe" St. Patrick's day by wearing green, have a good time, but you aren't really observing it. It is a law to the Jews and until you take a whole lot more on yourself, you aren't gaining anything by adopting those convenient bits which make you feel like you are more in touch with your own Christianity.

Judaism is for the Jews as are its holidays. We don't demand that anyone else convert in order to go to heaven and we don't want anyone doing things here and there and thinking that they have somehow reached some level of spirituality.

Answer 3

There are quite a few local Christian groups, from a surprising number of denominations, that are planning to observe Passover this year. It's becoming increasingly more popular in Christian circles. Often, Jews will come celebrate with them. I have no problem with that. Passover is a great tradition.

Answer 4

Passover is solely for Jews as Easter is only for Christians.
Personally, I have seen Christians, Hindus, and even Muslims play the Dreidel or the QuestZion board-game with lots of fun in Channuka, and likewise, I know Jewish families that place a Christmas tree next to their Menorah.
Happy Passover !

Answer 5

Many Christians are reclaiming the Jewish heritage of Christianity. Resurrection Sunday or Easter as many call it, is a reminder that Jesus took us out of the bondage of sin. I don't see what would be wrong with it. The early Church observed the Passover as well, until much later. Jesus and all of the apostles were Jews.

See Romans 3, Acts 10

Answer 6

At the Passover Jesus had with the disciples, He said "This do in remembrance of Me." He wasn't excluding the Church (Gentiles) for the Jews had forsaken Him by this time and He needed a people willing to perpetuate the institution of the Church until Israel became reestablished. The Passover should be celebrated the way Jesus performed it with the disciples, because Jesus said, "I came not to abolish the law (OT), but to fulfill it." This New Covenant Passover was to REPRESENT the old with the new ritual.

Answer 7

As a jew; observing passover is more of a family act than a religious act (kind of like Thanksgiving). When you subtract out the prayers it is basically a biblical story, so it is relevant to any Christian. If you know any Jewish people, it is traditional for them to invite non-Jews to their dinner. See if you can come along!

Answer 8

No it is not just for Jews. We were told to continue to celebrate it for all time. I have found that the more I study and practice the things of our Old Testament heritage, the closer I get to Christ. All the feasts of the OT point to the coming of Christ

Ex 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

Answer 9

No. Please do not observe Passover. All Jewish holidays are directly related to the 613 commandments in our Bible. God said to "remember and to teach our children." That is exactly what we do at Passover. We use every sense in order to teach our children -- taste, smell, eyes, feel, etc.

If Christians were to observe our holidays, they would become as inane as the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus.

I have learned one thing about Christianity -- it is no longer necessary for Christians to observe any of the 613 commandments found in your "Old" Testament.
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Answer 10

Today's passover is not the same as it was when Jesus lived; Rabbis have altered the tradition over the years. If you must borrow from Jewish customs and traditions, please exclude Jesus!

When Christians start borrowing from Jews, the next step is always to show us the "right" way to do it!
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