Passover

[Jeffinator]

The Bible speaks of passover in Exodus 13:6-10 saying:

Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD. Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory. You shall tell your son on that day, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.

It seems apparent that God intended that we celebrate passover, so as Christians why dont we?

[wenlock]

The Bible speaks of passover in Exodus 13:6-10 saying:

Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD. Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory. You shall tell your son on that day, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.

It seems apparent that God intended that we celebrate passover, so as Christians why dont we?

Which Christian was addressed in Exodus?

This post would be fine in a Jewish forum. Though one would also have to ask why they don't sacrifice bulls and goats.

[Jeffinator]

Which Christian was addressed in Exodus?

This post would be fine in a Jewish forum. Though one would also have to ask why they don't sacrifice bulls and goats.

Which Christian was addresed when the Ten Commandments were written? We still keep those dont we? Since when do we pick and choose what parts of God's word we want to follow?

[wenlock]

Which Christian was addresed when the Ten Commandments were written? We still keep those dont we?

No! Not as commandments. Christians keep the law of love, that goes well beyond not killing people, to not hating them. From not committing adultery, to not even entertaining thoughts of doing so.

But let us not ignore the point about sacrificing and the many ritual laws that were commanded for Israel.

[wenlock]

The laws of the Old Testament go well beyond the Jews

Natural law, created by the act of creation, applies to all. But Mosaic Law applied only to the Israelites.

and sacraficing is mentioned well before the Jewish people.

Those who are unjustified by faith in Jesus' sacrifice can continue to offer sacrifices.

If Jesus kept Passover why wouldn't we?

Jesus went to the Temple. Why don't Christians?

[grit]

The Bible speaks of passover in Exodus 13:6-10 saying:

Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD. Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory. You shall tell your son on that day, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.

It seems apparent that God intended that we celebrate passover, so as Christians why dont we?

It's a fair question. Some Christians do celebrate Passover, most markedly perhaps in Messianic Judaism, among what were formerly termed Jewish Christians.
Much of the rest of Christendom follows patterns set early on in Christian history, first with the distinction of Christians from Judaism in days of persecutions of both groups, where legalistic Judaizers and Gnostic influences were paramount confluences the Apostle Paul particularly fought against in keeping the Church pure to Christ's ideals; and then, when the Emperor Constantine sought to unify Christianity as the major State religion under his rule, bringing together various Christian factions under a new homogenized and rather hellenistic whole. It's during these early centuries of Christianity that the Jewish calendar was replaced with things like Easter, Christmas, various saint's days (culminating in All Hallows and Hallowe'en), and the like.

In disavowing Jewish feasts and holy days, much of Christendom references Colossians 2, esp. verses 16 and 17, "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." (NIV) That is, the "reality" has fulfilled or completed the "shadow".

As a Protestant and Presbyterian whose heritage threw out Roman Catholic abuses of calendrical worship, keeping only the LORD's Sabbath, I personally think the Church, which now predominantly observes it's own structured calendar (Christmas, Easter, etc.) apart from Biblical dictate, would do well to reconsider it's holy day observances. Freedom in Christ from legalistic ritual ought to rightly be acknowledged, but there's a lot to be said for continuity between the Old and New Testaments, in perhaps marrying the Biblical aspect of a Jewish calendar with completed observance in Christ. Messianic Judaism has it's own pitfalls and need for caution, but I think they do honour Christ in celebrating Christ in the Jewish feasts. These days it's certainly an alternative worthy of note compared with what has popularly degenerated in regards to Christmas, Easter, All Saints' Day (with Hallowe'en), Ash Wednesday (with Fat Tuesday /Mardi Gras / Shrove Tuesday / Carnival), and much of the Church Calendar.

[wenlock]

It's a fair question. Some Christians do celebrate Passover

Those who celebrate it must know that their ancestors passed through the Red Sea, and there can be very few who know that.

It may be that such practices have more affinity with the circumcision party of Acts and Galatians than with Christianity. Proceed with caution.

[grit]

Those who celebrate it must know that their ancestors passed through the Red Sea, and there can be very few who know that.

It may be that such practices have more affinity with the circumcision party of Acts and Galatians than with Christianity. Proceed with caution.

It's fair to say that upwards to 90% of what now comprises Messianic Judaism are Gentile Christians, and Messianic Judaism still often struggles both with legalistic tendencies and with a prideful distinction from the rest of Christianity, but so too do many, many Christians of other assemblies.

[HisLeast]

Is not passover a celebration of the flight of Israel from the clutches of Egypt? If so, what purpose does it serve to those who are not of the nation of Israel?

[SammeyDW]

Is not passover a celebration of the flight of Israel from the clutches of Egypt? If so, what purpose does it serve to those who are not of the nation of Israel?

A Christian doesn't celebrate a 'passover' .
But rather 'The Lord's Supper' as COMMANDED by Jesus Christ.

Lord's Supper (NLT)

1 Corinthians 11:23-29

[Beckrl]

A Christian doesn't celebrate a 'passover' .
But rather 'The Lord's Supper' as COMMANDED by Jesus Christ.

Lord's Supper (NLT)

1 Corinthians 11:23-29

I was thinking the same SammeyDW
God instructed the children of Israel to keep passover and God used it to show those children Christ. We as Christians may not keep the passover feast, but we keep the Lord's Supper.

Beck

[Studyin'2Show]

Is not passover a celebration of the flight of Israel from the clutches of Egypt? If so, what purpose does it serve to those who are not of the nation of Israel?

As for coming out of Egypt, I do indeed remember coming out of Egypt as each believer should. Egypt is our life of sin which leads to death. The passover lamb's blood on the doorpost is the blood of my Passover Lamb which has been applied to my heart to save me from the death from sin that I would truly deserve. The Angel of Death has indeed passed over me! Halleluyah!

I do not attend a Messianic assembly. At this time we are members of a Southern Baptist church family. Yet, we do indeed celebrate the LORD's Passover both in spirit and in action as well as the Lord's Supper. We have done so (Passover) for about 8 years and have enjoyed it each time. It gives such perspective to the "Passion". The Sunday after Passover (Resurrection day) we celebrate the Feast of First Fruits (which He is). We do not celebrate the Feasts of the LORD because we think we have to in order to be saved. God forbid! We have done all that is neccessary for salvation simply by accepting the blood of Messiah as the free gift that it is. For me it was simply this. I was reading Leviticus 23 one day and read that God calls the feasts HIS feasts. I decided to embrace anything that was His and feel I have been blessed through it. Once we began to do so as a family, we were amazed to find that they are EXTREMELY Christian. (not the Jewish traditions but merely the convocations as written into scripture) I believe there are many that would be pleasantly surprised that the feasts do not 'take away' from Yeshua (Jesus) but that He is the substance of each and every one!

God Bless!
Denise

[ConqueredbyLove]

I have been to only a few Passover meals. But every year I re-read the story of the Passover, especially about the lamb and the applying of the blood, etc. because it helps me appreciate The Lamb of God more and more. I learned something new this year that made the story ever more precious to me....it was beautiful and is beautiful...

Do I have to do that? Of course not. But I would not miss the blessing and the coming to know Jesus on a deeper level that comes as a result of it for the world.

I, also spend a few weeks before and especially "Passion Week" going over our Lord's last week here on earth. I start with the events of "Palm Sunday" and go through each day. I always, try to attend "Good Friday" service...

How can we ever, ever meditate enough on the sufferings of our Lord? Not only does it bring us closer to Him but it blesses each person of the Godhead so much.

I don't do this because I feel I have to.........I do it because He deserves it...

~Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!~

[grit]

I'd be interested to see how many of those who observe a Resurrection Sunday do so in connection with the timing set by the Emperor Constantine and Western Christianity (which is prevalently popularized today), Eastern Christianity (though there doesn't seem to be many Eastern Orthodox here at our site), or in recognition of actual Jewish timing (who still use the term Passover); and whether or not Christians celebrating Easter find it irritating that Easter and Passover are no longer linked on the calendar as was our LORD's crucifixion, or whether they find it comforting when the two occasionally coincide?

[Studyin'2Show]

I'd be interested to see how many of those who observe a Resurrection Sunday do so in connection with the timing set by the Emperor Constantine and Western Christianity (which is prevalently popularized today), Eastern Christianity (though there doesn't seem to be many Eastern Orthodox here at our site), or in recognition of actual Jewish timing (who still use the term Passover); and whether or not Christians celebrating Easter find it irritating that Easter and Passover are no longer linked on the calendar as was our LORD's crucifixion, or whether they find it comforting when the two occasionally coincide?

Most have no idea why it is when it is. I know that I never even considered it when I used to celebrate it. When I found out what it was based on I was surprised.