Celebrating Passover

As Christians our heritage is that of Christ, and Christ's heritage is Jewish. It seems logical that we would not just celebrate Christ's birth, life and death, but we should celebrate what He celebrated. All the feasts of Judaism point to Him, point to God, and are instituted to teach us something, to help us grow in Him.

The most well known of the Jewish observances is probably Passover, and it is a very old observance, coming from the days when Egypt was a great empire. Even way back then God was working out His plan, God was working toward His ultimate act of salvation.

The Passover when understood and observed correctly clearly alludes to Christ and His work on the cross. It is no coincidence that Christ was crucified during Passover week. Just as in the ancient days a lamb was slaughtered and his blood painted on the doors, Christ was slaughtered the same time of year and His blood covers all the hearts that choose to follow, to do God's will.

Celebrating Passover is solemn and joyous. It shows us just how God protected His people, how God protects us. It shows us His righteousness and His mercy and love. The Passover is a Jewish celebration because it marks when God delivered them from Egypt and they began the journey to the Promised Land. It is also a Christian celebration because it shows how God was working out salvation, it shows us in a real, tangible way the price that was paid for each of us, for our sins.

I encourage all Christian families to look into the Jewish celebrations, to celebrate and observe what Christ, and thereby getting to know Christ not only as Savior, but Christ the man, the Jew, the only one without blemish, without sin.

-JLP-