Passover?

[i r i d e s s i c a n c e]

I've heard of many people celebrating passover. I also remember reading Bible verses about it briefly in the past. Yet, I want to know more. Who celebrates it? (groups) What do you do? What purpose does it bring? I'm quite curious. I know it's coming up Monday the 25th (also my parents wedding anniversary. xD), and it ends Tuesday the 2nd this year. If anyone could give any/all info they can on it, it would be appreciated. Thank you!  

[angelic snow angel]

The celebration of Passover is in remembrance of the time in Israel’s history when the angel of 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 angel of 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  

[Chewie2590]

the passover plot  

[real eyes realize]

The apostle Paul and the churches he established continued to keep the festival it seems:

Quote:

1 Corinthians 5:7-8 (NIV)

7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Reading through the gospels, it would seem that the Lord's Supper was established near (if not on) Passover. I know in Messianic communities they use the Passover Seder in remembrance of him (which allows for/includes the bread and the wine of the Lord's supper).

The parts of scripture that describe the celebration (from OT to NT) are: Exodus 12, Leviticus 23, Numbers 9, Deuteronomy 16, Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14, Luke 22.


There are several videos on YouTube of Jews and Messianics explaining how Jesus/Yeshua is represented in the Passover Seder—for example this one posted by "Jews for Jesus": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBGz3k37kDE