Why Would a Christian Celebrate Passover?

 

Have you ever received an awkward "Happy Easter" in response to "Happy Passover"? It makes me wonder if  people connect the two or if they think the Passover has nothing to do with the Resurrection. It has everything to do with the Resurrection.

Jesus is the prophesied Messiah of the Jews. 

We read about Him in Isaiah 53:

But he was pierced for our transgressions;

    he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

    and with his wounds we are healed. 

Isaiah 53:5

Jesus speaking to the Woman at the Well:

You worship what you do not know;  

we worship what we know,  

for salvation is from the Jews.  

John 4:22

The Last Supper was a Passover Seder. Why is this important? Because of Who Jesus is. He is the Passover lamb, the sacrifice for our sins. Some people think that's where the story ends, that God has replaced the Jewish people with the Gentiles because they did not recognize their Messiah when He came. 

But remember God's character. 

Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no 

compassion on the son of her womb? 

Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. 

Isaiah 49:15

Does God forget? Does He break promises?

Why is tonight different from all other nights?

This is a question asked at the Passover Seder. The answer? Because we were slaves, but now we are free. If you saw Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ," you may remember this scene well. It took my breath away.

So here I am with a simple plate painted in a language I don't speak, an outsider, grafted in. He tells me I am not an outsider. Here we sit together at my table. I once was a slave but now I am free. That is what I celebrate.