Passover, the first festival of the biblical liturgical calendar, is fundamental to both Judaism and Christianity, for both faiths are founded on historical events that occurred on this day. Because it speaks to both Judaism and Christianity of God’s redemption, the Passover links Jews and Christians in a commonality of faith that is indissoluble.

For the Jewish people, Passover was the day some 3,500 years ago when their ancestors were delivered from the slavery of Egyptian taskmasters. The blood of the paschal lamb applied to the doors of their houses spared Israel’s firstborn from death in that night of terror in Egypt that forced Pharaoh to relent and release the captive Israelites. Because God "passed over" the Jewish households where the blood was applied on that day, Passover became the festival of Israel’s redemption.

For Christians, Passover was the day nearly 2,000 years ago when "God…gave his only begotten Son" to be the perfect Paschal Lamb whose blood would save all mankind from an even more onerous slavery than that experienced by Israel in Egypt – the bondage of sin and death. Jesus Christ elected to become incarnate as a Jew among his Jewish brethren so that he could die and thereby deliver those who would believe upon him both from sin and from the death of eternal separation from God (Hebrews 2:9, 14,15). Christianity if founded upon the atonement provided by Jesus on that first New Testament Passover; therefore, Passover is also the Christian festival of redemption.

Jewish scholar Martin Buber observed that Jews and Christians have two things in common: a book and an expectation (the Bible and the hope of Messiah’s coming). To this we could add a third thing: the foundation of our respective faiths. In both the first Old Testament Passover and the first New Testament Passover, the theme is redemption, and the basis for redemption is God’s grace. It was only by grace through faith that both Israel and the church were redeemed. God’s grace created the faith in Israelite hearts that produced obedience to his requirement: "Sacrifice a lamb, and apply its blood to your houses." God’s grace continues to create faith in the hearts of those who accept the good news of his salvation through Messiah Jesus: "Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead."

The Jewish people have been faithful each year sine 2,500 years to celebrate the festival of Passover that Yahweh commanded them to remember in perpetuity. Each Jewish father uses this occasion annually to teach his own children about the fact that they personally were delivered from Egypt when their ancestors obeyed God’s voice. In effect, the Passover Seder that is celebrated in each Jewish household is both a memorial and a reenactment of that first Passover night when God’s sovereign act freed Israel and made possible the fulfillment of his promise to Abraham.

Christians in the nascent church continued in this tradition of celebrating Passover annually for more than four centuries. Taking their cue from the commandment of their Lord to remember his death until he returns, they met together each year on the day of Passover (Nisan 14) to memorialize the death and resurrection of Jesus. They observed the simple liturgy that Jesus had prescribed when he gave his disciples the unleavened bread (matzoh) of the Passover Seder, saying, "This is my body which is broken for you," and offered them the Passover Seder’s cup of redemption, saying, "This is the cup of the new covenant in my blood."

Despite the fact that subsequent Judaeophobia, anti-Judaism, and anti-Semitism caused the church to abandon this foundational part of its biblical heritage, Christians today have every reason at the time of Passover to remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and to anticipate his return. It is time that this foundational celebration of redemption that is basic to both Judaism and Christianity be restored to the church.

In the Restore! Magazine Volume 4 Issue 2 issue Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi analyzed the Christian remembrance in "Passover-Festival of Redemption." Rev. David Andrew offers important insights in "Passover-Changing the Default." Dr. Karl Coke addresses another important event of this season in "Jesus Christ, the Firstfruits." In "Passover-Reigning With Messiah," Amella Rose teaches the connection between Passover and the kingdom of God. Clarence Wagner helps us see the recurring theme of reconciliation in "The Meal Covenant." Dr. Howard Morgan gives us a comparative study in "Midrash on Pesach." This and much more awaits you in this exciting issue of Restore!

Restore! Magazine

About the Author

John D. Garr, Ph.D. is the President of the Restoration Foundation. The Restoration Foundation has been formed as an educational resource to the body of Messiah to bring together an interdenominational network of leaders who are committed to the task of restoring the church’s Hebrew foundations.

Restore! is published by Restoration Foundation as a service to those in the Christian and Jewish communities who envision the restoration of Christianity's Judaic heritage and the eradication of Christian Judaeophobia and anti-Semitism.

This article used by permission first appeared in Restore! magazine.

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