Why don't Christians Celebrate Passover?
Why don't christians celebrate passover? Christians do not celebrate Passover for various reasons. One key factor is ecclesiastical anti-Judaism that arose within Christianity after its first century; another major cause may be believing Christ has replaced Israel and that Jewish holidays no longer serve any meaningful function in a Christian context.
However, Jesus himself participated in the Feast of Unleavened Bread with His disciples the night before He was betrayed. And it was that same time He instuted the Lord's Supper - communion: A spiritualized feast, giving it a new significance - Matthew 26:26 - 27, I Corinthians 11:23-30.
It’s not a Christian holiday
Even though Jesus celebrated Passover, many Christians don't celebrate it today. It is essential to understand why this may be so as Passover is one of God's feasts commemorating Israel's exodus from Egypt as well as symbolizing a memorial of Jesus's sacrifice on the cross.
Also read: "What Does the Bible say About Visiting Graves?
At Passover, every Jewish family sacrifices an unblemished lamb and spreads its blood across their door frames as a symbol of God's mercy and foreshadowing Jesus as the Lamb of God - reminding us all that salvation from God is always available to us.
With time, Christianity shifted away from being predominantly Jewish to becoming predominantly Gentile faith. With anti-Semitic persecution in Europe and Reformation theology's emphasis on grace, Christians found it no longer feasible to observe Old Testament rituals like Passover.
Many Christians consider Jesus' death and resurrection to have fulfilled Passover; moreover, the Bible mentioned that the old testament laws and rituals have passed away - nailed to Christ cross.
It’s a Jewish holiday
Passover, or Yom Kippur, is an important Jewish holiday commemorating their Exodus from Egypt. This week-long festival includes two ritual meals known as seders in which the story of Exodus is recounted; matzo (an unleavened bread product) must also be consumed throughout this celebration to remind Jews of God's gracious hand in helping them escape slavery and commemorating this story of freedom from Egypt.
Christians interested in exploring their Jewish roots should be cautious not to adopt Jewish practices as part of their religion, since according to Scripture it would be wrong for Christians to return to Old Covenant ceremonial laws that have already been fulfilled through Christ.
Additionally, it's essential to recall that Passover wasn't founded by Jesus.
Many Jewish and Christian leaders oppose Christians celebrating Passover, believing it is distorting biblical narrative, confusing history between Judaism and Christianity and creating division between both communities. Additionally, such celebrations do irreparable harm.
It’s not a Christian ritual
Passover, the Jewish holiday that commemorates their Exodus from Egypt, should be an occasion marked with great significance for Jews - something many Christians are taking advantage of to hold their own seders celebrating it instead. Unfortunately, however, Christians are holding these seders misappropriating and denigrating Jewish culture, history and wisdom; an unfortunate trend which should stop immediately as such an action contributes to longstanding tradition of supersessionist theology that has fostered anti-Jewish hatred and violence ever since the Roman Empire's collapse.
For instance, Christians traditionally replace the ceremonial bread used at seders with unleavened matzo to symbolize Jesus' sinless life and use an empty cup of wine (representing His blood of the new covenant) that will not be consumed at their meals as a symbolism for his blood of the new covenant. Furthermore, they take part in washing each others feet - this act being symbolic of when Jesus washed his disciples feet at his Last Supper before arrest and execution.
People also often take steps to rid their homes of leavened foods (known as "chametz") before the holiday begins and avoid eating any for the duration of it, in an attempt to purge themselves of sins.
Passover was an annual seven-day biblical feast that took place during Nisan. This special occasion served to remember God's miraculous deliverance of his people from Egypt and foreshadow the death of Jesus as their Spotless Lamb whose blood would eventually cover all their sins and ensure they would escape judgement.
Modern Christianity no longer celebrates Passover; some feel that celebrating it would undermine Jesus as their Passover; while others simply don't see any need to continue practicing ceremonial laws that were fulfilled through Christ.
No matter their faith background, Christians should keep in mind that the New Covenant has replaced the Old and that any return to Old Testament rituals and ceremonies would be contrary to scripture.
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