Christian observance of Passover

In modern times, some Christian groups have adopted the practice of observing the Jewish holiday of Passover in some form. These include the Assemblies of Yahweh, Messianic Jews, and some congregations of the Church of God (Seventh Day). Their observances often involve a version of the Passover Seder, adapted to draw theological connections between the Exodus story and the life and death of Jesus Christ.^[1]

This practice is regarded by many as an inappropriate cultural appropriation of Jewish ritual for non-Jewish purposes.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6] It is distinct from traditional Christian Holy Week observances such as Maundy Thursday—which commemorates the Last Supper—and Easter.

Practices

Some Adventist, Sabbatarian Churches of God, Messianic Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses, and other groups have adopted the practice of observing a Christian version of the Jewish Passover, but observances and timing vary both across and within these denominations.^{[citation needed]}

Some Christians eat lamb, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread.^[7] Others follow the instructions^[which?] that Jesus gave to his disciples at the Last Supper before he was crucified, and share bread (usually unleavened) and wine instead of roasted lamb.^[8] In some versions, the ceremony is combined with washing one another's feet, as Jesus did for his disciples the night that he suffered (John 13:5–14).^[8]

Controversy

Apollinaris wrote:

There are, then, some who through ignorance raise disputes about these things (though their conduct is pardonable: for ignorance is no subject for blame — it rather needs further instruction), and say that on the fourteenth day the Lord ate the lamb with the disciples, and that on the great day of the feast of unleavened bread He Himself suffered; and they quote Matthew as speaking in accordance with their view. Wherefore their opinion is contrary to the law, and the Gospels seem to be at variance with them. … The fourteenth day, the true Passover of the Lord; the great sacrifice, the Son of God instead of the lamb, who was bound, who bound the strong, and who was judged, though Judge of living and dead, and who was delivered into the hands of sinners to be crucified, who was lifted up on the horns of the unicorn, and who was pierced in His holy side, who poured forth from His side the two purifying elements, water and blood, word and spirit, and who was buried on the day of the Passover, the stone being placed upon the tomb^[9]

References

^ "The United Church of God". Archived from the original on 2010-06-19. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
^ Reynolds, Simon (9 April 2021). "Why the Church should not appropriate the Seder". Church Times. London. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
^ "WorldWide Religious News-Some Jews see trespass in Christian Seders". Retrieved 2013-03-16.
^ Feder, Shira (March 26, 2018). "Why Are Christians Starting To Have Passover Seders?". The Forward. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
^ Friedman, Matthew (April 17, 2019). "Why is this Night Different? The Problem of the Christian Seder". Politics/Letters. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
^ Burack, Emily (March 27, 2019). "Why Are Christian Passover Seders a Thing?". Alma. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
^ "Women for Faith & Family". Archived from the original on 2007-02-06. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
^ ^a ^b How Should Christians Celebrate the Passover?
^ "Apollinaris." From the Book Concerning Passover. Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. Excerpted from Volume I of The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, editors); American Edition copyright © 1885. Copyright © 2001 Peter Kirby.

Christian observance of Passover

Practices

Controversy

See also

References

Further reading