Between Passover and Easter

The Passover Seder was just a few days ago and Easter just a few days ahead. I feel a little like this moment in time...caught between the two holidays.  I understand all the logic behind celebrating the Passover as Christians and I am always eager to learn about Jewish traditions and how much they help me understand the Jewishness of Jesus - Yeshua. His message is much stronger and clearer when seen through the lens of Judaism.

The first Seder I attended with Jewish friends was such an eye-opener. Yes, the Passover reminds us of the miraculous way God saved the Israelites from Egypt but Christians see it as a powerful forshadowing of the crucifixion. A lamb was slaughtered and the blood placed on the door post to signal to the angel of death to passover and spare that household from the curse of death.  It doesn't take much imagination to see Yeshua in every aspect of the Biblical Feast. I can't count the amount of sermons I have heard that draw comparisons between the Israelites slavery to Egypt and a nonbelievers slavery to sin. Jesus is referred to time and time again as the Lamb of God. His is the "pure and spotless lamb" who took away the sins of the world. The Lamb of God that has saved us from the curse of death.

I find celebrating Passover gives me a much more appreciative understanding of Christ's sacrifice. The elements of the Seder sensually convey the story with great power as I look upon the white table setting, the red wine, and the lamb shank; taste of the bitter herbs and salt water; and break the pierced and striped matzo in my hand. If Christians think communion is a moving experience, a Passover Seder is earth shaking. Yeshua, the Jewish Rabbi seems to jump from the pages of scripture like an image in a 3-D book that finally pops after glaring at the two dimensional seemingly random patterns on the page. I suggest researching more about "Christ in the Passover".

Having said the above, I would still feel very incomplete without celebrating Easter. I understand the historical fact the name "Easter" comes from "Ishtar" a pagan goddess, but I think we can miss the point if we leave the argument there. Many Christians do not refer to Easter as such, but rather as "Resurrection Sunday". I know someone out there will argue with me that some historical fact proves that the resurrection was not on Sunday. It probably wasn't, just as Jesus was probably not born on December 25th. But does that negate the fact that Jesus was born, died and did rise? Hundreds, possibly thousands, have died on a cross but none rose from the dead. If we as Christians stop with the Passover and neglect the Resurrection we have lost the power of our faith and the truth that Jesus Christ had defeated death and holds the keys of life and death in his hands.

I feel no shame in admitting that I find great happiness in traditional Easter egg coloring and egg hunts with my nieces and nephew- activities which many churches in the US plan for the Sunday school kids. I remember going to Resurrection sunrise services with family, competing with kids to fill my basket with the most eggs, and then heading to my grandparents home for a huge family meal. My grandma would cook a huge meal of mashed potatoes, fresh homemade "yeast" roles, "deviled eggs" and (Lord have mercy) a great big honey roasted "ham"!

 I don't think you can get any less kosher than that. But, as our family sat to share our meal together and did all the "wrong" things, someone around the table would cry out, "Christ is risen!" to which everyone would reply with great zeal, "He is risen indeed!".  Thy cry and group response would continue spontaneously throughout the meal and into the evening. Finally, with baskets in our laps, chocolate eggs between our hands and mouths, my siblings and I were always reminded again about the death of Christ to pay for our sins and the glorious Resurrection which defeated death and gave hope to the world.

I understand those who do not wish to paint eggs and refer to the day Christ rose as Easter, but I would challenge those Christians who feel Passover can completely replace celebrating the death, burial and RESURRECTION of Jesus.  Because without the Resurrection, what is our hope?

I will always be between the two, observing Passover and rejoicing in the Resurrection.

"Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading." I Peter 1:3-4