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It is commonly believed today that the Jewish festival of Shavuot and the Christian holy day of Pentecost have little, if anything, to do with one another. Nothing could be further from the truth, as the two are actually the same holiday, albeit with varying traditions and an extended interpretation on the Christian side.
Even the name Pentecost (literally "the 50th [day]") is a reference to one of the key components of Shavuot - the counting of 50 days from Passover, known in the Jewish world as the "counting of the omer." Just as Shavuot occurs 50 days after Passover, Pentecost is marked exactly 50 days after Easter, and we have already written about Easter's close connection to Passover and the notion that Jesus and his disciples were most likely enjoying a Passover seder prior to his crucifixion.
The theme of Pentecost is also a kind of extension of the Shavuot theme, which is a celebration of the giving of the Torah (God's Word) to Moses on Mount Sinai. Christians believe that Jesus is the "
In the liturgical narrative of the Seder of Passover night, we are solemnly instructed that "in every generation each must regard himself as though personally coming out of Egypt." The exodus from Egypt, the Passover, is not a one- time event, but the beginning of a continuing process even until our day. The exodus event depends on a future event, that of entry into the land of the Covenant.
The scripture in Exodus signals four words indicative of Jewish Passover - I shall take out, I shall rescue, I shall redeem and I shall take you unto me. There is the fifth scriptural promise - I will bring you to the land - that signals the divine promise made to Abraham in the Covenant of Pieces. The first four expressions are remembered in continuing presence in consumption of the four cups of wine. The fifth cup called the Cup of Elijah represents the culmination of the exodus event insofar as it tells us of the point of it all - the entry into the land promised in the Covenants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Joshua's entry into the land was first, but not last entry. In the many exiles of Israel's history, which were Divine punishment for sin, the Covenant was never abrogated. The prophet Samuel reminds Israel's King Saul that God does not repent of His gifts - the eternity of Israel will not lie (1 Samuel 15:29). Therefore, the anticipation of returning to the land remained central to the collective Jewish consciousness and hope (hope i
More and more Christians are celebrating Passover and the other biblical feasts as they become increasingly aware of their own faith's Jewish background. And more and more of those Christians are choosing to celebrate Passover in the Holy Land.
Doing so is significant for two reasons. First, Passover is a pilgrimage feast. The children of Israel were instructed by God to travel to the "place that He will choose" (Jerusalem) during Passover (Deuteronomy 16). As spiritual descendants of Abraham and co-heirs in the blessings of Israel's covenants, many argue that it is just as incumbent upon Bible-believing Christians to partake in the pilgrimage feasts. In fact, when addressing the topic of another pilgrimage feast, Succot, the prophet Zechariah suggests that it will one day be mandatory for all believers to participate.
The second reason visiting Jerusalem during Passover is significant for Christians is the tie-in with Easter. It is widely accepted that Jesus' arrest, interrogation and crucifixion all happened at the start of Passover, and that the "Last Supper" was in fact a Passover Seder. For Christians, this can make a lot of sense, as Passover is all about redemption through the sacrifice of "the lamb."
Passover is the most anticipated of all Jewish holidays, and also one of the busiest times of year in Israel. The first and the last days of Passover are religious and legal holidays, so all preparation work must be done during the days prior to those two Sabbaths. But all that work is worth it, as Passover is not only a joyous time of festivity, but a solemn remembrance of the most defining moments in the history of the people of Israel.
Passover is first and foremost a commemoration of the Exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt, a rebirth from slavery into freedom of the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But it is not merely remembered as a piece of history. Jewish families are commanded to tell the Passover story to their children as though it happened to them personally. In so doing, the vital lessons of the Passover story remain just as relevant today as they were in the time of Moses.
In the run-up to Passover, most Jewish homes will go through what has become known in the West as "spring cleaning," an intense scouring of the house for all chametz, or leavened products. Often crumbs of bread will accumulate in hard-
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