Image source: http://www.interfaithfamily.com/files/images2/passover-seder-table.jpg
Just as Christians are preparing for Easter, Jews are preparing for The Passover. While Christians understand the suffering and triumph that is remembered during Easter, they may not realize that during The Passover, Jews are also remembering suffering and triumph. This Jewish holiday commemorates the Jewish freedom from slavery. It is called The Passover because of the passing over of the homes that were marked with the blood of the lamb. God had ordered Moses to ask the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb and eat it with Matzah (unleavened bread). They were also to mark their doorposts with the blood of the lamb.
If we were to look at the Jewish holiday from a Christian perspective, or the relationship between Easter and Passover, we would come to realize that the happenings of the Passover were a prophecy for what was to come with the death and resurrection of Jesus.
As mentioned, the homes that were marked with blood were saved by the blood of the lamb during the 10th plague when all firstborn children would die. We as Christians were also saved by the blood of the lamb or the blood of Jesus who is known as the Lamb of God.
This sacrificial lamb or the paschal lamb had to be a male without any blemish and no broken bones even after death. Jesus, we know was a male without sin. His bones remained unbroken even after his death on the cross.
During Passover Seder., the Jewish people celebrate with a dinner called The Seder. Many scholars believe that The Last Supper was actually a Seder. Jesus had come to celebrate The Passover during which He himself became the sacrificial lamb.
During the Passover Seder there are six foods that are symbolic in some way or another but the Matzah (unleavened bread) is the main symbol of the Passover. There are three pieces of Matzah that are placed on the Seder plate. The middle piece of Matzah is broken and part of it is hidden during the meal and is eaten last. This middle piece that is broken represents the coming Messiah to Jews and Jesus to Christians. This then represents the bread that is eaten during Eucharist.
Most Christians have never seen how a Passover Seder is prepared. The whole process is very fascinating as many of the foods symbolize something specific. You can click on the link down below of a video to show you how to prepare a Passover Seder it will give you information and advice on every thing you need to know from inviting guests to cleaning and which ingredients are used to prepare the Passover Seder.
By looking to The Passover, you will see that though it is a Jewish holiday it can symbolize much to our Christian faith and that there is a relationship between Easter and Passover.
