Is it appropriate for Christians to celebrate Passover?

Definition and Origin

Passover, known as Pesach in Hebrew, is an annual festival first instituted to commemorate the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The principal biblical text describing its establishment is found in Exodus 12, which portrays the moment Yahweh spared His people and judged the Egyptians. According to a commonly accepted biblical timeline, this event can be placed around the mid-15th century BC. The historical reality of the Exodus receives support from various archaeological and historical indicators, such as the existence of Semitic settlements in Egypt and references to Israel’s presence in the region (cf. the Merneptah Stele, ca. 1208 BC, which names “Israel” in Canaan).

In Scripture, Passover specifically commemorates the night the destroying angel ‘passed over’ the homes of the Israelites, those whose doorposts were marked by the blood of a lamb (Exodus 12:13). The annual observance was designed to remind generations of God’s faithfulness and saving power.

Passover in the Old Testament

In Exodus 12 and Leviticus 23, instructions are given on the manner of celebration. Exodus 12:14 commands: “This day is to be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD.” The Passover lamb was to be sacrificed at twilight, and the meat eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs (Exodus 12:8). The rapid departure of the Israelites from Egypt made it necessary to bake unleavened bread (matzah), as they had no time for dough to rise.

Deuteronomy 16:1–8 further emphasizes that this feast was central among the festivals of Israel, requiring the community to remember God’s might in delivering them from oppression. Over the centuries, it became a foundational symbol for the covenant community, pointing to redemption by God’s mighty hand.

Passover in the New Testament

The New Testament portrays Passover as profoundly prophetic. Matthew, Mark, and Luke record that Jesus’ final meal with His disciples was the Passover meal (Luke 22:7–8). Within that context, He instituted the Lord’s Supper, transforming the symbols of the bread and the cup into reminders of His body and blood (Luke 22:19–20).

Paul, identifying the prophetic completion of the feast, states, “For Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). This captures the concept that Jesus’ atoning death perfectly fulfills the original Passover’s symbolism. By His sacrifice, believers are freed from the bondage of sin, just as Israel was freed from slavery.

Historical Celebration and the Early Church

Throughout the first century, many Jewish believers in Jesus continued to observe the Passover. The Acts of the Apostles notes that early Christians, including Paul, still recognized Jewish feasts, although they understood these festivals in the new light of Christ’s redemptive work (Acts 20:6). Early post-biblical writers attest that some communities of Gentile believers adopted elements of these observances for their spiritual edification and to connect with the redemptive historical narrative of Scripture.

Over time, the Christian tradition, especially within Gentile-majority congregations, gave special prominence to the Resurrection. The focus moved to celebrations like Resurrection Sunday (Easter). Yet among various groups of believers, some observed Pascha (the Greek form of Passover/Easter) to symbolize the death and resurrection of Christ, showing continuity with the biblical Passover event while proclaiming the risen Lord.

Biblical Indications on Observance

While Passover is undeniably rooted in the Old Covenant, the New Testament provides guidance on how believers should view festival observances. In Colossians 2:16–17, Paul writes, “Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a festival, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.”

This passage underscores that the feasts and Sabbaths served as foreshadowings of the Messiah. By extension, believers have freedom: they are neither required to keep these feasts as a condition of salvation nor prohibited from celebrating them if done in a Christ-centered manner. Indeed, Paul also wrote, “One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5).

Christ as the Fulfillment

Central to the Christian interpretation is the conviction that the Passover lamb prefigured the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist drew the parallel directly by calling Him “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The unleavened bread, associated with separation from sin, similarly points to the sinless life of Christ.

Passover thus finds its culmination in the sacrificial atonement on the cross and the victory of the Resurrection. When Christians remember the Passover, they can see it as an opportunity to meditate on God’s redemptive plan across history—culminating in the risen Christ.

Practical Considerations for Christians

1. Spiritual Reflection: Christians interested in commemorating Passover might use the occasion to reflect on Christ’s redemptive work. Many find value in exploring the Old Testament patterns that Christ fulfilled, strengthening their understanding of salvation.

2. Unity in the Church: There is liberty in celebration. Those who choose to keep the festival or incorporate elements of it into their worship can do so without imposing it as a requirement on others. Conversely, those who abstain are likewise acting within their Christian freedom. Respect and love for one another’s conscience (cf. Romans 14:6) is key.

3. Gospel Emphasis: Modern reenactments or adapted Passover meals can serve as an instructive tool, particularly when teaching about redemption. Incorporating scriptural readings—such as Exodus 12; Isaiah 53; and the accounts of the Last Supper—can enrich communal or family worship times.

Encountering Different Views

Some denominations, especially within Messianic or Hebrew Christian contexts, place unique emphasis on celebrating Passover in a distinctly Christian way—focusing the entire liturgy on the recognition of Jesus as Messiah. Conversely, others see no need for formal observance. Such diversity of practice existed even in the early church, as evidenced by varying traditions in second-century and third-century writings that discuss the dating and meaning of Easter/Passover celebrations.

From a historical and theological standpoint, since the death and resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate Passover event for believers, the feast stands as a testament to the grand narrative of deliverance that culminates at the cross and the empty tomb.

Conclusion

From the perspective of biblical teaching, there is ample space for Christian freedom in celebrating or not celebrating Passover. It is essential to remember that the observance, when kept, should highlight and magnify the completed work of the Messiah—“Christ our Passover Lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

Whether believers choose to mark the Passover season or focus exclusively on Resurrection observances, the underlying scriptural principle is that of gratitude for God’s saving power, ultimately demonstrated through the sacrificial death and victorious resurrection of Jesus. Such a reflection offers a deeper comprehension of God’s plan, culminating in the Lamb who was slain and is alive forevermore.