Looking at the title of this week’s study “Should we celebrate Easter or Passover?” the purpose of the study is to show the origins of Easter and the reasons why we as believers in Yeshua (Jesus) should not celebrate Easter. This does not mean we should not celebrate the resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus) but that we should not call the resurrection of Yeshua by the pagan festival of Easter. The Passover and the resurrection are two of the most important aspects of our faith, Yeshua is the lamb that was slain for the forgiveness of our sins so that we would not die and that Yeshua was raised from the grave for our justification. As believers it is of utmost importance for us to celebrate both and very importantly celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior, King, and Lord, Yeshua the Messiah. I hope that everyone has a wonderful Pesach (Passover) and Resurrection day celebrations.
This week’s reading for Chag Pesach (Festival of Passover) is taken from Parashat Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35). In the portion of scriptures for this week we read that Yehoshua (Joshua) would not depart from the Ohel Moed (Tent of Meeting, אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד) and Moshe speaks to the Lord God requesting that His presence come with the Children of Yisrael (33:12-17). Moshe then asks to see God’s Glory (33:18) and God tells Moshe that he cannot see His face or he would die (33:20). The Lord requests that Moshe come to the mountain in the morning, and then the Lord shows Moshe His glory and declares that the Lord God is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, loving, and having grace forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin for thousands (34:6-7). Following these things, God commands that the gods of the Promised Land be torn down and the command of the Pesach festival is to be observed each year stated here as the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The first fruits of the ground are to be brought into the house of God and a young goat is not to be boiled in its mother’s milk (34:26). As we enter into the Pesach (Passover) holiday the scriptures say in Shemot 34:27 כז וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָֹה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה כְּתָב-לְךָ אֶת-הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה כִּי עַל-פִּי | הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה כָּרַתִּי אִתְּךָ בְּרִית וְאֶת-יִשְֹרָאֵל: 34:27 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.’ (NASB) These Scriptures are very significant, God has made (cut) a covenant with us therefore we are a covenant people. The covenant relationship that we have with God in the blood of the lamb is a significant factor in the decision making process on whether to celebrate Easter verses Passover. How does our covenant relationship with God affect our understanding the differences between Easter and Passover? What does Passover and/or Easter mean for you today? How do you understand the meaning of Passover? How do you understand the meaning of Easter? Do they mean the same thing? As we study the scriptures for truth living in holiness and righteousness before God is it ok to celebrate Easter instead of Pesach (Passover)? Read More here.
