Why Have Christians Passed Over Passover?

Juda Myers 2009

This article is meant to stir a longing in hearts to know truth and walk in it. It is not meant to condemn.

According to Exodus 12, God promised the people of Israel freedom from slavery in Egypt and the wrath of the tenth plague that was to 'Smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt .' To be sure that Israelites were not the ones to have his wrath, he instructed them to mark their door posts with lamb's blood, stating: "and when I see the blood, I will pass over you."(KJV)

This book was later translated to English (William Tyndale). Thus, the name 'Passover' came to be known for this celebration. Since the original word in the Hebrew “Torah” for 'pass over' was 'Posach', the celebration is also known as 'Pesach'. Then, about 3000 years ago, Jesus' last supper was the Passover celebration. He was to become the final Passover lamb.

Today very few Christians have ever taken part in the Seder or Passover. Many people strive to be like Jesus but don't truly delve into his activities on a daily basis. The New Testament was written with the assumption that people were already participating in the regular Jewish activities. But to those that didn't know Jesus said in Matthew 23:2-3 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach . (NIV)

Oh my goodness! I had seemingly never been aware of that verse. Everyone focuses on the part of not doing what the Pharisees do but miss out totally on the first part that Jesus himself told the people. This year I started praying for wisdom like I've never prayed before. I believe God is directing His people into a paradigm shift. Those are always difficult. It means going against all that we have been taught and feel to follow truth. But truth in the end is always freeing and of great reward.

“He that has an ear let him hear” or in this case he who has an eye and a willing heart let him see and know truth. Many people are justified by saying, “God knows my heart.” Yes, he does and he says in Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things… I am determined to seek truth. So I did some looking around for the origin of Easter. This is what I found. Maybe many of you already know this. I half way knew it. This article was written by someone named Mike Wasdin in 2004. “E aster has Pagan roots. The name Easter is the English derivation of the name Ishtar, the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of love and fertility. As with all mythology, there is always a correlation between the myths of the different cultures. In the Teutonic myth, the goddess is known as Ostern. The Phoenician name for this goddess is Asterte. The Europeans know this story as the resurrection of Christ.The link between all of these myths is the concept of death, the underworld, resurrection and fertility. One part of the Ishtar myth describes how Ishtar descends into the underworld and is killed (crucified) there. As a result of Ishtar's death, the earth became infertile and neither birds, beasts nor humans mated. As the story continues, she was resurrected (sound familiar?) through magic incantations. Remember, this story emerged hundreds or even thousands of years before “Christ.” The early Christians did not celebrate Easter. The church knew the difference between the Pagan holiday and the resurrection of Christ. What has always been celebrated is Pascha or Passover. Only much later did the lines between the myths began to dissolve.

As far as the eggs and bunnies go, they are a celebration of fertility. Eggs were sacred to many ancient civilizations and formed an integral part of the religious ceremonies in Egypt and the Orient. The mystic egg is the symbol of generative life. Babylon hatched the Venus Ishtar, and fell from the heavens to the Euphrates . Dyed eggs were sacred Easter offerings in Egypt . Christians have mixed the two stories to achieve what is known as Easter today.

Many Christians understand that Halloween is a Pagan holiday but never considered the same about Christmas and Easter. It is ironic, really, that they never really questioned things like Santa, trees, gifts, eggs, and bunnies and how these things relate to their religion. Like most people, they did it because their parents did, and their parents before them.”

So now I find in Exodus 23:13 NIV

"Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips.

We say we want to seek after God with all our hearts but then we do things and say God will understand. Well if we want to be like Him we must “ know ” Him. To know Him we must read all of His word and spend time with Him. May God forgive me for just going with the flow for so long. I make a public declaration to truly seek to know Him. Will you declare that with me and turn from the deceitful ways of the world? It won't be easy and I can assure you that even the well meaning people who say they love God will argue that you are being legalistic. But I say my motive and reason is because I love God as Lord and wish to please only Him. If He isn't happy then I'm not happy. I don't want to do things and ask God to “accept it”. I want to know what He accepts and then want that!

Because He won't be Savior if He can't be Lord.

Are we passing over more than just “Passover”? I am not Jewish but I know that I am a branch grafted into the vine. I cannot live on my own separated from the vine. So I must get become part of the vine. That vine is Jesus and He definitely was Jewish. He never denied that.

Conceived when 8 men attacked her mom, Juda travels the world sharing her message of life and forgiveness. Speaker, singer/songwriter, minister and author, she reaches out to all those who are burdened down with unforgiveness. Juda has been married twenty years with three grown children and 2 grandchildren and one more on the way.

Juda Myers Freedom Ministries
Author of Hostile Conception Living With Purpose

www.juda4praise.com

juda@juda4praise.com

Juda is available for speaking and singing with an encouraging life changing message.
Phone: 281.451.8460