[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

What Is the Christian Passover?

Is it possible for there to be a Christian Passover, or is that a contradiction?

Most people think, “Jews keep Passover, Christians keep Easter. Case closed.” No further discussion. But there IS such a thing as a Christian Passover. And that’s revealed in the pages of the Bible.

If you are surprised by that, then stick with us, as we ask—and answer—three questions about the Christian Passover.

I’ll be right back.

God’s Holy Days vs. Pagan Holidays

Welcome to Tomorrow’s World, where we make sense of your world through the pages of the Bible.

There are more than 2 billion people on this earth who identify themselves as Christians, and most of them observe the holidays usually associated with Christianity, such as Christmas and Easter.

But a growing number of people are discovering that the Bible has something different to say about Christian holy days, and it may not be what you think. You see, most people today think of the biblical holy days as exclusively Jewish. But are they?

Let’s examine that topic today as we explore three questions about the Christian Passover. We’ll start with the first question:

1. Did Jesus keep and teach the Christian Passover?

When we speak of religious observances in the springtime, the Jews keep Passover as a remembrance of their sojourn and deliverance from Egypt. On the other hand, most Christians keep Easter to commemorate the resurrection of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Let’s talk briefly about the Old Testament Passover. Actually, it wasn’t just the Jews who kept the Passover—they were just one tribe in the nation of people called the Israelites, the children of the patriarch Israel. God gave the Israelites instructions in Exodus 12:3 and 5–8.

Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: “On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb…. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats.

Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it” (Exodus 12: 3–8).

The Passover Lamb Takes on New Meaning

You see, the Passover in ancient times was kept as a memorial of how God delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians. God struck the firstborn of the Egyptians on the night of the Passover. But the Israelites marked their doorposts with some of the blood from the Passover lamb, and God “passed over” the households of the Israelites, and protected them from harm.

Fast forward to the time of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was an Israelite from the tribe of Judah, Who observed the Passover during His lifetime. But as our Savior, He not only came to earth to live the life of an obedient Jew, He also came to die for our sins and establish His Church.

But on the night before He died, notice something very special that Jesus did with His disciples. He instituted the New Testament Passover, which we may also call the Christian Passover. In Luke 22:14–15 we read of that last Passover He observed with His disciples.

When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:14–15).

Yes, Jesus kept the Passover. And that involved a meal including roasted lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs, in keeping with the Old Testament statute.

Three New Passover Symbols for Christians

But He also did something new that night. He instituted New Testament Passover symbols. Let’s read in Matthew 26:26–28.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:26–28).

Unleavened Bread and Wine: Symbols of Jesus’ Broken Body and Blood

What Jesus did was take the two elements of the bread and wine, and institute new symbols.

The unleavened bread represented how His body would be broken in the beating He would suffer through, leading up to His crucifixion.

The wine represented how He poured out His blood, and died, from a spear wound while hanging on the stake.

As the true Lamb of God—which the Old Testament Passover was foreshadowing—He was going to give His life for the salvation of all mankind. These symbols He established had tremendous meaning—and awesome significance for the future of every human being.

Now, before we go any further, don’t be confused by the language. The bread did not mysteriously become Christ’s literal body. And the wine did not miraculously become His literal blood. No, both were symbols, representing His broken body and His shed blood. And again, those symbols have tremendous meaning.

Foot Washing: A Symbol of Servant Leadership

But let’s notice one thing more. As He taught His disciples that night, He introduced one more element. And this is found in John 13:3–5.

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded (John 13:3–5).

Here Jesus instituted another element in the Christian Passover, the washing of your brother’s feet. This was designed to teach Jesus’ disciples to humble themselves and serve one another, as Christ had served them—notice in John 13:12–15.

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:12–15).

Follow Jesus’ Example

All three symbols—the bread, the wine, and the foot washing—would constitute a new observance, a New Testament Christian Passover. And He instituted it on the night before He died.

Jesus explained the importance of this new observance in John 6:53–54.

Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:53–54).

Again, not ingesting His literal body and blood, but taking the symbols that represented His dying for mankind.

So, did Jesus keep the Passover? Yes. He kept the ancient Passover observed by the Jews and all the Israelites. But even more significantly for us, He also instituted a New Testament Christian Passover for His followers. And He specifically told them, “Follow My example and do as I have done.”

Gentile Christians Kept Passover

After His death and resurrection, as the Church grew, Gentiles were called into the Church as well. And so that brings up a logical question—our second question about the Christian Passover. And we’ll address that in the next section of this program.

2. Were Gentiles expected to observe the Christian Passover as well?

This is an important question. Because many people believe as the Church grew, God allowed the rules to change, so to speak. They believe that somehow the Gentiles coming into the Church didn’t have to follow the same rules and laws as the Jews who were in the Church already.

The Apostle Paul’s writings are often used to try to show that the rules changed for Gentiles coming into the Church. But let’s examine what Paul taught about the Christian Passover.

Jesus said, “Do This in Remembrance of Me”

In 1 Corinthians 11, we find a quite enlightening passage about what Paul taught about the Christian Passover (1 Corinthians 11:23–25).

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:23–25).

Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, who supposedly did away with all the Jewish laws, was describing the Christian Passover. And he was describing this in his letter to a Gentile church, the Corinthians. Notice further, in verse 26:

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Some believe this means we should take the symbols of the bread and wine multiple times a year, or perhaps every time we worship God. But notice, that’s not what He said. He just said, when you take it, you are proclaiming or memorializing the death of your Lord, until He comes.

Now, there’s a lot in there. For one, it’s a reminder that Jesus Christ is coming back to this earth. And we are approaching that time; it’s closer than ever.

Passover Is the Anniversary of His Death

But the other thing we note here is he explained the Passover is a memorial of Christ’s death. It’s the anniversary of Christ’s death.

Now, why would you keep an anniversary on any old day you want? On a different day from the day in which the original event happened?

• In the United States, we celebrate July 4 as Independence Day, going back to the publishing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
• In France, Bastille Day is July 14. It’s the national day of France because it hearkens back to the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789.
• In Mexico, September 16 is observed as independence day, the day the Catholic priest and patriot, Miguel Hidalgo, delivered his famous summons to his parishioners to rise up in revolution. It’s observed on September 16, the very day these events happened.

Most other countries also have specific days to honor a special event that happened on that day.

Married couples often celebrate the anniversary of their wedding. When do they do it? Well, on the day when they were married. Every man knows that his wife would not be very happy if he forgot the day of their anniversary.

God’s Timing Is Perfect—and Jesus Died on Passover

So, why would we think God would be pleased if we take symbols representing Christ’s sacrifice on any old day we want, regardless of the timing?

Timing is very important to God. And in this case, the timing of the Christian Passover reminds us of the importance and significance of the event that took place on that day—the crucifixion and death of Jesus on the stake for our sins.

Passover Preparation: Self-Evaluation of Your Christian Character

Going further, Paul even described how to prepare for taking that Passover. Notice 1 Corinthians 11:27–28.

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup (1 Corinthians 11:27–28).

Paul said there’s even a proper way to prepare for taking the Christian Passover. That is:

• Self-examination
• Self-reflection
• An honest evaluation of how one is living his life in light of God’s laws and God’s direction
• And an acknowledgement of the need for Christ’s sacrifice and God’s forgiveness in our life

Passover Reminds Us to Become Like Jesus Christ

Remember, Paul was writing to the Corinthians, who were Gentiles, not Jewish. This Passover was not just for the Jews or Israelites. It was for all Christians—notice in 1 Corinthians 5:7.

Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7).

When the ancient Israelites were keeping the Passover, they were actually, without knowing it, foreshadowing the Lamb of God dying for the sins of mankind. And that’s exactly what Paul was explaining. Notice then, in verse 8 Paul said:

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8).

So, we’ve already seen that the disciples were taught to keep the Christian Passover. Now, we see the Apostle Paul taught the symbolic significance of the Passover and explained how to prepare for it.

How can we come to any other conclusion, than this was intended for all New Testament Christians to keep?

Why Easter and Pagan Holidays? The Bible Teaches Passover and God’s Holy Days

But with all of that in mind, let’s look at our third question.

3. Why do most professing Christians keep Easter instead of the Christian Passover?

Isn’t it remarkable, that there is no single instruction or command to keep an observance commemorating the resurrection of Christ? On the other hand, the Bible speaks a lot about the Christian Passover.

Now, don’t get me wrong, the resurrection is extremely important. We base our hope of eternal life on that fact. We read in Romans 8:11,

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you (Romans 8:11).

The resurrection is supremely important. But you can search the New Testament from beginning to end, and you will find no instruction or command to keep it as an observance or a holy day. So, why do so many people observe Easter?

Pagan Holidays and Their Pagan Symbols Usurp God’s Purpose

Longtime Tomorrow’s World viewers know that most of the holidays of mainstream Christianity today come from blatantly pagan roots. Such is the case for Easter. In the booklet Easter: The Untold Story, Tomorrow’s World presenter and evangelist Gerald Weston explains this:

The Oxford Companion to World Mythology explains this about Easter: “The holiday comes in the early Spring and is clearly related to ancient fertility myths of reborn heroes…. For many, Easter is synonymous with fertility symbols such as the Easter Rabbit, Easter eggs, and the Easter lily” [“Easter,” p. 111] (Easter: The Untold Story, Gerald Weston, pp. 2–3).

So, why do people keep Easter, if it comes from ancient pagan traditions?

The facts of history reveal that after the Church was founded in the first century, the mainstream visible church underwent profound changes.

As new generations arose, the pressure to conform to the pagans around them grew immensely—including keeping the springtime fertility festival to the goddess Ishtar.

By contrast, faithful Christians held to the doctrines of Christ and the apostles.

Tomorrow’s World writer Dexter Wakefield explains this in his article in the March–April 2013 issue entitled, “Are You a Quartodeciman? Should You Be?” Notice:

In the second century ad, a controversy raged in early Christianity. The Roman church under Pope Sixtus I had established the keeping of an early version of Easter on a Sunday. But it had long been the practice of the Middle Eastern (Asiatic) churches to keep the Christian Passover as Jesus and the apostles did on the 14th day of Nisan, the first month of the Jewish calendar (Leviticus 23:5)… (“Are You a Quartodeciman? Should You Be?” Tomorrow’s World, March-April, 2013, p. 18).

He mentions the Christian Passover was on the 14th day of Nisan. The term Quartodeciman is Latin for “14th.” It would come to be a name for those who continued to keep the Christian Passover on the 14th of Nisan, as Jesus did, even as many in the visible church had abandoned it for Easter.

Mr. Wakefield continues:

The Catholic Encyclopedia reports, “While Anicetus was Pope, St. Polycarp, then in extreme old age, came to confer with him (160-162) about the Paschal controversy; Polycarp and others in the East celebrating the feast on the fourteenth of the month of Nisan, no matter on what day of the week it fell; whereas in Rome it was always observed on Sunday” [article: “Pope St. Anicetus”] (“Are You a Quartodeciman? Should You Be?” Tomorrow’s World, March–April, 2013, p. 18).

A Disciple of the Apostle John Refuses to Exchange Passover for Easter

Polycarp was a direct disciple of the Apostle John. Anicetus and Polycarp did not come to an agreement on the subject, and several decades later another bishop in Rome, Victor, attempted to force all the churches of Asia Minor to reject the Christian Passover on the 14th of Nisan. But they did not buckle to the pressure.

Mr. Wakefield continues:

The early church historian Eusebius wrote: “But the bishops of Asia, led by Polycrates, decided to hold to the old custom handed down to them. He himself, in a letter which he addressed to Victor and the church of Rome, set forth in the following words the tradition which had come down to him: ‘We observe the exact day; neither adding, nor taking away. For in Asia also great lights have fallen asleep… Among these are Philip, one of the twelve apostles… moreover, John, who was both a witness and a teacher, who reclined upon the bosom of the Lord… All these observed the fourteenth day of the Passover according to the Gospel, deviating in no respect, but following the rule of faith’ … Thereupon Victor, who presided over the church at Rome, immediately attempted to cut off from the common unity the parishes of all Asia, with the churches that agreed with them, as heterodox; and he wrote letters and declared all the brethren there wholly excommunicate” [Life of Constantine, ch. XXIV] (“Are You a Quartodeciman? Should You Be?” Tomorrow’s World, March–April, 2013, p. 23).

So those keeping the Christian Passover were excommunicated from what was becoming the mainstream church.

Mr. Wakefield concludes:

But the practice [that is, the keeping of the Christian Passover] continued with the Asiatic churches, and in the year 325 ad at the Council of Nicea, those who were faithful to the Quartodeciman Passover were declared anathema. The Catholic Pasch—Easter—was set as the orthodox practice of the Catholic Church (“Are You a Quartodeciman? Should You Be?” Tomorrow’s World, March–April, 2013, p. 23).

So, the practice of keeping the Christian Passover didn’t disappear. It just was dwarfed by the more common practice of Easter, because Constantine decreed that Easter should be the official doctrine of the Roman Empire.

True Christians Should Keep Passover

Jesus didn’t abandon the Passover. On the contrary, He, His disciples, and others that followed continued to observe the Christian Passover for centuries. And a growing number of Christians still keep that same biblical observance today.

So what about you? Maybe you’ve never considered the New Testament Christian Passover before. Maybe you assumed the Passover is only Jewish. Maybe you’ve always been taught that Christians should keep Easter.

You need to study this and prove it to yourself. It concerns the very life and death of our Savior, and our obedience to following His instructions. It even concerns our being forgiven of sins, and our hope of eternal life.

Find Other Christians Who Keep God’s Holy Days

You might even be interested in how to observe the Christian Passover for yourself. Many thousands of people just like you have come to the same conclusion and have learned to faithfully keep this important feast day each year.

And if you have questions about the Passover you’d like to ask directly, Tomorrow’s World is sponsored by the Living Church of God. And the Living Church of God has representatives who would love to talk with you. They will be happy to answer any questions you might have about this fundamental practice of the faithful first-century Church, a practice that is still done today, the Christian Passover.

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