Hosting Seder for Your Family - Why we should observe Passover - Plus, The New Alive! Devotionals

Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch - as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. - 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

Passover is coming up in just a couple weeks. While this holiday is traditionally celebrated by our Jewish friends, it has a lot of significance in Christian culture as well. However, Christians typically don't believe in celebrating Passover. It's even frowned upon as being culturally inappropriate... but is it? Jesus celebrated Passover. So did Peter, Paul, and many of the other notable New Testament authors. Though one could argue that these men were Jews and were required to celebrate Passover, Paul tells us to be "imitators of Christ" (Ephesians 5:1) as well as follow Paul's own example, since he imitates Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1) Jesus celebrated Passover, and even performed the first communion during the famous Last Supper. Since this was such a pivotal moment in Christian history, why aren't we Christians observing this Passover holiday as well?

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5:7 to observe the Festival (meaning Passover) in a new way... as those who understand the wonderful sacrifice of Jesus. Though many people might interpret this verse as meaning that Christians don't have to celebrate Passover anymore, I want to argue the opposite. I believe Paul was using the Passover as an object lesson, that we need to get rid of the sin (or leaven) in our lives and celebrate the Festival both physically and spiritually as those who are made new in Christ.

This being said, God Himself created Passover to be celebrated by His people. Though the nation of Israel was God's chosen people in the Old Testament, anyone who believes in Christ is now an adopted child of God - thus, all who believe in Jesus are now God's people. In light of this, I believe the Passover is a beautiful holiday that Christians should observe if they feel called to. There is a lot to be gained from following a holiday that God Himself created for His people.

If you are interested in observing Passover this year on March 27, then here are some simple ways you and your family can easily observe this special holiday.

Find a Messianic Jewish Temple/Church that does traditional Seder meals

Look online in your area for a church that might open up a traditional Seder banquet to the public. This is a very easy way to participate in Passover, since all of the preparation is done for you. Many churches also do traditional readings and hymns as well as the dinner. I have attended a few of these kind of events growing up, and they are very memorable. (Make sure to book this kind of event in advance. Typically, the church will ask you to reserve a seat and pay a fee for the food, which will need to be done before you arrive on March 27th.)

Observe the Passover by making your own meal

Though this is a little harder to achieve, there is a lot to be gained from cooking your own Passover meal, especially if you have young children that have a harder time sitting still. The great thing about cooking your own Passover meal is that you can really make it your own. It can be as intricate or easy as you want. If you have young children, try to make this event enjoyable for them. Here are some handy tips from pjlibrary to make a kid-friendly Seder.

Rather than hosting a Seder for your family, you could do Communion instead

Since Jesus performed the first Communion on Passover, you could absolutely recognize Jesus and His sacrifice on Passover by doing a kid-friendly Communion with your family. After all, Communion doesn't need to be performed only in church. Communion was created for everyone to recognize Jesus's suffering and love for humanity.

In order to do this, consider getting some grape juice, and some matzah crackers. Distribute them to your family. As you do this, read 1 Corinthians 11:23-34.

If you want to make your own matzah bread with your family, here is a fantastic and simple recipe:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup of water

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. olive oil

Preheat oven to 500. Put an empty baking sheet into the oven for 8 minutes to make it hot. While the baking sheet is heating, mix the ingredients together in a bowl. If the dough seems too dry, add a small bit more water, but make sure the dough doesn't get sticky or too wet. Divide the dough into 8-10 small balls. Roll each ball as thinly as possible with a rolling pin. Trim the rounds into squares. Using a fork, poke lots of little holes into the squares to prevent the squares from rising. Take the hot baking sheet out of the oven and rub a small bit of olive oil or cooking spray all over the sheet to prevent sticking. (Be careful not to burn yourself during this step!)

Put the thin squares in a row on the sheet. Bake in the oven for 2 minutes. Flip the thin squares and bake for another 2 minutes. Take them out, and season with a bit of salt (optional.

You now have delicious, homemade matzah crackers to share with your family.

Conclusion:

No matter how you choose to celebrate Passover, just remember the real reason we celebrate this holiday: to remember God. Passover is all about remembrance of God, just as Communion is remembrance about God's Son, Jesus and the sacrifice He made for you and me on the cross.

Any holiday that celebrates God and His mercy and love for His people is one that should be celebrated!

About the Newly Published Alive! Devotional Coloring Books for Adults or Children:

The Alive! Coloring Devotionals are finally available for purchase on Amazon Prime! These books were created, written, designed, and illustrated by the creator of P40 Ministries - Jenn Kokal and her team of awesome people.

Before Jenn Kokal started writing the Alive! Coloring Devotionals, she felt the need to help parents minister to their children on a deeper level. Being a church attendee and staff member, one thing she noticed over the years was the number of parents who were going to church only because they wanted religion for their children. Jenn discovered that many parents weren’t really sure how to lead their children into religious conversations at home, because this task tended to be left up to the church entirely.

Thus, the Alive! Coloring Devotionals came to be. Jenn wanted to do a project that would minister to parents and adults which, in turn, would lead them to better minister to children. Jenn desperately desired that these adults would have enjoyable tools that would help guide them into deeper conversations with their families regarding Christianity. Therefore, Jenn, and a wonderful team of people, came up with the idea of the Alive! Coloring Devotionals on the topic of Holy Week for adults of all ages. After all, Jesus’s death and resurrection are some of the most important things to reflect on, no matter what time of year it may be.

The Alive! Adult Coloring Devotional is perfect for adults and/or parents. The book is designed to be completed either alone or together with the Alive! Children's Coloring Devotional with your child. With beautifully drawn graphics and helpful devotionals, the Alive! Adult Devotional is perfect for any adult who would enjoy relaxing and learning as they discover Jesus and His sacrifice during Holy Week. All eight, interior lessons offer intricately drawn designs, as well as beautifully written devotionals to ponder and discuss. Paired with the Alive! Children's Devotional, these discipleship coloring books will lead you and your family into worshipful adoration of Jesus and His love for the world.

Purchase the Alive! Adult devotional on Amazon Prime.

Purchase the Alive! Children's Devotional on Amazon Prime.