Mind the Gap by
Sideways Sarah
Flickr.com_6705177761_4de4e168c0_m.jpg_CC BY-ND 4.0

“This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.” Exodus 12:14 NIV

Growing up Christian, I rarely understood Judaism and its significance to my faith until my friend, Laurie, invited me to her bas-mitzvah (a Jewish confirmation ceremony). Listening to her read from the Torah, it finally clicked…Jesus was Jewish.

The rich, Old Testament history my mother and Sunday school teachers had taught me came alive that day. And, truth be told, I secretly wished I’d been born Jewish; not because I wanted to trade-in my Christian faith, but rather, because Judaism added depth and significance to my faith in Christ.

While Resurrection Sunday is early this year (March 27, 2016), almost a month prior to Passover (April 22-30), the Passover story still provides us rich opportunities to bridge God’s Old Testament plan of salvation with God’s New Testament plan of salvation for our children. While the Jews celebrate Passover, (a week-long celebration of their release from Egyptian oppression through the Passover lamb), we Christians celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection, (our Passover lamb and freedom from sin).

Here are a few tangible ways to bridge the Old Testament Passover with the New Testament Resurrection Sunday Celebration:

1. Read the story of Moses from Exodus 2 ff – the birth of Moses, exile, ten plagues, and Exodus
2. Clean the house – the ritual of ridding the house of Chametz or yeast is likened to us preparing our hearts for Jesus; recognizing/repenting from sin
3. Prepare Seder food and explain their Exodus significance – Zeroah (a roasted bone-sacrifice), Bietzah (hard-boiled egg-offering/mourning), Maror (horseradish-harsh suffering/bitterness provides for mercy), Karpas (potato or onion- harsh Egyptian labor), Charoset (apples, pears,walnuts red wine (juice)mixture- the Jews task of making bricks and mortar in Egypt), Chezeret (Romaine lettuce between Matzah-more bitter herbs of slavery ; unleavened bread signifying the rapid exodus and the desert manna God provided daily)
4. Read the story of Jesus – birth, temptation, death, resurrection
5. Make Resurrection eggs – signifying Jesus’ tomb and new life
6. Plant a Resurrection Garden – a great back drop to tell the Resurrection story

(I’ve provided “how-to” links for #2, 3, 5 and 6. Just click on the headings)

Enjoy celebrating Passover and Jesus with your loved ones.