The Passover dinner is an important moed (biblical festival) gifted by God to the descendants of Abraham. This festival was given during the Israelite slavery in Egypt so that anyone who obeyed the steps given by God that night could protect their firstborn from death. After that event, Pharaoh, who was one of the affected, let the children of Israel leave Egypt along with everyone who followed them. In this article, we will outline the generalities on how to conduct the Passover dinner.

The first thing we must clarify is that there is no single way to conduct a Passover dinner. The books of Exodus and Leviticus do not specify precise instructions for carrying it out. When reading the verses that command observing this moed, we only find very general and superficial details. In the Jewish world, which has maintained this celebration, we find an order known to this day, called Seder, which means ‘order’ in Hebrew. When analyzing this Seder, we realize that there are many steps not mentioned in the Scriptures. However, in the New Testament, a series of books written in the first centuries and considered historical documents, we can find many more details about this event. Therefore, it will not be the same to participate in a Passover dinner of a Jew who does not accept Jesus as the Messiah as it is for a follower of Christ. The reason is simple: the Jew who does not follow Jesus will celebrate their dinner following the traditional rabbinical order, which is the supreme authority within their practicing religion, while the follower of Christ will follow the order narrated in the New Testament, based on how Jesus participated and taught in it, considering it our highest authority.

Due to schisms and persecutions in the early centuries, Christianity that spread outside Jerusalem completely lost its connection with the celebration of Passover according to Jesus’ teaching. By the 4th century, the Roman Catholic Church assumed religious control, and one of the consequences was the disconnection between the “official” Passover and the way it was celebrated in the first century. Many, seeking not to be linked with a defeated and rebellious nation like Israel, did not resist the new trends and customs imposed by Catholicism, resulting in a total change.

Today, within the evangelical world, dispensationalist theology holds the idea that biblical festivals should not be observed as they were given exclusively to Israel and not to the church. Of course, this only makes sense to those who consider Israel and the church as separate entities. In the end, it is a narrative that is exhausting to hear, but one that neither the Bible, Jesus, nor the apostles ever taught.

However, returning to our topic, thanks to God, the Jews have maintained the festivals (moadim) and have even recorded the details of their celebration. This is of great importance as it constitutes a valuable source through which we can approach to discover details that Christianity has lost, which are visible in the New Testament.

Now, you may be wondering, “Are you telling me I should do what the Jews say who do not even accept Jesus as the Messiah?” And the answer is yes and no. Let’s explain quickly. The good thing about Passover in particular is that it is one of the moadim with the most details in the New Testament. And, as many readers will know, Jesus died during this celebration. Therefore, the gospels provide many important details about the so-called “last supper.” However, it is almost impossible to understand what the gospels tell us about this important day in Christianity without knowing what was done in Israel at that historical moment. For example, the so-called “last supper” was not actually the Passover dinner, but it was a type of Passover dinner that was usually held the day before between teachers and disciples as a way to close the educational cycle, known as “First Hagigah,” which means ‘First Celebration,’ and this was precisely what Jesus and His disciples were doing that night, as the teaching cycle on this moed would culminate there.

We must also keep in mind that the night of Passover, according to Exodus, is celebrated on the 14th of Nisan according to the Hebrew calendar, so it varies each year according to the Gregorian calendar. To know when to observe it, one begins counting from the spring equinox to the first new moon, when it has about three portions of the visible moon, indicating that the first day of the month has arrived. From there, one continues counting to the 14th day. This is important because the biblical Hebrew calendar differs from the modern Gregorian calendar. Among its differences, we find that the day begins at sunset and ends at sunset the following day.

Therefore, to get closer to the actual events, we must compare what the Jews have recorded since then, apply Jesus’ teachings, and thus obtain the closest possible to what the Messiah did that night. This without overlooking that until that moment, and every year, Jesus participated in the entire process. By analyzing these texts of the last supper along with what the Jews have maintained to this day, we can appreciate impressive similarities. Therefore, Jesus is the light that illuminates us in the way of celebrating the Passover dinner compared to what was done in Israel in the first century. All these rituals had been taught by the Pharisees, but Jesus’ participation, and even the reforms He applied in some steps of the Seder, validated the way this festival was carried out until then. In conclusion, we must look at what has been transmitted by the Jews but always under Jesus’ teaching and practice.

As we mentioned, the dinner is an order (Seder) that must be followed, as all the symbols and teachings of the event depend on it. Therefore, we must keep in mind that it is not just any meal. It is an extremely serious festival, so much so that Paul mentioned in his letter to the Corinthians that one should not participate in it with a rebellious person. After this summary, let’s look at its generalities:

Elimination of Chametz (a specific fermentation of five grains): All fermented wheat, barley, rye, oats, and spelt from the house are collected and burned. This symbolizes the need to search for anything that, even if small, could cause our sin to grow.
Washing of hands: In this step, Jesus added the washing of feet, teaching that we should follow His example of service to others.
Special Dishes and Foods: During the dinner, specific foods are served that have symbolic significance related to the festival. These include:
Matzah: Unleavened bread that symbolizes the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt, as they did not have time for the bread to rise.
Maror: Bitter herbs (such as horseradish or lettuce) that represent the bitterness and suffering of the slaves in Egypt, also the suffering of the slavery of sin.
Charoset: A sweet mixture made of dried fruits, nuts, and wine, representing the mortar with which the Israelite slaves made bricks in Egypt.
Boiled egg: A symbol of mourning, renewal, and the desire to celebrate the next festival in Jerusalem.
Roasted meat: Represents the Passover sacrifice offered in the Temple of Jerusalem, but for us symbolizes the sacrifice of Christ.
Four Cups of Wine: Throughout the Seder, four cups of wine are drunk at specific moments, each symbolizing different aspects of liberation and redemption.
Cup of Sanctification
Cup of Deliverance
Cup of Redemption
Cup of Praise
Haggadah: During this dinner, as the order followed is very important, a book containing the Exodus narrative and the traditions of this Seder is used as a guide for participants.
Participation of Children: The dinner is also especially designed to involve children and encourage them to ask questions about the festival and its meaning.
Hymns and Psalms: The Haggadah includes readings and songs of praise to the Creator.

In summary, the Pesach Seder (Passover dinner) is a special and significant moment that commemorates the liberation of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. And for us followers of Jesus, this event takes on a broader symbolism: The liberation from sin through His sacrifice as the one and only sufficient lamb slain for all humanity. I urge you that if you have not yet participated in a Pesach Seder, do not let any prejudice prevent you from receiving and experiencing the blessings that God has reserved for us through this celebration. Our Lord, during that “last supper,” gave us the commandment to continue celebrating it as a reminder of Him because we will celebrate it together again upon His return.

Author: William Salazar