The past few years I have wanted to make a point to reflect on Passover. Yes, I am a Christian, a follower of Jesus. Which means, obviously I’m not Jewish, nor was I raised to celebrate Passover. But, there is something really moving about taking the time to think about what Jesus felt as He celebrated Passover because after all He knew what was to come.

I also find it important that we read from God’s entire Word, the Bible as a whole. Just because Jesus fulfilled the law of Moses, doesn’t mean we are meant to forget it. God gave us these words for a purpose. They teach and show us the Israelite’s (and the world’s) need for a Savior. When we read, study, and reflect on the Bible as a whole we realize how incredibly blessed we are to live in a time that is covered by God’s infinite Grace in His Son Jesus.

I’ll be the first to admit that I know very little of the Jewish culture, but I have always wanted to have a Seder meal to commemorate the night Jesus both celebrated and mourned. I know that a traditional Passover celebration in a Jewish home is a big elaborate celebration with elegant food, games for children, readings and stories about how God delivered the Israelite’s from Egypt. This post is both for a few simple tips to reflect on Passover, but to also provide some beautiful inspiration that you too can achieve this Easter as you reflect on Passover in your home.

All images are by Ryan Price.  Concept and Styling are Tamara Menges Designs. Thank you Ryan for collaborating with me on this idea and capturing it beautifully! Ryan also cooked the entire meal too, and provided the wine! (We personally don’t drink alcohol, so if you don’t either substitute grape juice like we do!) High five, Ryan! 

So how exactly can we reflect on Passover, even if we don’t have a Jewish background? Let’s find out!

Here are 5 ways to reflect on Passover as a Christian!

1. Prepare and plan to prepare your heart and mind. What? What I mean is if you are like me you are going to have to plan for this time, and take it seriously to make it happen. You have to make a point to plan a meal, grocery shop. You need to set the tone so that you can truly open your heart to be able to reflect on Passover. However, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If you have littles at home, that’s ok! Don’t use that as an excuse not to do it! Just give yourself grace, and make it a fun experience talking with your little ones about the night Jesus celebrated Passover before He went to the cross for us.

2. Prepare a meal together inspired by what Jesus and his disciples would have eaten and enjoyed. A quick google search for a Jewish Seder meal will give you a lot of ideas. For this inspiration shoot, Ryan of Ryan Price Photography prepared lamb shanks braised in red wine, vegetables, unleavened bread, a roasted red cabbage slaw, and hasselback potatoes.

3. Make unleavened bread together! This is perfect activity to have the kids help with! Unleavened bread is made without yeast. The reason unleavened bread is a part of a traditional Passover to signify in the quick manner in which the Israelite’s had to leave Egypt. They were unable to wait for the yeast to rise in the dough in order to have food prepared for their journey. Therefore they had to bake bread without yeast. (Exodus 12:11, Deuteronomy 16:3)

4. As you sit down to dinner read scripture together as a couple or family. Start from the very beginning with the very first Passover: Exodus 11-12:30. Read further as to why there was Passover to begin with: Genesis 3. Finally read how Jesus and His disciples celebrated Passover: read three of the four gospel accounts; Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke: 22:7-38. Tip: To make reading more kid friendly and shorter, grab your child’s Bible and read from it. Even grown ups can learn from the kid’s Bibles too!

5. Discuss the atmosphere of that night. What did it smell like? What did it sound like? What was the food like? What was Jesus thinking and feeling? What were the disciples and those in Jerusalem thinking and feeling?  What did the disciples think when He told them one of them would betray Him?

Try and make it a somber experience, especially if it’s just you or you and your significant other. But, if you have kids, just roll with whatever comes your way. Let go of perfection and let the experience happen as it will. Kids running cray? No big deal. Maybe turn it into a roll play experience and act out the Passover as a family.

Here’s a much more in depth cultural look into a traditional Seder meal. 

Want to go further as you reflect on Passover?!

I have created a really simple to follow download to dig deep into scripture as to why there is even anything called a Passover. I would encourage you to download it, print it out, and read and discuss it together as a family at dinner or any other time you are together during the day. It’s not your typical study guide when you think of Easter study. However, I am confident if you will ask the Lord open your heart and mind, you will grow deeper, and you just might learn something new from scripture!

Prayers for an Easter that is full of reflection and joy in following our Messiah.

In Him, Tamara

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