What’s the first thing God gave His people after delivering them from slavery in Egypt?
A calendar.
Not just a way to count days—but a way to remember who they were. A rhythm of remembrance. A call to identity.
After 400 years of bondage, 10 plagues, and one holy, unforgettable night, everything changed. They were no longer slaves. They were God’s chosen—redeemed and free—and He wanted them to never forget.
“This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations… you shall observe it as a statute forever.” – Exodus 12:14
Passover (Pesach) is more than a historical event. It’s a declaration of identity. A sacred story of redemption that still echoes into our lives today.
What Is Passover?
In Exodus 12, God commands His people to remember the night He delivered them from Egypt. Death passed over the homes marked by the blood of the lamb, and their journey to freedom began.
“The blood shall be a sign for you… and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” – Exodus 12:13
Jewish families around the world have remembered that night for millennia. And for Christians—those of us redeemed by the blood of the Lamb—this is our story too.
What Is a Seder?
The Seder is a meal of remembrance. Seder means “order” in Hebrew, and it refers to the ordered retelling of the Exodus story through Scripture, prayer, symbolic foods, songs, and worship.
“And you shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’” – Exodus 13:8
Each element on the Seder plate—bitter herbs, matzah, sweet charoset, roasted lamb—is meant to engage the senses and help us remember. It’s interactive. It’s rich. It’s unforgettable.
Avadim Hayinu – “We Were Slaves…”
There’s a moment in the Seder when we say these words:
עֲבָדִים הָיִינוּ לְפַרְעֹה בְּמִצְרָיִם עַתָּה – בְּנֵי חוֹרִין
Avadim hayinu lepharo b’Mitzrayim, ata b’nei chorin
We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt — now we are free.
It’s a declaration of identity. And for us, as believers in Yeshua, it is also our testimony.
We were slaves—not to Pharaoh, but to sin.
We were bound—not by chains, but by shame.
And Jesus, the greater Lamb, has set us free.
“For freedom Christ has set us free…” – Galatians 5:1
“You are no longer a slave, but a son…” – Galatians 4:7
The Last Supper Was a Seder
The Gospels describe Jesus celebrating the Passover with His disciples—the meal we now call the Last Supper. But it wasn’t a “new” tradition. It was the very Seder commanded in Exodus 12.
“I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” – Luke 22:15
He took the matzah and the cup and said, “This is My body… This is My blood.” It was a fulfillment. A declaration. A turning point in redemptive history.
“Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.” – 1 Corinthians 5:7
The Passover points to the Lamb. And the Lamb points us home.
Dayenu – It Would Have Been Enough
One of the most joyful moments in the Seder is singing Dayenu—a song of gratitude that means “It would have been enough.”
Each verse celebrates something God did for His people, and after every one, we sing:
Dayenu!
It would have been enough!
If He had only taken us out of Egypt… Dayenu.
If He had only parted the Red Sea… Dayenu.
If He had only given us the Sabbath… Dayenu.
And for us today:
If He had only come near… Dayenu.
If He had only healed… Dayenu.
If He had only died to take our place… Dayenu.
But He rose.
He reigns.
He’s coming again.
“From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” – John 1:16
Why Our Family Celebrates Passover
Our family was first invited to a Seder in 1990. I still remember sitting around the table, breathing in the aroma of lamb and herbs, listening to the story unfold, and seeing Jesus in every element of the evening.
That night lit something in me. Over the years, we’ve hosted Seders in our home and church, learning more with each one. It’s become a joy-filled, worshipful tradition.
Not because we “have to,” but because we get to.
We remember who we were.
We rejoice in who He is.
We look forward to the day when we’ll sit at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb and eat with Him again.
“Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” – Revelation 19:9
“But you’re a Christian—why Passover?”
Good question. The truest answer is this: because the story of redemption didn’t begin at the cross. It began at the very beginning with the first blood shed in the garden (more on that in another post) and from there with blood on a doorpost…freedom from slavery, and a God who said, “Remember.”
I still celebrate Easter—it is my joy, my hallelujah! But Passover has helped me see Easter with clearer eyes. It hasn’t replaced anything. It’s only made the resurrection more radiant, the Lamb more worthy, and the story more whole.
Tradition vs. Command
Many elements of the Seder are rooted in Scripture—Exodus 12 is clear. But over time, Jewish tradition added beautiful customs like Dayenu, the Afikomen game, and the Four Questions.
These traditions help us remember and reflect—but they are not commands. As believers, we hold to the essentials (Jesus as the Lamb, the call to remember, the story of redemption) and enjoy the traditions that point us to Christ.
“See to it that no one takes you captive by tradition… rather than Christ.” – Colossians 2:8
“Do this in remembrance of Me.” – Luke 22:19
Want to Experience a Seder?
If you’ve never experienced a Seder before, I’d love to invite you in!
We laugh, reflect, sing, eat (eventually!), and celebrate the goodness of our God.
- 🎺 Watch blowing the shofar at our Passover, 2016
- 🎶 Insert your Spotify playlist link here
- 📜 Download my Seder Haggadah PDF
Kiddos are welcome—actually, they’re essential! It’s because of the children that this meal exists (Exodus 13:8).
Bring your heart ready to worship, and come expecting beauty, joy, and maybe even a few tears.
When is Passover?
Good question. Like Easter, the date to observe Passover changes year to year, because it is calculated on the solar/lunar cycle. It begins the night before the full moon after the Spring Equinox.
Simply, the Passover is observed on Nisan 15 which is usually mid-March to late April on our calendar. You can read more details here. Really helpful!
Enjoy more…
- VIEW/DOWNLOAD/PRINT my Seder Haggadah
- Recipes for Seder – Coming Soon!
- Singing Seder! We will sing these songs together! – Spotify Playlist
- Worship for Passover – Spotify Playlist
As always, I appreciate your thoughts and comments. Leave a note below and be sure to join the mailing list and stay in touch!
When do We have our Seder this year? Well, as much as I can we try to have the seder on the first night of Passover (Nisan 14) but, that doesn’t always happen. We have special friends who really make a point of being with us each year, so we allow it to be somewhat of a moveable feast – the spirit of the day – always near to Easter as possible so that all who are wanting to be a part can join. This year we gather on Saturday, April 12 – which is “Erev Pesach” Nisan 15 on the Hebrew calendar (Passover Eve.)
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