Christian Groups Host Passover Seders with Christological Interpretations

The Rev. James Stuart of Windham Presbyterian Church in New Hampshire is preparing to lead a Passover seder for his congregation, incorporating a Christological interpretation of the ritual. He plans to explain how Jesus, as the Passover lamb, through his sacrifice, liberates people from the bondage of sin. Following the seder, his congregation will partake in communion, using matzah as the Eucharist. Stuart emphasized that his church seeks to celebrate Jewish holidays and then show how they are fulfilled through Christ.

This trend of hosting Passover seders in Christian churches reflects a growing interest in the Jewish origins of Jesus and the possibility that the Last Supper was a Passover seder. The Christian Bible describes this meal as the occasion when Jesus foretold his death and instructed his disciples about the symbolic meaning of the wine and bread. Different Christian groups present the seder in various ways, leading to differing opinions on how it should be conducted within a Christian context.

Evangelical churches, including some Presbyterians, often adopt a Christological approach to the seder, emphasizing the fulfillment of Jewish rituals in Christ. This approach is more pronounced in Messianic groups, also known as Hebrew-Christians, who are Jews who identify as evangelical Christians. These groups place a stronger emphasis on the Christological interpretation of the Passover seder, sometimes drawing direct parallels between the elements of the seder and events in Jesus’ life.

Messianic seder leaders may use the matzah, pointing to its holes and referencing how Jesus was pierced by Roman soldiers, as noted by Marvin Wilson, a professor at Gordon College. This practice highlights the deepening theological integration of Jewish traditions within Christian worship, particularly among those who see Jesus as the fulfillment of Jewish prophecy and ritual.

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