Easter or Passover? by Mike Desimone

Easter or Passover?

Many people think of Passover as a Jewish holiday and Easter as a Christian holiday. But are they right? You may be surprised to find Christians today keeping the Passover as Jesus Christ instructed His disciples to do. Passover is very much a Christian observance for those who seek to practice the original Christianity taught by Jesus Christ and the Apostles!

Consider some of the reasons why the Passover is still observed today by those trying to follow Christ’s example, and why Easter is a man-made alternative that should be rejected by those who believe their Bible: Easter

Passover

Started as a man-made religious custom in worship of false gods millennia before Jesus Christ

Started from Scripture as an observance established by God Himself (Leviticus 23:4–5; Luke 22:15)

Easter was Christianized by the Catholic Church, around 300 years after Jesus’ death, at the Council of Nicaea

Passover was made Christian by Jesus Christ Himself on the night before His crucifixion (Matthew 26:26–30)

The apostles never kept Easter or taught the Church to keep it; rather they taught Christians to shun pagan customs (1 Peter 4:3; 1 John 5:21)

The apostles continued to keep and teach the Passover (1 Corinthians 11:23–26)

Jesus Christ never kept or taught Easter (Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition,)

Jesus Christ kept Passover every year of His life (Luke 2:41–42; 22:8)

The symbols of Easter are bunnies, colored eggs, and hot cross buns, which originated in paganism before being incorporated into the modern

The symbols of Passover are wine and bread, and Jesus Himself explained their meaning: His precious blood and broken body. (Luke 22:14–20; 1

Easter celebration

Corinthians 11:23–26)

There is no way to stretch into a 72hour period the two nights and one day from Good Friday through Easter Sunday.

The Passover celebration points accurately to a simple three days and three nights, as Scripture prophesied (Matthew 12:39–40; Jonah 1:17; Genesis 1:4–5)

The Good Friday to Easter Sunday scenario effectively denies the only sign of the Messiah (Matthew 16:4)

Those who keep the Passover and biblical Holy Days are acknowledging the sign of the Messiah (Read The Sign of Jonah)

Easter incorrectly points toward a Sunday resurrection

Passover points toward the actual time and day of His resurrection (Read The Resurrection Was not on Easter Sunday)

Jesus will not keep Easter when He returns to earth

Jesus will keep the Passover when He returns to earth (Luke 22:15–16)

The name “Easter” shares connections with pagan deities like “Ishtar” and “Oestre” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1987)

The name “Passover” comes directly from the Bible (Exodus 12:13)

Read about Easter from the authority of the Catholic Encyclopedia

Read about the Passover from the authority of Scripture itself (Exodus 12:1–30; Matthew 26:17–30; 1 Corinthians 11:23–34)

Deuteronomy 12:30–32; Mark 7:6–9

Leviticus 23:4–5; Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:25

Easter is entirely man-made

Passover is God-ordained

Conclusion: Easter relies on accepting the traditions of men and rejecting God’s Word

Conclusion: Passover relies on accepting God’s Word over the traditions of men

What is God’s perspective? Just like a loving Father, God wants us to do

what He says—for our own benefit. True Christians keep Passover as Jesus commanded. Sadly, many deceived people think they are practicing Christianity by keeping the man-made Easter tradition. So, will you be keeping Easter, or will you be keeping the Christian Passover in an effort to get back to the “faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) and restore Original Christianity?

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For a much more in depth study of the differences between Easter and the Passover, order the free booklet The Holy Days: God’s Master Plan and read our article, “Easter or Passover: Which Is for Christians?”