Christian observance of Passover
In the modern era, some Christian groups have adopted the practice of observing the Jewish holiday of Passover in some form. These include the Assemblies of Yahweh, Messianic Jews, and some congregations of the Church of God (Seventh Day). Their observances often involve a version of the Passover Seder, adapted to draw theological connections between the Exodus story and the life and death of Jesus Christ.
This practice is regarded by many as an inappropriate cultural appropriation of Jewish ritual for non-Jewish purposes. It is distinct from traditional Christian Holy Week observances such as Maundy Thursday—which commemorates the Last Supper—and Easter.
Practices
Some Adventist, Sabbatarian Churches of God, Messianic Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses, and other groups have adopted the practice of observing a Christian version of the Jewish Passover, but observances and timing vary both across and within these denominations.Some Christians eat lamb, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread. Others follow the instructions that Jesus gave to his disciples at the Last Supper before he was crucified, and share bread and wine instead of roasted lamb. In some versions, the ceremony is combined with washing one another's feet, as Jesus did for his disciples the night that he suffered.
Controversy
As with many biblical topics, the keeping of Passover by Christians has always been controversial. There is a wide debate about the celebration of Jewish Holidays by Christians because it can have underlying antisemitic overtones based on the fact that the history of Jewish identity is not acknowledged by Christians. Some have argued that Christians can celebrate Passover because Jesus celebrated the holiday according to the New Testament while others argue that when Christians celebrate Passover, they are religiously appropriating a holiday which is celebrated by an oppressed group of people rather than treating the religious identity of that group of people with reverential respect. The second century bishop of Hierapolis, Claudius Apollinaris, voiced his objections to how some were either keeping the Passover, or how some were interpreting the events that formed the foundation of the Christian custom.Apollinaris wrote: