Author: Holy Branches

I’m a Gentile Believer, a devoted mother of five wonderful children, and the wife of an amazing husband. Nature, gardening, and dance bring joy and inspiration to my life. In my spare time, I play the piano, care for my garden, or study the Bible in Hebrew. And I’ll drop just about anything for a game of cards. My unwavering quest for a genuine relationship with the God of the Bible has driven me to delve deeply into His Word, which guides my journey and shapes my life's path. This exploration, combined with dedication to living out my faith, is at the heart of my writing. I seek to share my insights and discoveries with readers, encouraging them to embark on their own spiritual journeys.

Essential Items for Your Christian Passover Seder

Written by Holy Branches on March 23, 2026. Posted in Passover. 1 Comment on Essential Items for Your Christian Passover Seder

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As many followers of Jesus are realizing how important the Biblical Holy Days are to our faith, we look to Passover to remind us of the lamb. This Holy Day reminds us of both the lamb whose blood was spilled to save the Hebrew people from the plague of the firstborn in Egypt and of Jesus, whose blood saved all people from their destruction due to sin.

Passover also serves as a reminder that we were all once slaves in our sin and that Jesus, our Passover Lamb, freed us from that slavery in his death on the cross. Jesus also tells us that he’ll celebrate the Passover with us again in the future (Mark 14:24-25 and Luke 22:15-16)!

Check out my calendar for the upcoming Passover dates. Here are the main elements and supplies you’ll need to host a Passover Seder in your home, church, or other group.

1. Haggadah

This is just a booklet, one for each participant, that leads everyone through the Seder. In recent years, I’ve found more and more Haggadahs that are Messianic. This means they’ll focus on and incorporate the concepts of Jesus throughout the Seder. A Haggadah from a Jewish source (not Messianic Jewish) will cover the themes of the Passover, just without reference to Jesus. Here are a few different ones.

From Egypt to Messiah: A Messianic Passover Haggadah for Families

How to Celebrate a Messianic Passover Seder: A Haggadah

2. Bowl of Water and Towel

The first part of a Passover Seder is the washing of hands, signifying a clean and pure heart before God. Although we wash our hands for other meals, doing it in this way sets this time apart and puts our focus where it belongs. While not traditional, I’ve heard of some that use this time to wash one another’s feet like Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, which would be a beautiful way to start a Seder!

3. Seder Plate

A Seder Plate is specifically made to display the elements of the Seder. Another large plate could also be used or individual plates for each participant could be used as well. They’re typically an attractive piece to add to your table but there are also disposable Seder Plates as well as those made for children with kid-friendly designs on them.

Many have a place for a roasted egg, which has various meanings. While some say it represents renewal and new life, others say it’s a symbol of mourning the destroyed Temple, and still others use it as a representation of the Temple pilgrimage or festival sacrifice. My family doesn’t use the egg in our Seder but you have to determine whether it has a meaningful place in yours.

There are so many choices out there for Seder plates but here are a few to start with.

Elegant Ceramic Passover Seder Plate Floral Renaissance Design

4. Matzah

Matzah is basically a large cracker and serves as the unleavened bread during the Seder. The bread being unleavened is important because it reminds us of the Passover story. The Hebrew people had to flee Egypt quickly, without time to allow their bread to be naturally leavened. Leaven, or yeast, also signifies sin in the Bible. Eating bread without yeast reminds us both that we’re to be sinless before God and that Jesus, being himself sinless, paid for our sin on the cross, allowing us to be acceptable before God.

You’ll need about 5 pieces per participant at your Seder. Most come in packages of about 10 pieces. You may be able to get it at a local grocery store but here are some you can order online as well.

5. Matzah Cover or Napkin

To wrap 3 of the matzah pieces in for use during the Seder. One of these pieces will be broken and remind us of when Jesus was broken for our sin. After this, some people hide the larger piece, called the Afikomen, and have the children search for it later, which is reminiscent of Jesus’s burial and resurrection.

You can use a napkin or a matzah cover made just for this purpose. Here are a few beautiful matzah covers.

Passover Seder Embroidered Square Matzah Cover

6. Bitter Herbs

Used to symbolize the bitterness of slavery (both the Hebrews enslaved by the Egyptians and us previously enslaved by sin), these are dipped in salt water during the Seder. We use parsley or celery as our bitter herbs. Whatever you choose to use, you’ll need 1 piece for each participant.

7. Dish(es) of Salt Water

Dissolve enough salt into water to make it taste noticeably salty. There can be a small dish of salt water for each person or a shared dish. The bitter herbs will be dipped into this solution during the Seder to represent the tears of both the Hebrew slaves in Egypt and our tears as we were slaves to sin prior to accepting Jesus

8. Charoset

Charoset is the sweet and tasty mixture of apples, nuts, and juice that is used during the Seder to remind us of the brick mortar the Hebrew slaves had to use to build for the Egyptians. Here’s the link to the Charoset recipe I use. You’ll need about 1/2 cup per participant.

9. Shank Bone

A lamb shank is traditionally used here and you’ll need 1 per Seder Plate. To simplify, we’ve used a drumstick and made sure to discuss the significance of the animal sacrificed being a lamb.

10. Horseradish

This is another of the bitter herbs but is used differently during the Seder. You’ll need about 1 tablespoon per participant, depending on how much spice your family or guests can tolerate. While it can be found at your local grocery store, here are a couple online options.

11. Wine and/or Juice and Glasses

Whether you use wine or juice is up to you but whichever you use, have enough for every participant to have at least 4 glasses or cups. Seders often take many hours but if 4 glasses of wine seems like a lot or if you’re planning on a shorter Seder, use very small cups or just have participants take a drink in place of each of the four cups in the Seder.

12. Full Meal

Christ in the Passover: Celebrate a Christian Seder

Not included in the Seder itself, this is to eat together afterward. The meal can consist of whatever you choose but should be something everyone will love since this is a day for celebration! Traditionally, this is a pork- and yeast-free meal.

Now what you know what you need for your Seder, start preparations ahead of time. The most important preparation, however, is your heart. Pray about your Seder and that those participating will have open hearts to what God wants to teach them through it. Go over the story of the Passover and ask the Holy Spirit to show you what parts to highlight. Going through the motions of a Seder (or anything, really) is a waste so make sure the focus stays on God and that He gets the glory!

Rose Publishing makes a pamphlet called “Christ in the Passover” that will really help as you and your friends and family prepare for Passover. It’s a great resource!

Finding a Messianic Haggadah for Your Christian Passover Seder

Written by Holy Branches on March 23, 2026. Posted in Passover. 1 Comment on Finding a Messianic Haggadah for Your Christian Passover Seder

The celebration of Passover is such a valuable tradition for Christians! When planning your Passover Seder, a Haggadah is necessary, as it’s the booklet allowing each participant to follow along as the Seder proceeds. I’ve been asked which Haggadah I recommend for Christians exploring the Hebrew Roots of their faith so I decided to put my list of recommendations all in one place to help others out there who are looking for one.

The word Haggadah means “the telling”. It’s usually a booklet that both gives a background on Passover and leads participants through a Passover Seder meal. Although most Haggadahs are made by and for Jewish people, there are now numerous options for Christians as well, as many are making Passover a tradition in their families and churches.

Here are a few of the great Messianic Haggadōt (plural for Haggadah) I’ve found:

From Egypt to Messiah

I’m obviously partial to this one because I wrote it! I needed a Haggadah that included all we wanted to teach my family at our Passover Seder so I created one and published it to share with others. It’s made to be interactive and explanatory, inviting every participant to have a role. It’s just what we needed—Scripture-based, family-friendly, and highlights Jesus, our Passover Lamb.

The Messianic Passover Haggadah

This one has been a favorite of my audience for years. It’s very commonly used by Believers and is highly rated. The theme throughout is redemption. It includes songs to sing during your Seder and uses the Complete Jewish Bible as the translation for quoted verses.

Messianic Family Haggadah

This is a free download from Chosen People Ministries. It can be used for either (Messianic) Jewish or Christian participants and focuses on the deliverance and redemption

Christ in the Passover

This is another favorite of Christians who celebrate Passover. Made with first-timers in mind, this pamphlet leads the reader through a Passover Seder and also explains the symbolism of each element. It’s focused on teaching the connections between the Passover and Jesus’s sacrifice and how a Passover Seder reminds us of both of these.

Broken For You

One of my family’s favorites, this Haggadah is written by Matthew Van Els of Founded in Truth Ministries. We’ve used this one for two of our Seders and found it such a great way to lead them. It is deep enough to spiritually lead the adults through it but clear and simple enough for the children to follow as well.

Messiah’s Seder: Passover Experience for Christians and Messianic Jews

By Rabbi Jason Sobel, author of Mysteries of the Messiah, this Hagaddah walks you through the seder with the goal of having all participants grow closer to Jesus. It’s easy to follow even with little previous seder experience and has explanations for each step.

The Master’s Table

Written and published by First Fruits of Zion, this is a beginner and Christian-friendly book to guide your family or even a large group through a Passover Seder.

Cup of Redemption

Focusing on explanation and clarification of Passover and the elements of a Seder, this Haggadah is easy to follow and will lead both beginner and experienced participants. The author, Darren Huckey, is the director of Emet HaTorah.

The Christian’s Guide to Passover

This simple guide is useful for beginners, easy to follow, and can be used for a short Seder and for more advanced participants as well. This one has a Kindle version to download into your most convenient device in addition to the booklet form.

Behold the Lamb

This non-traditional Haggadah boasts that it tells the Passover story through scripture. It’s a unique way to re-tell the story and celebrate Jesus, our Passover Lamb. This one includes Matzah recipes and an interactive craft for kids!

Have a favorite Messianic Passover Haggadah? Share it in the comments!

Why Celebrate Passover as a Christian?

Written by Holy Branches on March 20, 2026. Posted in Passover. 6 Comments on Why Celebrate Passover as a Christian?

Passover is a very significant event for Believers. As followers of Jesus, we desire both to walk in his footsteps and to celebrate the sacrifice he made for us. A Passover Seder (traditional “meal” in which the story of Passover is told) is a wonderful tradition in which Christians can both remember God’s faithfulness and celebrate our Savior!

Note: If you’re not familiar with the story of the Passover in the Bible, I recommend you review it, as this article and the celebration of Passover are based on it. The story of the Passover is found in Exodus, chapters 3-15. Here’s a Quick Overview of the Passover Story, but please read the real story in the Bible when you get a quiet moment. It’s amazing!

Here are some of the reasons the celebration of Passover is beneficial to our Christian Faith.

It Points to Jesus

Slavery and the Passover Lamb

Just like the Hebrew people were enslaved by the Egyptians, we all were once slaves to our sin. Romans 6:6 highlights this parallel.

“…our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin…”

But like the Hebrew slaves, God sent a savior for us. For them, the blood of the Passover lamb saved them from the last plague, the death of the firstborn. This foreshadowed Jesus’s blood saving us from our sins. John the Baptist recognized that Jesus would fulfill this role for us.

“…he [John] saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

During a Passover Seder, we have two lambs to celebrate. We both remember the lambs whose blood saved the Hebrew people and Jesus, the Lamb who gave his blood to save us.

The timing of Jesus’s crucifixion also shows us why he came and was crucified. His being crucified during Passover was no coincidence. God shows us through this that he truly is our Passover Lamb whose blood is worthy to take away punishment for the sin of all!

The Afikomen

Although much of the Passover Seder points to Jesus, a very interesting part is what’s known as the afikomen. The word means “the coming one,” and it’s the name for the middle piece of matzah (unleavened bread) in a group of three set-aside pieces.

This matzah piece is then broken, wrapped in cloth, hidden, and then found again. When doing this, we remember that Jesus was broken when crucified, wrapped, buried, and rose again! Read this last sentence again if you’re not awestruck by the parallel in this tradition!

Purging the Leaven

Prior to Passover comes one of the best ways I can think of to picture sin and its effect on our lives. The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:15), which occurs during Passover, is when we not only eat bread without yeast or leaven but also clean the leaven out of our homes entirely!

If you’ve never done this before, let me tell you—it’s difficult, especially if you have a bunch of little people living in your house like I do, who tend to leave crumbs everywhere!

The Bible often uses yeast or leaven to signify sin. Here’s an example.

“…Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Cor. 5:6-8

Here, Paul tells the Corinthian people that sin spreads. Even a little bit of sin will spread throughout a family, church, community, etc., just as it takes just a bit of yeast to leaven a whole lump of dough. When you try to clean every bit of the leaven from your entire home, you realize just how hard it is – and that you can never get it all!

This is just like our sin. We come before a perfect God, desiring to be accepted by Him, but we’ve got sin tucked in all the nooks and crannies of our lives. This is why we can be so grateful for Jesus! He covers all of our sin, even the dirty nooks and crannies, so we can appear before God as clean and acceptable!

Jesus Himself Participated

The story of Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem is celebrated by Christians on Palm Sunday. This is when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, and the people laid palm branches in his path and waved them, saying, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!”.

Why was Jesus headed into Jerusalem that day? To celebrate the Passover! This can be found in all four Gospel books in the New Testament. It was during their Passover Seder that Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and instituted communion. In three of the four Gospels, he even said that he’d celebrate Passover again with us someday!

As believers in Jesus, we have the common goal of being more like Jesus. In celebrating Passover, we’re not only walking in his footsteps but also practicing and preparing for a Passover feast with Jesus himself one day! Wow!

God Tells Us to Remember

**Obedience – a Result of Salvation**

God’s people want to please and obey Him. We obey not to try to earn our salvation but because we have a God who knows our needs intimately enough to have provided us with a Savior. It’s out of that same love that God provided us with many commands in the Bible. Being our creator, He knows what’s best for us and has shown us how to live.

So, one wonderful reason to celebrate Passover is because God told us to! He knows that it’s in our best interest and that our celebration can bring glory to Him!

The Command

The command to celebrate Passover is found in many places throughout the Bible. We know that the most important or notable things in the Bible are repeated. God must have placed high importance on the annual celebration of Passover because the command is repeated many times!

Passover is to be observed on the 14th day of the first month (Nisan) at twilight. It should also be noted that many of the places Passover is commanded specify that it’s to be done forever – not just while wandering in the desert, not just until that generation was gone, and not just until Jesus comes. Forever. Throughout all generations.

Speaking of generations, some of these commands come with an explanation that we’re to teach our children about Passover and answer their questions about God by recounting the Passover story to them. What an effective way to teach them who God is!

The command to observe Passover includes the sacrifice of the Passover lamb at the Temple. Since we currently have no Temple that we have access to for this, we unfortunately can’t fully obey this command. We can, however, obey God when He said to remember when God rescued His people from Egypt. We can also obey Him in teaching our children what God did and who He is through the Passover story.

When we have a Passover Seder, we do just that. We remember what God did for the Hebrew people as well as what God did for us when He sent Jesus to die to atone for our sins. The Bible doesn’t mention a seder, but it does tell us to recall the events of the Passover to our children to teach them about God (Ex. 12:25-27). The seder serves to do just that – to remember what God did and to teach our children so generations after us don’t forget who God is and what He does for His people.

Here’s a list of the verses in the Bible that include a command to observe Passover:

– Exodus 12:14-17, 24-27; 13:3, 6-8, 14-15; 34:18, 25

– Leviticus 23:4-8

– Numbers 9:1-14; 28:16-17

– Deuteronomy 16:2-3

– 2 Kings 23:21-22

– 2 Chronicles 30:1

– Ezekiel 45:21

– Matthew 26:26-29

– Luke 22:17-20

– 1 Corinthians 5:7-8; 11:23-26

To Get to Know God

We read and study the Bible not for our own intellectual advancement but to get to know God. As we see Him interact with His people throughout the Bible, we can learn His character. It’s in learning who He is that we can develop a relationship with Him. The story of Passover is just one example.

God explains more fully why Passover shows us who He is.

“Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” Ex. 6:7

God used His supernatural power to free His people from slavery to show them that they were His people, He was their God, and He was faithful to them. Every year, He wants us to retell the story to our children and remember it ourselves so that we know that the Creator of the universe, the one who freed His people from the Egyptians, will be our God. We will be His people, and He will be forever faithful!

If you’re planning a Passover Seder, check out my calendar for the dates. It’s on this list as an 8-day celebration, like it will be on most calendars but the Seder is traditionally held on the second day. The date of Passover stays the same on the Hebrew calendar but changes yearly on our Gregorian calendar.

If you’d like a short, simple, yet Christ-centered guide, here’s the link to my Basic Christian Passover Seder Guide.

If you’re new to the concept of a Gospel-centered Passover, the book Christ in the Passover by Ceil and Moishe Rosen and Jews for Jesus will further explain the themes I touched on here.

Is the Sabbath Really THAT Important to God?

Written by Holy Branches on March 9, 2026. Posted in Sabbath, Traditions. 9 Comments on Is the Sabbath Really THAT Important to God?

Does God really care that much whether we keep the Sabbath? What difference does taking a day off work make? Couldn’t we take a vacation for rest or worship Him at any convenient time?

A basic rule of Bible study is to pay special attention to the things God repeats in His Word. The concept of the Sabbath is repeated numerous times, beginning at the very beginning when God rested after the creation of our universe. Sabbath keeping is worded as a command 27 times, and there are many other places where it is discussed further. It’s not only one of the Ten Commandments; God also calls it a sign of the covenant between Him and His people forever!

I want to point out that I know the subject of the Sabbath creates some division among Christians. There are Godly Christ-followers on both sides of the Sabbath conversation, and many have strong feelings about it. I’ll present here the conclusion my family has reached in our pursuit of God’s will in our lives, and I hope these words will fall on open ears and hearts, no matter your beliefs on the issue. Like every other aspect of the life of a believer, we must take our questions to God and His Word and use our discernment through the Holy Spirit to decide what we do and do not do.

The Command

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
Ex. 20:8 (NASB)

That one’s pretty simple. Remember it and keep it holy. Got it. Then it gets more serious.

Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.
Ex. 31:14-15 (NASB)

“For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy day, a sabbath of complete rest to the Lord; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.
Ex. 35:2 (NASB)

While we don’t put those who ignore the Sabbath to death, these verses make it obvious how God feels about it. Besides being commanded by God, violating the Sabbath carried a stiff punishment in Old Testament times.

Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Hardcover, Red Letter, NIV

Looking at what God says about the Sabbath through His prophet Ezekiel (Ez. 20-23) is even more sobering. He considered wiping out the entire nation of Israel for profaning the Sabbath and rejecting God’s other ordinances. Yikes!

But why does He care so much? Why does my taking a day off of work – or not – make any difference to God?

The Sign of the Covenant

The Sabbath isn’t just a day of rest. It’s a sign that we belong to God.

I gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.
Ez 20:12 (NASB)

Sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’
Ez. 20:20 (NASB)

God created all people, and many claim to belong to Him, but He clarifies in His Word that keeping the Sabbath is the sign that we acknowledge that He’s our God and we’re His people.

I’ve heard baptism metaphorically explained like a wedding ring. Accepting Jesus as your Savior seals your place in the Kingdom of Heaven. Baptism is your outward expression of that decision to the world, just as the wedding is what makes you married, but the ring is how you show that decision to the public.

The Sabbath is much the same. When we accept Jesus, we belong to God. He is our God, and we are His people. Keeping the Sabbath is the external signal to God, the world, and ourselves that we’ve made that decision. Ignoring the Sabbath is like keeping our relationship with God a secret. We may indeed be His people, but we’re unwilling to expose that to the public in the action of observing the Sabbath.

I want to make this part very clear. Keeping the Sabbath doesn’t save us! Belief in Jesus as the only sacrifice for our sin does (Rom. 10:9-10). However, when we fail to keep the Sabbath, we give up the opportunity to show God and those around us who we belong to. That’s why it’s so serious.

Didn’t Jesus Work on the Sabbath?

Jesus and his disciples gathered grain on the Sabbath as they traveled. While this was permitted by law, the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus since he did it on the Sabbath. But gathering grain wasn’t against any biblical command concerning the Sabbath. Not gathering grain was a Rabbinical addition to God’s command. When asked about this, Jesus didn’t say, “I’m here now, so the Sabbath is no longer relevant.” Although this would have been the perfect time to point out that we no longer needed to keep the Sabbath, he instead tried to teach them what God says about mercy (Matt. 12:1-8).

Did Jesus’s Crucifixion and Resurrection Nullify the Sabbath?

Nowhere in his recorded words does Jesus say to stop keeping the Sabbath – before or after his resurrection. In fact, Jesus says that he came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17). He clarified that the Law isn’t gone because of his arrival on Earth or his work on the cross. He’s the Messiah, the one who kept every one of the commands in the Torah – The Holy Days, the 10 Commandments, eating a Kosher diet, Keeping the Sabbath, all of it. We could say he just did those things because he was born of Jewish heritage, but remember that it was his perfect keeping of these “Jewish” laws that made him the only one on Earth throughout history that qualified as a sacrifice for the sin of all. Let that sink in.

The Sabbath is Forever

If the Sabbath was meant to be temporary, why didn’t God say that? Sabbath-keeping was such a big deal in both the Old Testament and among the Messianic Jews who made up the early church; why didn’t God clarify that it was no longer necessary?

Exodus 31:16, Leviticus 16:31, and 24:8 all say that the Sabbath is permanent. It doesn’t say that it will be abolished when the Messiah comes or that it’s only necessary during the wandering in the desert or while the Temple is standing. It’s forever—throughout all generations of God’s people.

The Sabbath Isn’t Just for Jewish People

Sterling Silver Bar Pendant Necklace Messianic Seal Mezuzah

The Ten Commandments, including the fourth—the one about the Sabbath—were given to the Hebrew people, later called the people of Israel. In other places, such as Isaiah 56, it was stated that foreigners would receive blessings from keeping the commands of God—the Sabbath and others. Exodus 20:10 says that even a sojourner staying with a Hebrew should observe the Sabbath with the rest of the household.

Unless you’re Jewish by heritage, you’re a Gentile and cannot change that by obeying the commands God gave to Israel. However, the apostle Paul lays out how we’re grafted in to the promises God gave Israel through our faith in Jesus. It’s important to realize that, because of this, the promises, commands, and blessings God gave to Israel are now extended to us as well.

For All God’s Creation

The Sabbath is not only for people everywhere but also for other parts of God’s creation. He commands that the land and livestock should also have a Sabbath. Many places say this, and here are a couple.

but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.
Ex. 20:10 (NASB)

but during the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord; you shall not sow your field nor prune your vineyard.
Lev. 25:4 (NASB)

We all know why it’s essential for humans and even animals to rest, but God also sees benefit in the land itself taking a break from its job of producing.

But it’s not just creation that takes a Sabbath. We can look back at Genesis to remind us that even the Creator Himself took a Sabbath after His miraculous creation work. Chapter 2 tells us that that’s when He blessed the day, making it holy, as only God can do.

Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change Your Life

What Should We Do?

You may be feeling awkward right now if you learned something new about the Sabbath or have recently been convicted of not keeping it God’s way like I was. Don’t throw in the towel, though. Just because those around you don’t keep the Sabbath or think it’s optional or unimportant to God doesn’t mean you have to follow their path. Even if you’ve never kept the Sabbath, here are a few things to set you on your way to a peaceful and God-pleasing one.

Consult God.

While we know this should be where we start in any step we take in our faith walk, we sometimes forget it. Ask God what He wants for you and your family regarding the Sabbath. Be ready to hear His answer, even if it may not be what you were expecting. Dig into His Word to see what He has to say about the Sabbath, and ask Him to show you what that should look like in your life.

Get started.

When our family got serious about Sabbath-keeping, it wasn’t easy at first! We had to restructure our whole week to incorporate the Sabbath, and it took a few years to get it right. We’re not perfect at it now, but we regularly have holy, peaceful Sabbaths and continue to learn and grow more toward that each week.

Here’s what my family does on the Sabbath to give you ideas of where to start. Don’t strive toward your expectation of what a Sabbath should look like. Instead, make it a day to grow closer to God, your family, and others. Continually learn and grow in the direction God takes you.

Embrace tradition.

Our family finds it most beneficial to observe a traditional Jewish-type Sabbath. While this may not work for all families, it has given us the focus, discipline, and other tools we needed to make Sabbath-keeping a tradition in our home. Learning about and employing one Sabbath tradition at a time may help everyone adjust.

Prepare.

Welcoming the Sabbath: A Messianic Family Guide for Erev Shabbat

Keeping the Sabbath doesn’t work well without this one—trust me—I’ve tried! Make a list of things that need to be done ahead of time to ensure the Sabbath is as work-free as possible. Organize that list according to when each item can be done and spread the work over the days of the week. Planning this way will prevent you from trying to squish a week’s worth of chores and cooking into your Friday afternoon, causing you to arrive at the Sabbath worn out and stressed.

The Bible clearly shows that the Sabbath is essential to God and should be to us. Just that should cause us to take our Sabbaths seriously and remember them as God told us to. But Jesus also pointed out that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath (Mk. 2:27). While we do it to show that we belong to God, we also keep the Sabbath because we know we’re all in desperate need of some quality rest – both the kind you get from taking a day off of work and the perfect and eternal peace we can only find in our Savior.

How to Find a Hebraic Congregation

Written by Holy Branches on March 9, 2026. Posted in Hebraic Roots. 22 Comments on How to Find a Hebraic Congregation

Once a Christian is convicted of making changes to their faith and proceed on the journey of incorporating their Hebraic Roots into how they practice their faith, they often need to find a different type of community to support them in that. Although it can be challenging, many find that they need to seek a congregation that believes and practices similarly.

Going down the river in two canoes

My rabbi described this point in life as going down the river in two canoes – one foot in each. All goes well until you come to a rock. Then you have to choose which canoe to stay in to continue down the river.

Like many in this position, I once had my feet in two canoes. But issues came up that were difficult to resolve – holidays, Bible versions, how and what to teach children, whether to make diet changes, etc. and I had to decide which canoe my family and I were going to stay in on our journey down the river of our faith.

When a rock is approaching

While it’s growing quickly, the Hebraic or Messianic faith is still less represented than other traditional Christian faiths. I’ve been contacted by Believers all over the world who have reached the point where they can’t figure out where they belong. Congregations that lean more toward a Hebraic faith can be difficult to find but in less about 10 years (the amount of time I’ve been searching for resources in this area), The number of congregations has grown significantly!

So, if you’re one of those in two canoes, watching a “rock” approach, and feeling like you need to get into one canoe or the other, this post is for you! I’ll share some ways I’ve discovered to find a Hebraic faith community, and perhaps one of these ideas will help you find your own.

Use Online Directories

A few organizations have recognized the problem of finding a congregation and created online directories of Hebraic/Messianic Jewish congregations. Not all are listed on these, but they’re a great place to start!

Plug into a Bible Study

Torah Club is a deep, in-person Bible study that restores the Jewishness of Jesus and the Bible. There’s a good chance there’s a group near you! Find a Club in your area here!

Use a search engine

Of course, you can also use your favorite search engine or mapping program to find a congregation. Search terms such as “Messianic Jewish” or “Yeshua” will be helpful.

Another place to look is on social media. Some smaller congregations may not have a website or be listed in a directory, but they may have a Facebook page, a MeWe group, or an Instagram profile. Use the terms above and include the name of your city to help dig up congregations not found elsewhere.

None in your area?

If you’ve searched online and can’t find a community in your area, don’t be discouraged! You’re not alone; you just haven’t found your people yet. Keep searching! But in the meantime, participate online with congregations that live-stream or record their services. There are many of these, and, like live congregations, the number is growing!

Christian Canvas Wall Art Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Shema Canvas Print Positive Painting Religious Home Wall Church Decor Framed Gift 12×15 Inch

Podcasts and Bible teachings

Torah Class – podcasts and Bible studies
119 Ministries – podcasts and teachings

New to the Hebraic/Messianic faith? Find out What to Expect at a Messianic Synagogue here!

I’ll continue to update this post with congregational resources I find. If you know of any not listed here, add them in the comments! Let’s do all we can to connect our fellow believers in Yeshua, our Messiah!

Does Old Testament Law Apply to Christians?

Written by Holy Branches on March 9, 2026. Posted in Uncategorized. 2 Comments on Does Old Testament Law Apply to Christians?

Most Christians have heard some version of this teaching:

“The Old Testament Law was for Israel. Jesus fulfilled it. We now live under grace, not law.”

For many Believers, this conclusion seems obvious. After all, the New Testament speaks often about grace, faith, and freedom. Yet when we slow down and read these passages carefully, in the context of the rest of the Bible, a different conclusion begins to emerge.

Before we get into this discussion, I’ll clarify one thing. This article is not a denial of salvation by grace. I am not suggesting that we obey Old Testament Law as a means of being saved, but as a way of life for God’s people, after they’re committed to serving Him.

A Christian Guide to the Biblical Feasts

In light of modern, traditional Christian teachings, the simple, Biblically centered question we need to ask is:

Does the New Testament really teach that God’s Law no longer matters?

The New Testament does offer some criticism of the Law, but is it teaching that it has been thrown out entirely? For Jesus’s and Paul’s followers, this message would have been groundbreaking. It would have been groundbreaking news, requiring extensive clarification. Neither audience would have readily accepted the message that God, who said, “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to, nor take away from it” (Deut. 12:32), decided to dissolve the Law without warning. They would have certainly also thought of Psalms, where it says, “…every one of your righteous rules endures forever”.

But God doesn’t change, and the Old and New Testaments cannot contradict one another. When the New Testament critiques “the Law,” what exactly is being critiqued—and what is not?

1. “We Are Not Under Law but Under Grace”

This verse, written by Paul in Romans 6:14, is often understood to mean that believers are no longer obligated to obey the Old Testament commandments. When paired with statements like “you have died to the law” (Rom. 7:4) and “Christ is the end of the law” (Rom. 10:4), the conclusion seems clear: the Law has been set aside.

All Believers agree the Law does not save us. Where they differ is what Paul means by “under the law.”

In Paul’s letters, “under the law” frequently refers to being:

under the Law as a system of justification, or
under the Law’s condemnation because of sin

Paul himself insists that faith does not cancel God’s Law:

“Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” (Rom. 3:31)

Grace removes the penalty of sin; it does not redefine sin. Paul even says that the Law is “holy, righteous, and good” (Rom. 7:12).

In this reading, grace changes our relationship to the Law. It does not make obedience irrelevant.

2. “The Law Was Only a Temporary Guardian”

In Galatians 3:24–25, Paul describes the Law as a “guardian” until Christ came, after which believers are “no longer under a guardian.” This verse is often taken to mean the Law was a temporary measure that has now served its purpose.

Galatians was written to address a specific crisis: Gentile believers were being told they must be circumcised and keep the Law in order to be saved. Paul strongly rejects this.

But rejecting the Law as a means of salvation is not the same as rejecting it as God’s instruction for living.

Paul even says explicitly:

“Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not!” (Gal. 3:21)

Importantly, long after this controversy, Jewish believers in Jesus are still described as observing the Law:

“They are all zealous for the law.” (Acts 21:20)

The issue in Galatians is how people enter God’s covenant family—not whether God’s moral instruction still matters.

3. “Food Laws, Feasts, and Sabbaths Were Just Shadows”

Paul tells believers in Colossians 2:16–17 not to let anyone judge them regarding food, festivals, or Sabbaths, calling these things “a shadow of what was to come.” This is often read as permission to disregard these practices entirely.

The Way of Life – Didache: A New Translation and Messianic Jewish Commentary

But Paul does not say, “Do not keep these things.”
He says, “Do not let anyone judge you regarding them.”

Paul’s comment suggests the Colossian Believers were already observing Biblical rhythms and were being criticized – likely by outsiders with different standards.

In Scripture, a “shadow” is not something false or useless. It points forward to something greater. Even the Old Testament prophets describe future worship that still includes Sabbaths:

“From Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before Me.” (Isa. 66:23)

Rather than being abolished, these practices are seen as Christ-centered and forward-looking.

4. “The Law Was Abolished to Unite Jews and Gentiles”

Paul says in Ephesians 2:15 that Christ abolished “the law of commandments expressed in ordinances,” often understood as the Mosaic Law itself.

The context of Ephesians 2 is hostility between Jews and Gentiles, not God’s moral standards.

Many scholars note that the term translated “ordinances” refers to legal decrees and boundary-making rules that separated Gentiles from Jewish community life – not to God’s eternal instruction itself.

God’s Law elsewhere is described as enduring:

“Every one of Your righteous rules endures forever.” (Ps. 119:160)

Christ removes barriers between people without removing God’s definition of righteousness.

5. “Jesus Fulfilled the Law, So It No Longer Applies”

Jesus says in Matthew 5:17 that He came to “fulfill” the Law, which is often taken to mean the Law is now complete and no longer binding.

Jesus immediately explains what He means:

“Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter shall pass from the Law.” (Matt. 5:18)

Rather than lowering the bar, Jesus raises it—moving obedience from external behavior to the heart. He warns against setting aside even the least commandment (Matt. 5:19).

In Jewish context, “fulfill” means to live out fully and teach correctly, not to abolish. Also, other places where the Greek word (pleroo) translated “fulfill” in Matt. 5:17 is used make it clear that it does not mean “do away with”. It’s also used in Ephesians 5:18, where Believers were “filled” with the Holy Spirit.

6. “Jesus Declared All Foods Clean”

Mark 7:19 is frequently cited as Jesus abolishing kosher laws.

The passage addresses ritual hand-washing traditions, not unclean animals. Jesus rebukes elevating human traditions above God’s commandments.

Notably, years after the resurrection, Peter says:

“I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” (Acts 10:14)

Peter’s comment suggests the apostles did not understand Jesus to have overturned dietary laws during His ministry.

7. “The Apostles Ruled That Gentiles Don’t Need the Law”

The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 is often seen as the final word: Gentiles do not need to keep the Law.

The council answers a single question:
Must Gentiles be circumcised to be saved? The answer is no.

The four instructions given are practical starting points for fellowship, not a complete definition of Christian obedience. James concludes:

“For Moses has been preached in every city… being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” (Acts 15:21)

James says this to imply continued learning, not rejection, of Scripture.

8. We’re under the New Covenant

In defense of not following Old Testament Law, many cite that we’re now under the New Covenant, so those laws don’t apply anymore.

However, the New Covenant did not do away with the Law but changed its location from stone tablets to our own hearts. The promise is not the removal of God’s instruction, but its internalization:

“I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.” (Jer. 31:33)

A Final Reflection on the Law for Christians

All Believers agree:

Salvation is by grace alone
Faith is in Christ alone
No one is justified (saved) by works of the Law

The remaining question is this:
What does grace produce in the life of a believer?

Shouldn’t our actions align more and more with the righteousness of God as we mature in a relationship with Him? Does our belief in Jesus’s power to save result in a change in the way we live our lives?

My goal is not to call the Church back to legalism, but to invite Believers to reconsider whether Biblical obedience might still be part of faithful devotion to God.

I encourage all Bible teachers to take Jesus’s words in Matthew 5:19 very seriously, “Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Looking for more info? Here are some other things Jesus taught in support of the Law. And here’s how the Apostle Paul upheld Old Testament Law.

Hanukkah and Purim: What Do They Mean to the Christian Faith?

Written by Holy Branches on March 3, 2026. Posted in Hanukkah, Traditions. 1 Comment on Hanukkah and Purim: What Do They Mean to the Christian Faith?

In addition to the seven biblically commanded feasts in Leviticus 23, some Christians observe Purim and Hanukkah. While these celebrations have been primarily Jewish throughout history, they offer a rich supplement to the faith of a Christian. They also serve to pass traditions on to the next generation that increase biblical understanding and, ultimately, understanding of God Himself!

Purim

The back story of Purim is the book of Esther. It’s an exciting story with plotting, scheming, suspense, and an unlikely hero. To summarize, God saved the Jewish people from destruction through Queen Esther, a young Jewish orphan, and Mordecai, the cousin who raised her. In Esther 9:20-22, Mordecai instituted Purim as an annual celebration to commemorate the deliverance of the Jews from the evil Haman who had plotted to destroy them. He said it would be a day of feasting, rejoicing, sending food gifts to one another, and giving gifts to the poor.

Purim doesn’t seem to have changed much since then. Lasting two days, it is still a joyful time of feasting. Gifts are still given to others, and charity is given to the poor. One of the most memorable Purim traditions is dressing up like characters from the story or wearing masks. Our Messianic Synagogue once had an Esther costume contest, and all the young women put on their best Queen Esther costume.

Another Purim tradition is reading the Megillah or the book of Esther. This reading is often done dramatically or theatrically, including omitting Haman’s name or booing each time his name is read.

Hamantachen are a traditional Purim dessert. They’re tri-cornered pastries with a sweet filling and are a tasty addition to the celebration. There are many different explanations for Hamantaschen being the official dessert of Purim, and the most common is that they’re made to represent Haman’s hat, ear, or pockets.

Hanukkah and Purim Are For Christians Too!

Aside from being fun to celebrate, why would a Christian be interested in celebrating Purim? What message does the book of Esther and, thus, Purim have for Gentiles? The simple answer is two-fold.

Having been grafted into God’s kingdom (Rom. 11:11-24), Christians are the Gentile version of God’s people, the Jews. The importance of the Jewish people to God cannot be overlooked when studying the Old Testament. It was God’s clear intention to send the Messiah to them (Rom. 1:16). Because many Jews rejected him as the Messiah, Gentiles, whose faith was in Jesus as Messiah, were then included in the Kingdom of God as well. This inclusion means that God’s promises, protection, and provision given to the Jewish people also apply to Christians. We celebrate His deliverance of the Jews in Esther’s time as our deliverance as God’s people.

The second reason Christians celebrate Purim is that it celebrates God’s faithfulness. As Christians, we are the living testimony to God’s eternal faithfulness, and that’s the hope we have to offer the Godless world. The story of Esther is just one of an endless list of examples of God’s protection and provision at a time that seemed hopeless for His people.

Hamentaschen Cookies Filled with Raspberry and Apricot Filling | Gourmet Cookie Gifts | Mishloach Manot | Purim Gift Idea for Him & Her | Kosher Hamentaschen Cookies | 22 oz Stern’s Bakery

Hanukkah (Chanukah)

With many different spellings in English, Hanukkah is also called the Feast of Dedication or the Festival of Lights. It celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple following a miraculous victory by a small number of Jews against a large army determined to extinguish them. Jewish traditions were outlawed under the Hellenistic Syrian rule of Antiochus IV (Antiochus Epiphanes). The Temple scrolls were confiscated, and Sabbath observation, adherence to a Kosher diet, and circumcision were punishable by death!

When forced to eat pork or offer sacrifices to foreign gods, many Jews were tortured and put to death. Idols were placed in the Temple. In the writings of Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, it’s recorded that pigs were sacrificed on the Temple altar. Some Jews protected themselves by simply assimilating with the Hellenistic culture. A few hid from the Syrians in caves in the hills of Judea.

A few Jews led by Judah called Maccabee decided to fight for the Torah and their God. Of course, Antiochus sent men to defeat them, but they were instead victorious! Antiochus sent another group, again defeated, and then organized a larger war effort of 40,000 men. Judah and his men were again victorious over a series of battles, though the odds were against them.

Upon their return to Jerusalem, they removed the idols from the Temple. The story goes that they found the Temple menorah gone and had to make another one. There was only one day’s worth of oil to light the menorah, and it would take eight days to make more. Since the menorah is supposed to stay lit, this posed a problem. They lit the menorah with the oil they had, and it stayed lit for the eight days it took to make more oil – a miracle.

Hanukkah’s most noticeable symbol today is the Hanukkiah, a modified menorah with nine lights. One more light is lit each night of Hanukkah until all lights are lit on the last night of Hanukkah. The ninth light is used to light the other candles. Traditional foods during Hanukkah are cooked in oil (in reference to the Temple Menorah story). Latkes, a fried potato pancake, and jelly doughnuts called sufganiyot are popular during Hanukkah. Another common symbol for this festival – the dreidel – represents the dreidel game played during the eight-day celebration.

The story behind Hanukkah is not in the Protestant bible. It’s found in the first and second books of the Maccabees and combined with Jewish legend. Observing an occasion found in an extrabiblical source makes many Christians uncomfortable, but the historical story’s main conclusion is one Christians can fully embrace. Like the time of Esther, the Jewish people were again faced with extinction and seemingly impossible circumstances. And yet again, God preserved them through His own means, by His own plan, to show His glory.

Another reason Hanukkah holds meaning for Christians is that we, as God’s people, also face persecution. American Christians are comfortable now due to our freedom to worship, but it may not always be that way, and that isn’t the case currently for Christians elsewhere in the world. God’s people have been and will be persecuted throughout history, but the faithful of us will stand for our God despite even horrific circumstances.

The Dreidel Company Contemporary Hanukkah Menorah, Polished, Non-tarnishing, Holds Most Hanukkah Candles (Silver)

Hanukkah celebrates the cleansing and rededication of the Temple. It was cleansed of idols and desecration and rededicated to God as it was meant to be. This concept should cause a Christian to look inward. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19, our bodies are temples. As Christians, we should live our entire lives as a Hanukkah celebration – lives that celebrate our cleansing from sin through Jesus and our rededication to God as we accept him as our Savior and His Spirit lives in us! The Hanukkah story is a beautiful picture of the change that’s taken place in the souls of each Christian!

Furthermore, John 10:22-33 records Jesus celebrating the Feast of Dedication. If it was important enough to be observed by our Savior, it should also be important to us! On the Temple porch, he chooses this day to announce that he is the Messiah.

These two Jewish celebrations have much to offer when integrated into the Christian faith. Since Christians share a place with Jews in the Kingdom of God, Jewish religious festivals can also be meaningful to our faith. The messages of God’s sovereignty, deliverance, faithfulness, cleansing, and rededication are portrayed through stories and the celebrations they’re based upon. Observing Hanukkah and Purim has grown my family spiritually, and I believe it will benefit yours as well!

5 Ways to Celebrate Purim as a Christian

Written by Holy Branches on March 3, 2026. Posted in Purim. 2 Comments on 5 Ways to Celebrate Purim as a Christian

Have you read the book of Esther in the Bible? If not, you’re missing out! Along with being an exciting story, featuring a beautiful heroine as well as an evil villain, plotting against God’s people. Themes of God’s faithfulness as well as the deliverance of His people are evident in this story of deception and salvation, a story where the good guys win!

The holiday of Purim celebrates these themes and remembers the story from the book of Esther. It’s celebrated on the 14th day of the Hebrew calendar month of Adar. For the corresponding date on the Gregorian calendar, check my Calendar.

Tell the Story

There’s no substitute for the actual book of Esther in the Bible! It’s a relatively short book – only 10 chapters – so dive right in! A scroll containing the book of Esther is called the Megillah of Esther and it’s traditionally read in synagogues during Purim.

There are also many books containing this story. Here are a few to choose from.

The Story of Esther: A Purim Tale

The Book of Esther by David H. Stern

Bible Pathway Adventures Esther Activity Book

Jewish Holidays: A Brief Introduction for Christians

Dress Up

This is by far my kids’ favorite part of Purim! Not only is it fun to dress as a character from the story, but it’s a great way to reiterate the story and remember how each character relates to it.

Dressing up as Esther is pretty much irresistible for little girls! Boys can be King Ahasuerus (Xerxes), Mordecai, or even the evil Haman! There are other characters in the story to dress up as also. And dressing up isn’t just for kids! Adults can get in on the fun as well!

Some costumes we’ve used:

Child’s Biblical Times Burgundy Wiseman Costume

Biblical Times Blue Wiseman Child Costume

Medieval Princess Costume

Fake Beards

Watch the Movie

The Bible Stories: Esther

The Book of Esther

And your kids will love this VeggieTales version of the story: Esther: The Girl Who Became Queen

Have a Feast!

While having a feast is customary, what you serve is up to you! Here are two traditional dessert options.

Hamentaschen are the classic Purim treat. There’s a bit of a learning curve to making them though. This page from Tori Avey will help you get it right!

Haman’s Fingers

While the name is less than appetizing, this is a delicious recipe that you can even make ahead of time!

Make Crafts

Purim Finger Puppets

Make crowns out of these Paper Plate Party Hats

It’s customary to give gifts on Purim and these Mishloach Manot Baskets are also a fun craft to do with the kids!

What are you planning for Purim? Share in the comments!

An Intro to Purim for Christians

Written by Holy Branches on March 3, 2026. Posted in Purim, Traditions. 3 Comments on An Intro to Purim for Christians

The traditionally Jewish celebration of Purim commemorates God’s deliverance of the Jewish people as recounted in the historical book of Esther in the Bible’s Old Testament. It’s an exciting story but more than that, it has an important message for Christians. It tells of God’s faithfulness and His love for His people and of His plan for their deliverance through the courage and faith of a young woman.

The Story of Esther

The celebration of Purim doesn’t mean much if you’re not familiar with the story of Esther, found in the book of Esther. The themes of this holiday tie very directly into this exciting story with queens and kings, an evil villain, and an unexpected hero. The paraphrased story follows but don’t neglect to read the real version! There’s no substitute for the Word of God!

The Bash of the Century

The story begins with a party. A big one. It was thrown by King Ahashverosh. That’s his Persian name but he’s called King Xerxes or Artaxerxes depending on which Bible translation you read. For 6 months, King Ahashverosh of the Medes and Persians, who ruled 127 provinces total, partied with his army and the leaders of surrounding provinces. The afterparty was a smaller party, but this time with more drinking. And this one lasted 7 days!

It was during this afterparty that a very inebriated King Ahashverosh called for his queen, Vashti, to “display her beauty” at the party. He also asked her to wear her crown, which some interpret to mean that he wanted her to appear wearing only her crown!

Queen Vashti refused, which greatly angered her husband. It also raised the eyebrows of the men close to him. They convened, deciding that Vashti’s punishment must be severe lest other wives follow suit, disobeying their husbands as well.

Vashti Replaced

Queen Vashti was dethroned and prohibited from being in the presence of the king. It wasn’t long before King Ahashverosh decided to replace her. It’s here that we meet Esther, winner of a 127 province-wide beauty pageant, thrown by the king. He chose and married Esther after seeing her magnificent beauty.

Orphaned at a young age, Esther was being raised by her uncle, a Jewish man named Mordecai. He’d advised her to keep Jewish heritage a secret from her new royal acquaintances, so they didn’t know she was Jewish and she carried on with her new royal life, Mordecai looking on during his daily walks in front of the harem courts.

Mordecai Saves the King

In his usual position at the king’s gate, Mordecai overheard a plot between two guards to assassinate King Ahashverosh and reported them through Queen Esther. The guards’ plan was discovered, and they were hanged for their crime. Hailed as a hero, Mordecai’s actions won him a place in the king’s Book of Chronicles, a historical account of the kingdom.

Enter the Villain

King Ahashverosh chose Haman of Amalekite decent, as his second in command. Historically, the Amalekites hated the Jewish people. Descendants of Esau (and subsequently Amalek), these are the same people who went out of their way to attack the Hebrew people in the desert after their Exodus from Egypt.

Because of his position, all were to bow before Haman when in his presence. Mordecai, knowing Haman’s background, refused to bow before him which drew intense animosity toward Mordecai. Haman not only wanted to kill Mordecai but also the Jewish people as a whole.

Haman’s Plot

Haman convinced King Ahashverosh that it was in his best interest to get rid of the Jewish people. At the time of this conversation, neither man knew the true identity of their queen. The king granted Haman the authority to extinguish the Jewish people and the decree was sent out to all provinces.

The Jewish community grieved deeply upon hearing the news and word of the decision eventually reached Queen Esther. She sought out Mordecai and he encouraged her to approach the king and plead for her people. Knowing her appearance before the king without being summoned may be a death sentence for her, she told him to have all Jews fast and pray for 3 days, along with Esther and her maidens. Then she courageously said that she’d go before the king, even though it was against the law and, quote, “if I perish, I perish”.

Esther’s Invitation

When Esther appeared before King Ahashverosh, he not only spared her life, he said she could have whatever she wanted – even up to half the kingdom! We can conclude he likes her a whole lot! She then invited the king and Haman to a banquet. When they attended, King Ahashverosh again asked her what she requested, offering her up to half the kingdom and she invited them to a second banquet.

That evening, when Mordecai again had refused to bow before Haman, the villain went home and vented his frustration with Mordecai to his wife. Haman’s wife suggested he have gallows constructed and hang Mordecai on it before the banquet the following evening.

The King Remembers Mordecai

That night, the king had a bout of insomnia and ordered that the Book of Chronicles be read to him. Miraculously, the part about Mordecai thwarting the assassination plan against King Ahashverosh was read. The king asked his servants what had been done to reward Mordecai for his allegiance and they replied that nothing had been done.

King Ahashverosh had Haman brought in and asked him his opinion of what should be done for a man the king wants to honor. Not-so-humbly thinking it was himself, Haman suggested the honored man should be paraded around the kingdom, riding the king’s horse and wearing royal robes and a crown.

Just imagine the horrified look on Haman’s face when King Ahashverosh told him it was actually Mordecai he intended to honor in this way. It was Haman himself that had to lead the horse around with Mordecai on it!

Esther Accuses Haman

Then the time arrived for Esther’s second banquet. It was at this event that the tables turned. Esther revealed two pivotable bits of information that changed history. The first was that she was Jewish. The second was Haman’s plan to extinguish her people.

The king was angry at Haman and hanged him on the very gallows Haman had intended to hang Mordecai on. King Ahashverosh then promoted Mordecai to the position once held by Haman and learned of the relationship between Mordecai and Esther.

At the request of Queen Esther, King Ahashverosh allowed Esther and Mordecai to write letters in his name that revoked the previous decree for the destruction of the Jews. It said that they could defend themselves and even avenge themselves against their enemies. Haman’s 10 sons were hung and many of those who had intended to destroy the Jews were killed as well.

Purim Established

There was great joy among the Jewish people because the king’s decree had been lifted. They feasted and celebrated, and Mordecai established Purim as the day that the Jewish people would forever commemorate their preservation in the face of destruction.

The End. And God’s people lived happily ever after. Well, we will eventually. But that’s another story.

The Esther Anointing: Becoming a Woman of Prayer, Courage, and Influence

While it makes for a very entertaining story, how does the book of Esther apply to us as Christians? Does God have a message in this story and in the celebration centered upon it?

Themes of Purim

On Purim, we celebrate the sovereignty of God’s plan over man’s. Just like when Joseph told his brothers “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good” (Gen. 50:20), God took this seemingly tragic situation and turned it into a victory for His people.

We also see that it was as Israel united that they were able to overcome their enemies. If Esther had accepted the king’s offer of half the kingdom (it would be tempting, no?) instead of courageously pleading for her people, it appears that they would have been destroyed!

Faith and Courage

Like Esther, we should have the faith and courage to do the work God has for us. If we’re listening closely in His Word, in prayer, and among His people, the Holy Spirit will make what God has for us to do on Earth clear to each of us. He has uniquely gifted each of us for the job he has for us. What a blessing that He allows us to participate in His plans!

One thing that makes the book of Esther unique from others in the Bible is that it doesn’t mention the name of God at all. Not once. It shows that God was glorified through the actions of His people. When we step out in faith, God works through us to show His power and glory to a watching world!

God’s Faithfulness

God’s faithfulness to and deliverance of His people is clearly shown in the story of Esther. He not only preserved the Jewish people through Esther, but He was with them before this story and has been with them ever since. Despite great persecution throughout history, the Jewish people don’t just merely exist but are thriving!

As Christians, we’re grafted in to the promises God gave to His people in the Old Testament through Jesus, our Messiah, and we’re God’s people as well! He has been, is now, and will forever be faithful to us, just as He was to the Jews in the book of Esther. We know this because it’s shown in His word, in our own lives, and in the lives of those around us!

How Christians Celebrate Purim

Christians can celebrate Purim in much the same way the Jewish people have for thousands of years. While not one of the Biblical Feasts, Purim holds great significance for Christians also. The only difference is that we can also celebrate the deliverance from sin God has provided in Jesus as our savior. God’s always faithful, even when we’re not! Below are a few ways Purim can be celebrated in a Christian home and here’s a calendar of future Purim dates.

Read the book of Esther

This relatively short, yet fun to read book in the Old Testament will bring to light the reasons for celebration on Purim. Many make this fun by booing or shaking an unpleasant-sounding instrument called a “gragger” whenever Haman’s name is read in the story or by cheering for Esther and Mordecai. These things also help keep children entertained throughout the story.

Make hamantaschen

This is not only the traditional dessert served on Purim, it’s a great gift to give on that day as well (see below). It’s a lot like a cookie or small pastry with fruit filling inside. Its three-cornered shape is supposed to represent Haman’s hat or even his ears! Tori Avey’s hamantaschen recipe is not only delicious, it also includes folding instructions and hints for success that other recipes don’t.

Give gifts

Giving gifts was one of the ways Mordecai from the story of Esther recommended we celebrate. These are often edible gifts, with hamantaschen topping the list of possibilities.

Give to charity

Another of Mordecai’s suggestions, a gift to charity is a great idea any day but on Purim, it shows we’re grateful for the faithfulness of our God!

Celebrate with a meal

It’s not what you serve at this meal that’s Purim-specific. It just needs to be a joyful meal! This is not the time to be health-conscious or anything. Make something everyone loves and plenty of it – with hamantaschen for dessert!

Act it out

A favorite of both children and adults, this is also a great way to learn the story! Kids are suckers for any dress-up game and this one is no exception. You’ll need a Queen Esther, an evil Haman, a King Ahashverosh, a Mordecai, and maybe even a Queen Vashti!

Fast on Purim Eve

Also called the Fast of Esther, many fast the day before Purim in remembrance of Queen Esther asking her people to fast and pray for three days before she appeared before the king. This is a great time to both praise God for what He’s done as well as petition for His people. And don’t worry! You can make up for those lost calories with hamantaschen the next day! *wink*

Greet with Happy Purim!

While you could also say “Happy Purim”, you could kick it up a notch with “Chag Purim Sameach” (pronounced khog pur-im suh-may-ach). That means “happy Purim festival”. It’s literally festival Purim happy, but you get the idea!

Praise God!

This is another thing you could do any day of the year but on Purim, we praise Him specifically for His faithfulness, deliverance, and His never-ending love for His people.

If you’d like to learn more about how Esther’s story relates to the Gospel or to yourself, as a woman in this century, below are two books for further study.

Enjoy your Purim celebration and give all the glory to God! Chag Purim Sameach!