How to Have A Christian Passover Meal for Easter

By: Richelle Wenham

Two years ago, as a mum of two, I found myself wondering if we were really making the most of our Easter celebrations.

Don’t get me wrong—the kids love the egg hunts and bunnies, and the chocolate is fun (okay, maybe too much fun). But amidst all of that, I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing. That tug on my heart made me pause and ask: What are we teaching them to remember about Easter?

I started reflecting on the deeper meaning of Easter and was reminded of something from years ago at my former church. One year, we held a Christian Passover feast—a simple yet beautiful tradition inspired by the Jewish Passover. I’ll never forget the way it brought the story of Jesus’ sacrifice to life in such a powerful and tangible way. That experience stayed with me, and as I thought about it, a question popped into my mind: When my kids look back on Easter someday, what will they remember? Will it just be the egg hunts and sugar highs—or could it be something deeper?

And that’s when the idea hit me: What if we created our own family tradition, a Christian Passover meal? Something simple but meaningful—a time to pause, reflect, and put Christ at the centre of it all. Inspired by Jesus’ Last Supper, it would be a way for us to remember His body and blood, shed on the cross for us. A tradition that helps us “do this in remembrance of Him,” as He asked.

A Symbolic Meal on Easter Thursday

Since then, we’ve started hosting a special dinner the night before Good Friday. It’s a symbolic meal inspired by the Jewish Passover, where we talk about the story of the Exodus and connect it to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God. It’s not about doing it perfectly—it’s about intentionally creating space for worship, reflection, and family connection during this sacred time.

And you know what? It’s become something my kids love and something I hope they’ll carry with them as they grow. If you’re feeling the same pull to bring more depth to your Easter, why not try it? You can adapt the below to fit your family, add your own touches, and make it uniquely yours. Easter isn’t just another holiday—it’s a celebration of Christ’s incredible gift of salvation, and this is one way to keep that front and centre.

Ingredients and Their Meanings

1 – Grape Juice (Red and White)

Red Grape Juice: Represents the blood of the lamb, pointing to Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
White Grape Juice: Symbolizes the Holy Spirit that dwells within us as believers.

Each person should have one cup of grape juice.

Verse to reflect on: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:20 NIV)

2 – Unleavened Bread

This symbolizes the Israelites’ haste in fleeing Egypt—they didn’t have time to let their bread rise. For Christians at Easter time, it also reminds us of Jesus’ body, broken for us on the cross.
You can use crackers, yeast-free bread, or even make your own using this recipe.

Verse to ponder: “Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.” (Luke 22:7)

3 – Green Vegetables (Parsley, Celery, or Green Beans)

These represent new life and can also symbolize the hyssop used to apply the Passover lamb’s blood on the doorframes.
Dip the green vegetables into saltwater, symbolizing the salty tears the Israelites shed in slavery.

Family Reflection: As Christians, talk about how Jesus’ death on the cross has freed us from slavery to sin—just as God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

4 – Lamb

Cook it however you like; slow cooking works wonderfully in our home.
The lamb represents the first Passover lamb, whose blood on the doorframes symbolized a substitute sacrifice. For Christians, this points to Jesus as our ultimate Passover Lamb.
We eat the lamb to remember His body, given for us on the cross.

Reflection: Through Jesus’ blood, we are forgiven and saved as we accept Him as Lord and Savior.

5 – Haroset

Traditionally a mix of apples and nuts, but for a child-friendly twist, we use cubed apples and roasted potatoes.
Traditionally, this represents the bricks the Israelites were forced to make during their slavery in Egypt. For Christians, it symbolizes the stone rolled away from Jesus’ tomb, reminding us that we are made new in Him.

Optional Kid-Friendly Additions: Gravy, apple sauce, or nut-based sauces to make the meal more appealing to little ones.

Christian Passover Action Instructions (keep this with you as a guide)

Preparations

Place all food into bowls with serving spoons. These will be passed around the table, one at a time, as you go through each symbolic item.
Set three unlit candles on the table and keep matches handy.
Dim the lights to create a reflective atmosphere but keep it bright enough so young children aren’t feeling afraid.
Have everyone stand at their seats—don’t sit down yet.
Nominate someone prior to pray say a prayer of Grace at the start and end.

The Meal

Read: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”.

Nominated person now says Grace for the meal.

Read: John 8:12 “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Someone lights the first candle.

Read: Luke 22:14-16 “When the hour came, Jesus and his disciples sat down at the table”. 15 And Jesus said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is carried out in the kingdom of God.”

Everyone now sits down.

Read: This weekend it is Easter. The time we remember that Jesus died on the cross for us. God’s word tells us that the night before Jesus was to die on the cross it was the Passover. This was a special event where Jews would sacrifice a lamb to remember how God saved them from Slavery in Egypt; the lambs blood protected them from harm. Tonight we remember that Jesus became that lamb for us. Freeing us from the slavery of sin. This meal doesn’t have any special powers but helps us remember Jesus’ love and that very last meal he ate. Matthew 26:26-29 “And as they were eating, Jesus took the bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

Pass the bread around and everybody takes one bite.

Read: “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins”.

Everybody takes a sip of their red grape juice.

Now get the green vegetable bowl.

Read: These vegetables/parsley/celery/beans represent new life, and can also represent the hyssop that the Israelites used to paint the Passover lamb’s blood on their doorways. We dip the green veggie in a little SALTWATER as a reminder of the salty tears the Israelites shed in slavery. As Christians, Jesus’ death on the cross has freed us from our slavery to sin – just like how God delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians. We all need a saviour to free us from sin. Jesus death did this. He is our saviour.

Everybody dips a veggie in a little salt water and places their veggies onto their plates. Everyone has a small bite of the dipped veggie.

Now take the plate of Lamb.

Read: The first Passover lamb died and had its blood placed on the doorframes to take the place of the firstborn son. In Jesus day, each family took their Passover lamb to the temple to be sacrificed and cooked. But when Jesus died for us; he became that Passover lamb. Through him we are now saved, when we accept him as our Lord and Saviour, he forgives us. Like the bread, we eat this lamb to remember his body broken for us.

Serve the lamb and everyone takes a bite.

Read: When the hour came, Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified, he carried his cross to Golgotha and there he hung, breathing his last breath he said: “Father Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. It is finished; into your hands I commit my spirit”. Then Jesus died. At that moment Jesus defeated the darkness.

Light the second candle.

Now take the bowl of Haroset: Apple and Potatoes.

Read: “3 days later while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went out to the place where Jesus was buried, but she saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance and Jesus was not there, she wept. But then an Angel appeared and told her Jesus had risen. So she raced off to tell the others”. And Jesus did appear to them many times before he went up to heaven before there very eyes…

These apples and potatoes once symbolised the bricks that the Israelites needed to build out of mud when they were slaves in Egypt. For us, it symbolizes the stone rolled away and how through Jesus we are built into a new creation. They remind us that even now Jesus is building a place for us and one day we’ll be present with Him.

Dish them out, and everyone takes a bite.

Get the white wine (white grape juice).

Read: Acts 1:5 “For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” This white juice represents the promised Holy Spirit.

Everyone takes a sip.

Read: After Jesus had returned to the father, his disciples all sat in a room waiting for the promise of his Holy Spirit. Our helper. Then in Acts 2:2–4 it came. God’s Word says, “Suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributed and resting on each one of them and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit”.

Someone lights the third candle to represent receiving the Holy Spirit.

Read: When we accept Jesus, we too receive the Holy Spirit. This candle represents his light, his spirit living in us today. 3 candles. Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Nominated person now says the closing prayer of thankfulness for Jesus sacrifice on the cross.

EAT and ENJOY!

PS: Want a Dessert Idea? For our Passover meal, we eat a Honey layer cake and talk about the land promised to Israel (a land flowing with milk and honey), and how Jesus promises to take us one day to where he is: to a perfect place in eternity.

Wishing you and your family a blessed and memorable Easter.

Article supplied with thanks to Rhema 99.7.

Feature image: Photo by tabitha turner on Unsplash