Submitted Photo First Baptist Church of Dunkirk recently celebrated the Jewish Passover Seder led by Rev. Ken Meyers on Good Friday, April 19.

First Baptist Church of Dunkirk celebrated the Jewish Passover Seder led by Rev. Ken Meyers on Good Friday, April 19.

The church family was joined by another area church and community guests to hear the redemption story and better understand the Messianic message of the Passover pointing us to Jesus Christ. Rev. Meyers, taking the role of elder, read from the Jewish Haggadah with Pastor Mark Massaro and his family sitting around the table as a traditional Jewish family would.

The Massaro’s youngest son, Jack, asked the four questions following “Why is this night different from all other nights?” The prayers, and symbols help answer those questions. All the attendees took part in all of the symbolic elements of the Passover, rehearsed prayers, sang in Hebrew and then enjoyed a full meal just as Jewish families around the world were celebrating Passover on the very same night.

Passover is one of the most important Jewish holidays of the year. It is a time to remember what God has done in liberating the Jewish people — affirming, consecrating and preserving them as His own people. Passover is a time for retelling the story of Passover and God’s rescue of His people from slavery in Egypt. For Messianic Jews, it is also a time of remembering this holy day in Messiah Yeshua’s (Jesus’) death and resurrection. Identifying the symbolism and ways in which Passover points to Yeshua infused our Passover with rich meaning — whether you are Messianic Jew or Gentile.

The guest speaker, Rev. Ken Meyers, grew up in Dunkirk. As a teenager, a neighbor lady invited him to First Baptist Church and he accepted the Lord has his personal Savior. Rev. Meyers has been involved in the service of the Lord for over 60 years, specifically his calling has been to God’s chosen people — the Jewish people.