Rahel Hirshenson Landrum of Jews for Jesus will re-create the traditional Passover service and explain how it foreshadowed Jesus’ death and resurrection in a presentation called “Christ in the Passover” at Eastern Heights Baptist Church Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
      Landrum has been on the staff of Jews for Jesus since 1992. She said attendees at the Statesboro church will get to experience the Passover meal and learn about the historical connection of the Passover meal to the modern Christian communion service.
      “Believers in Jesus that attend the Passover presentation will get the Jewish roots of their faith,” Landrum said. “It is tied up to the communion service that is celebrated today – it is the origin of the communion service that I will be presenting. A lot of Christians will see the connection – that it’s related and that the foundation is in biblical Judaism from the Old Testament.”
Harry Sherrer, one of the pastors at Eastern Heights, said the church leadership was looking for an organization to discuss the historical connection between Passover, the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt and the Christian communication celebration.
      “We looked for an opportunity for a person who speaks on the Jewish tradition to come speak to us,” Sherrer said. “We contacted Jews for Jesus about their “Christ in the Passover” presentation where they explain how the Passover foreshadows Jesus’ death and resurrection.”
      Landrum said the presentation is very visual and that she will set a table with items traditionally used at the Passover meal and detail their spiritual significance. She will also explain the connection between the events of the first Passover in Egypt and the redemption that Jesus accomplished, as well as the deep bond between the ancient Passover feast and the Christian communion celebration today.
      “(I show) the historical Passover where we celebrate the Exodus and then connect the old elements we have on the Passover table plus the traditions we have in Judaism and show how they all relate to Jesus,” Landrum said.
      “Jesus celebrated Passover with his disciples and at the point that he was to share with them his passion and his death, he used a particular cup and he used the bread during that Passover celebration,” Sherrer said. “This is a historical context for us, to understand a little bit more about what was happening and why it was happening. We love to have everybody come out.”
      Jews for Jesus has presented “Christ in the Passover” at 38,000 churches. It has been enthusiastically received by Christians who appreciate learning more about the Jewish backgrounds of their faith. Jews for Jesus was founded in 1973 by Moishe Rosen and more information about the organization can be found at www.jewsforjesus.org.
      Eastern Heights Baptist Church is located at 23805 U.S. Highway 80 East. Call their office at (912) 764-9151 for more information. The event is free and open to the public.