A few years ago I was encouraged to see young people wearing WWJD wristbands. I was delighted to think that as these committed believers went through their day facing various issues, they would ask themselves, “What Would Jesus Do?” I prayed for them to have the courage to follow Messiah’s example in those challenging moments.
Over time I saw fewer and fewer “WWJD” wristbands, and I figured another fad had come and gone. However the question raises a vital issue. In order to understand what Yeshua would do we need to examine how He lived.  When we study the life of Yeshua from a Jewish frame of reference it becomes easier to understand just what was important to Him and what example He wanted us to follow.

Scripture clearly teaches that Yeshua observed Hanukkah, the Feast of Tabernacles, and Passover. In fact, the reason that we know Yeshua ministered for just over three years is because John’s Good News account records three Passovers Yeshua celebrated.
It seems we can often become distracted by man-made ideas that relate to various celebrations and forget the beautiful truths that our faith is founded upon.
Yeshua, the Apostles, and all the first century believers understood Messiah’s Resurrection in light of the prophetically central events of Passover and First Fruits. With the ultimate focus of our redemption being the Lamb of God, Passover helps us understand the meaning of redemption, and the absolute necessity of having resurrection life in Yeshua. In fact, in order to continually appreciate the new life that we have in the Lord, Paul expected all believers to keep the feast of Passover. Thus, Passover redemption is the foundation of our First Fruits resurrection, our Pentecost experience, and our anticipation of the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. 
Yet, many believers are unaware of God’s appointment calendar clearly given to us in Leviticus 23. Why do most believers in Yeshua no longer celebrate the feasts?

In order to understand why this took place we must be aware of the history of the church, so that it can be contrasted with what the Bible actually teaches. Now, we must recognize that historic church councils have helped to articulate and distinguish biblical truth from error on many crucial issues of the faith.

Unfortunately, in the fourth and fifth centuries, these same councils made questionable decisions pertaining specifically to Jewish people and the Jewish essence of our faith. Such decrees were made to separate the faith from its “Jewish roots.” The Council of Nicea in AD 326 and the Synod of Sardica in AD 344, influenced by several powerful and anti-Semitic church leaders conducted a deliberate and apparently quite successful effort to remove all Jewish expressions of the faith from the celebration of the faith.  

There were various reasons these decrees were developed. In some cases it was to demonstrate the superiority of Christianity over Judaism, and of the church over the synagogue. Also, Emperor Constantine insisted on unity in his Roman Empire, and that meant religious unity as well through his new state religion, Christianity. This unity meant defining the enemy:

When the question relative to the sacred festival of Easter arose, it was universally thought ... to be particularly unworthy for this, the holiest of all festivals, to follow the custom of the Jews, who had soiled their hands with the most fearful of crimes, and whose minds were blinded. In rejecting their custom, we may transmit to our descendants the legitimate mode of celebrating Easter... We ought not, therefore, to have anything in common with the Jews, for the Saviour has shown us another way... we desire, dearest brethren, to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the Jews… How can they be in the right, they who, after the death of the Saviour, have no longer been led by reason but by wild violence, as their delusion may urge them? They do not possess the truth in this Easter question... it would still be your duty not to tarnish your soul by communications with such wicked people [the Jews]… For this reason, a Divine Providence wills... on the one hand, it is our duty not to have anything in common with the murderers of our Lord; and as, on the other, the custom now followed by the Churches of the West, of the South, and of the North, and by some of those of the East... that we should have nothing in common with the Jews.

What was intended to be some sort of victory for the church has instead meant confusion for many believers. The student tries without success to relate the teaching of Scripture to the replacement traditions which have been handed down through history.
Worse, these anti-Jewish decrees were devastating to the Gentile believer’s witness to the Jewish community. When Gentile believers are unaware of the Jewish essence of their faith, when Yeshua’s death and resurrection is removed from its Jewish context, then the fulfillment of the Messianic hope, which is found only in Yeshua, is all but hidden from the Jewish community. 
The blatant removal of the Jewish roots of Scripture, accomplishing devastating results for the body of believers today, is really a symptom of a deeper problem of the heart. The calling of Gentile believers has always been to make the Jewish people jealous of faith in Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah (Romans 11:11, 17). But rejection of the Jewish people and their “customs” has turned this glorious calling on its head, making it seem an absurd, even malicious joke. Consider how much time, effort and money believers put into celebrating Christmas and Easter, and how little time is given to the Feasts of the Lord. To separate Jewishness from the Good News effectively estranges this message from the Jewish people. The story of Yeshua, forgiveness of sins, and being made right before God is presented out of context.

What can be done? There is hope! We have a rich heritage and history of faith waiting to be discovered in the Scriptures. And celebrations are not meant to merely be read and about studied, but celebrated! One step to reclaim what God has for you in Messiah is to encourage your congregation to enjoy an annual Passover Seder which can then lead to a celebration of Messiah’s resurrection. Some of the recommended resources give practical suggestions for observing the other days. Let us go past mere traditions and follow the truth, looking unto Yeshua as the substance of our celebrations.
You can make a difference in your family, congregation and community. Who knows? Perhaps God has His hand on your life “for such a time as this!” 

**Excerpt from the book  Messiah in the Feasts of Israelby Sam Nadler