From the beginning, man has always tried to add to, take away from, or change the word of God. In the garden, Eve added to what God had told her regarding the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil; Balaam told Balak how to get around the word of God; and both Paul and Peter spoke of those who distort the Scriptures and use them to their own advantage. Through this kind of progression comes traditions. Let us examine the Biblical feast of Passover in its relation to the tradition of Easter.
God declared the Passover to be His appointed feast (Leviticus 23:4). It is to be celebrated by the congregation of Israel forever (Exodus 12:24). Paul tells us that we are grafted into the commonwealth of Israel (Romans 11:17; Ephesians 2:12-13; 19). Because of Jesus, however, we do not relate to God by the Mosaic covenant but by the Ben-David covenant (1 Samuel 7:12-16).
In the first three gospels, Jesus tells His disciples to go prepare the Passover (Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13). This is not a Scripture that needs much interpreting. It is stated very clearly: "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it" (Luke 22:8). Jesus and his disciples were Jewish. They were commanded by God through Torah to eat the Passover. If they were to have done anything other than this they would have been in sin! In the description given in the gospels, we see many elements of the Passover feast: reclining at the table, dipping in the bowl, the cups of wine, unleavened bread, singing the Hallel. To say that this is anything other than the Passover feast would be in complete error and a total disregard for the Scriptures.
The Constantinian Church calls this gathering the "last supper". The term "last supper" is never used in Scripture. The only accuracy in this is that it was the last supper that Messiah ate.
In the celebration of Passover by Messiah, we see the continuity of the scriptures: we see Messiah's complete obedience to the Father; the promise of redemption; the sacrifice of the true Passover Lamb; we see the fulfillment of the shadow of promise given to Israel in Egypt.
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Easter is celebrated by the Church as the commemoration of the resurrection of Messiah. However, its beginnings stem from the Pagan festival honoring the Babylonian fertility goddess Ishtar (Ishtar is also referred to as "The Queen of Heaven" — Jeremiah 7:18). It is celebrated in the spring according to the vernal equinox. The festival is a commemoration of the renewal of life; this is why it is connected with rabbits and eggs. Easter is strictly a tradition of man. There is nothing to validate the institution of the celebration of the resurrection by the disciples or the early Church. This is not to nullify that which was accomplished by His resurrection; however, God had already instituted the celebration of first fruits during Passover in anticipation of the resurrection of Messiah.
God does not care too much for the traditions of man. In fact, His patience is tested with traditions. Before the dispersion in 586 BCE, Israel's relation to God had become a "tradition learned by rote" (Isaiah 29:13/Messiah quotes this same passage in the gospels of Matthew and Mark). This is translated from the Hebrew meaning literally the "commandment of rulers". Israel only honored God with their actions, not with their hearts. God's appointed feasts had become Israel's appointed feasts (Isaiah 1:14/Hosea 2:11). The people had begun to walk in their own way and in the desires of their own heart. They did not listen to God, instead their evil increased. It became so bad that God told Jeremiah not to pray for them (Jeremiah 7:8-34). When men transgress the commandments of God and go beyond what He has planned, their hearts become filled with evil. This is the exact pattern which Ha'Satan fell into in the beginning (Ezekiel 28:12b-17).
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and scribes regarding the traditions of men:
"neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men." (Mark 7:8)"and why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?" (Matthew 15:3)
"thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that." (Mark 7:13)
They were so caught up in tradition, they could not see the coming of the Messiah they had been waiting for; they did not know the time of their visitation (Luke 19:44).
John speaks of those who had gone too far in the teaching of Messiah; they do not have God (2 John 1:9). Traditions put men in bondage; the commandments of God make men free. Paul directs us not to follow the traditions of men lest we be taken captive (Colossians 2:8). It is the things of the world that hold us in bondage (Galatians 4:3). The word of God is truth and this truth will set us free (John 8:32).
"To the law and to the testimony? If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn." (Isaiah 8:20)