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The Passover is a powerful event in both Jewish tradition as well as Christianity. One major difference, obviously, is that the Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah. It’s tradition when the Jews celebrate the Passover that they leave a seat open for Elijah should the prophet come “this year” to proclaim the Messiah’s advent. The main reason they believe this is because of Malachi 4:5.
“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.
Malachi 4:5 NASB
So why do Christians believe that Jesus is the true Messiah if Elijah didn’t come and testify before Him? Because Jesus himself told us exactly who that “Elijah” was. It’s John the Baptist.
“For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 “And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. 15 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew 11:13-15 NASB
John came in the spirit and power of Elijah, but he was rejected just like Christ. It’s a deep and confusing controversy, but in the simplest terms, if John would have been accepted and the people would have believed, he would have fulfilled this prophecy of coming as “Elijah.” Jesus touches on this in Mark 9.
And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 “But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.”
Mark 9:12-13 NASB
So, in summary, since the Jews rejected John and ignored the words of Christ, they hold their Passover meal with a seat for Elijah awaiting their promised Messiah. I personally believe their hearts will be opened at the right time. Paul references the partial hardening of their hearts that comes until the full number of Gentiles are converted.
For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery – so that you will not be wise in your own estimation – that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;
Romans 11:25 NASB