Passover  this year began on April 23rd followed by the days of Unleavened bread and ended seven days later on April 30th.  Passover also, was in itself, the beginning of  the Exodus. I have touched on the Passover in a previous blog but it’s always good to remember that Passover is of special significance to both Jews and Christians.  In this article, I hope to show how every element of the feast is symbolic of our Lord and the ceremony which was commanded in Exodus will continue until the Lord himself returns.   God himself declared Passover (Pesach) to be a permanent celebration for all eternity (Ex.12:2,6, 13-14). Although this commandment was given to the Jewish people we find the stamp of the Messiah in every detail.  Also since our Lord was the Jewish Messiah, he kept the yearly Passover as well as becoming the Passover Lamb himself!  We Christians take a form of the Passover in our Lord’s supper…..or holy communion as it is called. We remember the death and suffering of the Lord but also his glorious resurrection.

1. Passover was the beginning of months. The Passover in Exodus was  the beginning of the Jewish  year so  Nisan is the first month of the religious calendar.  When we receive Yeshua into our lives it  also is  a new beginning. Passover is the first of the feasts.  Likewise when we come to faith it is the first step in our walk  with God.  We feast on His words and carry them in our hearts.

2.A baby lamb, (which was the sacrificial offering) was kept by the family for four days to be sure it was without spot or blemish.  (Exodus 12:5) .  The sacrificial lamb was to be perfect in every way.  Yeshua  (Jesus) was the Lamb of God.  During crucifixion week, he was “examined” by many in fulfilling this Scripture, including the chief priests and elders.  (Matt. 21:23)  John the Baptizer called him the Lamb of God. (John 1:29). He was the sinless Son of God.  He truly was without the filth of sin and would serve as the sinless lamb offered on Passover. 

3. The lamb was of the first year (first born) and to be a male. Yeshua was the first born of Mary (Miryam) and the first born of God spiritually (Matt. 1:24-25; Romans 8:29 ; Rev. 3:14) Because Adam, the first male, sinned, another male, Yeshua, must die to atone for the sin of Adam and for all mankind.  No human is without sin. (Romans 5:17-19)

4. It is a lamb for the house (Exodus 12:3-4. There is progressive revelation of the Lamb in the Bible.  First there was a lamb for a house; then a lamb for the nation (John 11:49-52) and finally, a lamb for the world ( John 1:29). 

5.  A Passover lamb was to be killed between evenings.  The Jewish day begins and ends sundown which is roughly 6:00 p.m.to 6:00 p.m. This time period is divided into two 12 hour periods.   Each period is then divided into two smaller portions, so when Jesus was crucified it was during the division of the day that was commanded by the phrase “between the evenings” (Ex. 12:6). Our Lord was hanging on the cross at the ninth hour of the day (3:00 p.m.).  He was dying for the sins for all of us. Indeed he was fulfilling the role of the sacrificial lamb.

6. Not a bone of the lamb was to be broken (Ex 12 43-46) No bone of the Lord was broken (John 19:33)

7. After the Exodus, God told the people to kill the lamb outside of the city (Deut. 6:5).  Jerusalem was a holy city. It was called Zion. The temple would be built there and would be a sacred space.  Therefore since the lamb represented sin,  the sacrifice must take place away from the sacred place of the Lord.  Jesus was crucified outside the gates of the city in a place called Golg0tha.  He became the sin offering and therefore had to die outside of the city.  His cry for mercy seemed unheard by God…….”Why have you forsaken me“? He was not in God’s sacred space and had to bear the guilt away from his father. However, his borrowed tomb was back in Jerusalem.  His resurrection was the crowning achievement of his ministry.  He brought the ultimate victory over sin and death. 

I have only listed a few of the significant commandments of the Passover and their fulfillment in the death of our Lord.  Many of the rituals of Passover have changed through the years.

 The Passover that Jesus and his apostles observed also testify to his divine appointment. Every element of the feast has religious significance, to his fulfillment as the Passover lamb and in the Seder service itself.  Perhaps some of you have gone to a Seder service.  Always keep in mind the role of Jesus and how the elements of the meal relate to the Lord and what he has done for us. 

When we take of our “Seder” meal………we  honor Him and His sacrifice………”Do this in remembrance of me.”