The Feast of Passover

“In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's Passover and on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord: seven days you must eat unleavened bread” (Lev.23:5-6).

The origin of the Passover takes us back to the historical occasion of the Exodus from Egypt,

“Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: you shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And you shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it” (Ex.12:5-8).

“The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and saith, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (Jn.1:29, 20).

“And he said unto them, “With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God”. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves” And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me.” Likewise, also the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you” (Lk.11:15-20 see also 1Cor.12).

“Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ, our Passover is sacrificed for us” (1Cor.5:7).”

The Passover was held in the first month of the Jewish religious calendar and celebrated their release from Egypt. The formative background for understanding the feast is Exodus ch.12:1-20 and the focus there is on the slain LAMB and it’s shed blood. The week-long spring festival of Pesach commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from bondage in ancient Egypt. The Passover Seder on the first two nights—an elaborate and ritualized meal—recounts the story of Exodus using ritual foods, prayers, stories, and songs. It was initiated to commemorate the Exodus from Egypt in 1447BC when God led his chosen people out of slavery. The Jews were to eat unleavened bread (bread made without yeast) to remember that the Israelites didn’t have time to let their bread rise before leaving Egypt. Only the first two and last two days of Passover are observed as full holy days, with restrictions on work and travel. However, many extended Jewish families gather for the holiday. The first day of the festival is often referred to as Passover or Pessah, because the Israelites smeared blood on their doorposts so the Angel of Death would pass over and not harm their first-born. In commemoration of the Passover, each family killed and roasted a sacrificial lamb whose blood saved them from death. The festival was celebrated between mid-March and midApril.