Passover — Part 1

It is not a coincidence that the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus all correlated with the observance of Passover. In fact, it was the intentional fulfillment of prophecy reminding us yet again of the intentionality of our Lord in the bigger picture of His plan for the redemption of man. In order to properly understand why Passover in particular was the timing on the Hebrew calendar chosen by God, we must look to what Passover stood for and meant from its very origin. Before we dig into the fulfillments made by Christ of Passover, we will start this week with what Passover represents and why Christ followers can also celebrate Passover today.

The Origin of Passover

The people of Israel had been enslaved by the Egyptians for over 400 years. They had first arrived in the foreign land to escape famine and to find sustenance at the leading of their tribal fathers, the sons of Jacob (who was renamed Israel). Over time the large family of twelve sons and their offspring grew into an entire nation, so to attempt to keep control over them the Egyptians chose to enslave them. God had promised the land of Canaan to the grandfather of Jacob, Abraham, and it was time that God’s people return not only to the land, but to God Himself and to freedom.

God chose and commanded Moses to go to Pharoah to seek the liberation of His people. Pharoah refused, so God sent ten plagues upon the land of Egypt, each representing or serving as a metaphor of Egypt’s false gods. Pharoah still would not budge and so a final plague, the death of the firstborn son, was given first in warning to Pharoah and to all those who were in Egypt if Pharoah would not obey. Exodus 12 outlines the direct orders to those who chose to obey God how to be spared from the final plague.

“For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” Exodus 12:12-13

When at last the judgement of the Lord had come as forewarned, those who did as God said were passed-over hence the naming of the feast. Passover was not a one and done observance, but would prove to hold great importance, symbolism, and meaning through the work of Jesus Christ.

Why was Passover Celebrated On-Going?

Throughout scripture we see God not only suggest but lay out through command for His people to observe holy days and festivals. These were not for mere holiday enjoyment, rather, they provided opportunity for the reminder and remembrance of God’s faithfulness to His people and for the joy of fellowship over a meal. Exodus 12:13 explains the feast of Unleavened Bread as part of Passover,

“‘Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance.” Exodus 12:13

The instructions continue further in Exodus 12:23-27 explaining,

“For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you.And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever. When you enter the land which the Lord will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite. And when your children say to you, ‘What does this rite mean to you?’ you shall say, ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to the Lord who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.’” And the people bowed low and worshiped.” Exodus 12:23-27

This feast and observance can be an opportunity to share with the next generation and to those around us in fellowship of our God and to remember in our own hearts that He is indeed the One True God.

How is Passover Celebrated in the Bible?

In the Bible we see Passover celebrated through the instructions outlined in Exodus 12. Passover was a significant event of the year. Passover was celebrated differently prior to 70 AD (when the Temple was destroyed) and so the Sedar meal known today would have been different than the meal known in the Bible. Robinson shares, “Three of the first four books of the New Testament (known as the Gospels) identify the Last Supper as a Passover meal. There would have been lamb, matzah, and bitter herbs. There were cups; the Gospels tell of two, but we know that many Mishnaic traditions go back to earlier times, so we can reasonably suppose that there were four. In any event, the presence of “cups” shows that traditions had already accrued beyond the bare essentials mandated in the Exodus for the Passover observance.” (Robinson, 1).

In our next blog we will explore further the last supper and the greater significance behind Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial lamb, but for now we will look to what pre-Temple fall Passover celebration would have contained. Not only was the meal a vital aspect of this, but the acquiring of the unblemished lamb and spilling of the blood of said lamb. We will see more and more how it is all connected and intwined by the Great Author, Yahweh.

Can Christians Also Celebrate Passover? (Sedar Meal)

As followers of Christ, we too can celebrate Passover and enjoy a Sedar meal or feast together in fellowship. Modern Jewish celebration of Passover is celebrated in parts. According to Chabad.org, “Passover is divided into two parts: The first two days and last two days (the latter commemorating the splitting of the Red Sea) are full-fledged holidays. Holiday candles are lit at night, and kiddush and sumptuous holiday meals are enjoyed on both nights and days. We don’t go to work, drive, write, or switch on or off electric devices. We are permitted to cook and to carry outdoors The middle four days are called Chol Hamoed, semi-festive “intermediate days,” when most forms of work are permitted.” (Chabad.org, 1). The first two nights of the holiday include a Sedar, which is the focal point of the holiday. Chabad explains it follows, “The Seder is a fifteen-step family-oriented tradition and ritual-packed feast. The focal points of the Seder are: Eating matzah, eating bitter herbs—to commemorate the bitter slavery endured by the Israelites. Drinking four cups of wine or grape juice—a royal drink to celebrate our newfound freedom. The recitation of the Haggadah, a liturgy that describes in detail the story of the Exodus from Egypt. The Haggadah is the fulfillment of the biblical obligation to recount to our children the story of the Exodus on the night of Passover. It begins with a child asking the traditional “Four Questions.” (Chabad.org, 1). Each of the reflections and aspects of the Sedar point to the original story of Passover, but as Christians we can connect the dots to see that it all was setting the stage for Jesus. Passover holds great significance not only for what God did in Exodus, but for us today through the ultimate Redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Come back for the next blog where we will see how the fulfillment of Passover is Jesus, and how it all connects in such an “only God could” intentional way.

Sources:

https://jewsforjesus.org/learn/was-jesus-last-supper-a-passover-seder

https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/871715/jewish/What-Is-Passover-Pesach.htm