The Passover, known in Hebrew as "Pesach," is one of the most significant and ancient festivals in the Jewish calendar, commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt. This event is foundational to Jewish identity and is also of profound importance in Christian theology, symbolizing redemption and foreshadowing the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

Biblical Origins

The origins of the Passover celebration are detailed in the Book of Exodus. God commanded Moses to institute the Passover as a perpetual ordinance for the Israelites. The event is described in Exodus 12, where God instructs the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb without blemish, apply its blood to the doorposts and lintels of their homes, and eat the lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. This act was to protect them from the final plague—the death of the firstborn—which God would bring upon Egypt. Exodus 12:13 states, "The blood on the houses where you are staying will distinguish them; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt."

Ritual Observance

The Passover is observed on the 14th day of the first month, Nisan, in the Hebrew calendar. The festival lasts for seven days, during which no leavened bread is to be consumed. The first and last days are marked by sacred assemblies and rest from regular work. Leviticus 23:5-8 outlines these instructions: "The Passover to the LORD begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of the same month begins the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly; you are not to do any regular work."

Symbolism and Significance

The Passover lamb is a central symbol of the festival, representing the substitutionary sacrifice that spared the Israelites from death. This symbolism is carried into Christian theology, where Jesus Christ is identified as the "Lamb of God" who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The Apostle Paul explicitly connects Christ to the Passover in 1 Corinthians 5:7 : "Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."

The Passover Seder

The Passover Seder is a ritual meal that marks the beginning of the festival. It includes the retelling of the Exodus account, the eating of symbolic foods, and the recitation of prayers and hymns. The Seder plate contains items such as a shank bone, representing the sacrificial lamb, and bitter herbs, symbolizing the bitterness of slavery. The unleavened bread, or matzah, is a reminder of the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt, having no time to let their bread rise.

Passover in the New Testament

The New Testament records that Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, an event known as the Last Supper. This meal, described in the Synoptic Gospels, is the occasion where Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper, or Communion, as a new covenant in His blood. Luke 22:19-20 recounts, "And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.'"

Contemporary Observance

Today, Passover remains a vital observance in Jewish communities worldwide, serving as a time of family gathering, reflection, and gratitude for God's deliverance. For Christians, the themes of Passover resonate deeply with the message of salvation through Christ, who is seen as the fulfillment of the Passover promise.