The Preparation for the Passover is a significant event in the biblical narrative, marking the time of preparation before the celebration of the Passover feast. This preparation is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and is observed with great care and reverence, as it commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt, as described in the Book of Exodus.

Biblical Background

The Passover, or Pesach, is one of the most important feasts in the Jewish calendar. It is instituted in Exodus 12, where God commands Moses and Aaron to instruct the Israelites on how to prepare for the final plague—the death of the firstborn in Egypt. The Israelites are to select a lamb without blemish, sacrifice it, and apply its blood to the doorposts and lintels of their homes. This act of faith would cause the Lord to "pass over" their homes, sparing them from the plague.

Exodus 12:3-6 : "Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man must select a lamb for his family, one per household. If the household is too small for a whole lamb, they are to share with their nearest neighbor, taking into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. Your lamb must be an unblemished year-old male, and you may take it from the sheep or the goats. You must keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight."

Ritual Preparations

The preparation for the Passover involves several key rituals and practices:

1. Selection of the Lamb: As instructed in Exodus, the lamb must be chosen on the tenth day of the month of Nisan and kept until the fourteenth day. This period allows for the inspection of the lamb to ensure it is without blemish, symbolizing purity and perfection.

2. Removal of Leaven: In preparation for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which begins with Passover, all leaven (yeast) must be removed from the home. This symbolizes the removal of sin and corruption, as leaven is often associated with sin in the Bible.

3. Preparation of the Meal: The Passover meal, or Seder, includes the roasted lamb, unleavened bread (matzah), and bitter herbs. Each element of the meal holds symbolic significance, representing aspects of the Israelites' bondage and deliverance.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the preparation for the Passover takes on additional significance with the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Gospels describe Jesus' instructions to His disciples to prepare for the Passover meal, which would become known as the Last Supper.

Mark 14:12-16 : "On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, 'Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?' So He sent two of His disciples and told them, 'Go into the city, and a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, "The Teacher asks: Where is My guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?" And he will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.' So the disciples left, went into the city, and found it just as Jesus had told them. And they prepared the Passover."

Symbolic Fulfillment

For Christians, the preparation for the Passover and the Passover itself are seen as foreshadowing the sacrificial death of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The Last Supper, celebrated during the Passover, becomes the institution of the Lord's Supper or Communion, a central rite in Christian worship.

The preparation for the Passover, therefore, holds profound theological significance, bridging the Old and New Testaments and highlighting themes of redemption, sacrifice, and divine deliverance.