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Passover, known as Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the most significant festivals in the Jewish tradition. It commemorates the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt, as described in the Book of Exodus. The term “Passover” originates from the Hebrew word “Pesach,” which means “to pass over” or “to spare.” This name is derived from the pivotal event during the final plague in Egypt when the Lord “passed over” the houses of the Israelites marked by the blood of a lamb, sparing them from the death of their firstborn.
The Origin of Passover
The origin of Passover is intricately linked to the narrative of the Exodus, where God delivers the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. This event is central to Jewish identity and faith, symbolizing liberation, redemption, and God’s protective grace.
Exodus 12:12-13 (NKJV)
“For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
In this passage, the term “pass over” is explicitly used to describe the Lord’s action of sparing the Israelites who obeyed His command to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb. This act of passing over signifies God’s mercy and the power of the sacrificial blood to protect and save.
The Passover Lamb
A key element of Passover is the sacrificial lamb, whose blood marked the homes of the Israelites. This lamb is a type, or foreshadowing, of Christ, the Lamb of God, whose sacrifice would bring ultimate redemption.
Exodus 12:3-6 (NKJV)
“Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household… Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight.'”
The lamb without blemish represents purity and the necessity of a perfect sacrifice for atonement. This prefigures Jesus Christ, the sinless Lamb of God, whose blood would be shed for the sins of humanity.
John 1:29 (NKJV)
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'”
John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God, directly linking Him to the Passover lamb. This connection underscores the continuity between the Old Testament Passover and the New Testament fulfillment in Christ.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread
Passover initiates the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a seven-day period where the Israelites were commanded to eat unleavened bread. This practice commemorates their hasty departure from Egypt, during which there was no time to let the bread rise.
Exodus 12:15-17 (NKJV)
“Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel… So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance.”
Unleavened bread, or matzah, symbolizes purity and the absence of sin, as leaven often represents corruption in biblical typology. This feast calls the Israelites to remember their deliverance and maintain a lifestyle free from the corruption of sin.
The Seder Meal
Central to the Passover celebration is the Seder meal, which involves specific foods and rituals that recount the story of the Exodus. Each element of the meal has symbolic significance, reminding participants of their ancestors’ suffering and God’s mighty deliverance.
Exodus 12:8 (NKJV)
“Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.”
The bitter herbs symbolize the bitterness of slavery, while the unleavened bread and the lamb reflect the haste of departure and the sacrifice that protected them.
Jesus and the Passover
Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples was a Passover meal, which He reinterpreted in light of His impending sacrifice. This event is crucial in understanding the Christian observance of communion.
Luke 22:15-16 (NKJV)
“Then He said to them, ‘With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.'”
Jesus eagerly anticipates the Passover meal, aware of its deeper significance as He prepares to fulfill its ultimate meaning through His death and resurrection.
1 Corinthians 11:23-25 (NKJV)
“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'”
Paul recounts Jesus’ institution of the Lord’s Supper, emphasizing the elements of bread and wine as symbols of His body and blood. This sacrament memorializes Jesus’ sacrifice and the new covenant established through His death.
The Spiritual Significance of Passover
Passover is rich in spiritual symbolism, reflecting themes of liberation, redemption, sacrifice, and God’s covenant with His people.
Hebrews 11:28 (NKJV)
“By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.”
The author of Hebrews highlights Moses’ faith in instituting the Passover, emphasizing the protective power of the blood and the importance of obedience to God’s commands.
1 Corinthians 5:7-8 (NKJV)
“Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
Paul draws a direct parallel between Christ and the Passover lamb, urging believers to live in the purity and truth symbolized by unleavened bread. This passage underscores the transformative impact of Christ’s sacrifice on the believer’s life.
The Eternal Observance of Passover
Passover is not only a historical event but also a perpetual ordinance for the Jewish people, pointing to its enduring significance.
Exodus 12:14 (NKJV)
“So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.”
The command to observe Passover as an everlasting ordinance reflects its foundational role in Jewish faith and practice. It serves as a continual reminder of God’s deliverance and faithfulness.
Passover in Eschatological Context
In the prophetic and eschatological context, Passover also points to the ultimate deliverance and redemption that will be fully realized in the end times.
Revelation 5:6-9 (NKJV)
“And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain… And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.'”
The imagery of the Lamb in Revelation ties back to the Passover lamb, emphasizing Christ’s sacrificial death as the basis for the ultimate redemption of humanity. This eschatological vision celebrates the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan through the Lamb who was slain.
Conclusion
The word “Passover” encapsulates a profound theological and historical narrative that is central to both Jewish and Christian traditions. Rooted in the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, Passover signifies liberation, redemption, and God’s protective grace. Through the sacrifice of the Passover lamb, prefiguring Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, and the observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Passover calls believers to remember God’s mighty acts and live in the purity and truth symbolized by unleavened bread.
The spiritual significance of Passover extends beyond its historical context, finding fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Through His death and resurrection, Christ establishes a new covenant, offering redemption to all who believe. The perpetual observance of Passover as an everlasting ordinance underscores its enduring relevance, while its eschatological dimensions point to the ultimate redemption that will be fully realized in the end times.
In summary, Passover is a multifaceted celebration that invites believers to reflect on God’s deliverance, the sacrificial nature of redemption, and the call to live in purity and truth. It serves as a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness and the transformative power of Christ’s sacrifice, inviting believers into a deeper relationship with their Redeemer.