“The story of Passover is the story of liberation and hope.”
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
Days matter.
And when it comes to the Jewish people, days are sacred.
The Jewish people observe many different feasts, fasts, and celebrations as a part of their yearly rhythm. Celebrations like Yom Kippur, Rosh Hoshanah, and Sukkot create space for the Jewish people to look back at God’s provision, as well as look forward to God’s coming goodness.
And one of the most sacred days the Jewish people observe is Passover.
What is Passover?
Passover is the oldest celebrated holiday for the Jewish people.
In Hebrew, this day is known as Pesach, which can be translated as “to pass over.” It’s an 8-day long holiday observed in the Hebrew month of Nissan. (Chabad.org)
On Passover, the Jewish people remember their exodus out of slavery in Egypt, as they journeyed toward freedom in the Promised Land. On Passover, God passed over the homes of the Jews during the final plague in Egypt: the death of the firstborn son.
Each Passover celebration, the Jewish people avoid leaven, instead partaking of two meals consisting of matzah, bitter herds, and wine. It’s these two meals that commemorate the haste with which the Jews had to leave Egypt.
Still to this day, Passover is observed as a sacred time of remembrance, where the Jewish people retell the story of their exodus out of Egypt and into freedom.
Yet, while Passover is a day observed by Jews, its connection to Jesus and His crucifixion and resurrection can’t be overstated.
Blood on the Doorposts
On the first Passover, the Jewish people were instructed to sacrifice a male lamb, dip a hyssop branch in its blood, and apply the blood to the doorposts of their homes.
This act symbolized the Jewish people’s consecration as God’s people. It also served as a sign for God to “pass over” their homes as the final plague was released: the slaying of the firstborn son.
This symbolic act of applying the blood of a lamb to their homes so that death would pass over is a direct foreshadowing of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross.
Fast-forward to the New Testament, and we see another Lamb slain. His blood poured out, not just causing death to pass over, but to be defeated.
The Apostle Paul, writing to the Church at Corinth, connects the Passover lamb to Jesus when he writes:
Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (1 Corinthians 5:7 NIV)
Here, Paul directly links the Passover lamb to Jesus.
And the blood of this Lamb, once applied to our lives, sets us free from the power of sin and death, leading us into a life of freedom in the Kingdom of God.
Unleavened Bread
During the first Passover, the Jewish people only ate unleavened bread, due to their haste in leaving Egypt.
This bread served as a sign of their deliverance from slavery. And it’s no surprise that Jesus Himself later reveals that He is the “living bread” in John’s Gospel.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. (John 6:51 NIV)
The bread that served as a symbol of deliverance for the Jewish people pointed to a future day, when the Bread of Life would deliver all of humanity from sin and slavery to the kingdom of darkness.
And just as Jewish people continue to partake of this bread each Passover celebration, Jesus left us with a meal of bread and wine.
This meal, what we commonly refer to as Communion, would also serve as a reminder of our freedom and deliverance from sin each time we partake of it.
From the Passover to the Last Supper
Author and scholar, Craig A. Evans, writes in his book Jesus and the Remains of the Passover:
The Last Supper was a Passover meal, but Jesus transformed it by identifying himself as the fulfillment of the Passover sacrifice.
The Passover meal that Jews observed for generations culminated at a meal referred to as The Last Supper.
Jesus, knowing His death was to come, sat at a table with His disciples and broke bread and drank wine. And at this meal, Jesus transforms the Passover.
From unleavened bread to the Bread of Life.
From wine to the blood of a New Covenant.
From the sacrifice of a lamb for each family to the sacrifice of one Lamb for all people, at all times.
At the Last Supper, Jesus announces His arrival as the long-awaited Passover lamb. The One whose blood would cause death, not just to pass over, but to be defeated. The One who would bring deliverance, not just from Egypt, but from sin and darkness.
The Passover pointed to Jesus.
The unleavened bread pointed to Jesus.
The blood on the doorposts pointed to Jesus.
And now, through Jesus, we have the opportunity to make the exodus out of our sin and shame and darkness into the light of His life and Kingdom.
Biblical Education, Accessible to All
We believe in making high-quality, theological education accessible to all, with no exceptions.
That’s why we’ve created a library of online courses taught by doctoral-level instructors. Each course dives deep into a variety of topics, such as: Early Church History, The Doctrine of Sanctification, and the History of the Bible.
No matter your stage or season of life, there’s a course for you.
Explore our library of online courses and take the next step in deepening your knowledge and understanding of God’s Word.
Become a Monthly Vision Partner
Thanks to the generosity of our monthly Vision Partners, all of our Online Bible Courses and resources are 100% free.
Our Vision Partners are a generous group of supporters who believe in the mission of AWKNG and seeing Biblical education made available to everyone, everywhere. If you’re interested in learning more about the ministry of AWKNG and how you can be a part of what God is doing, click here.
