The Significance of the Jewish Feast of Pesach (Passover)
When I first started my graduate studies I was blessed to be assigned with the task of preparing and delivering a paper on the observance of Passover in the Old Testament. Like many of you, I had read the story of Joseph in Genesis that led the Israelites into Egypt. I had studied the book of Exodus and knew that God delivered His people from the hand of Pharaoh. I understood that the Passover was first observed on the last night God’s people spent in Egypt. However, there are so many details in that story that often get overlooked. Since the Jews are about to celebrate Passover, and it’s on our calendars, I thought we might pause to reflect on the significance of that event.
Moses spent 40 years in Midian trying to forget about Egypt. God had other plans as he called him from a burning bush saying, "I have seen the misery of my people. I have heard their cries, I care about their suffering, and I have come to rescue them. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people out of Egypt." (Exodus 3:7-10) Moses went to confront Pharaoh, but the Egyptian king would not let the Israelites leave Egypt. Therefore, God sent a series of plagues to persuade him. The final plague promised to kill every first-born son in Egypt at midnight on the 15th day of the month of Nissan. Moses, under direction of the Lord, instructed every Hebrew family to take a lamb, slaughter it, and place some of the blood on the door frames of their homes. When the Lord passed over Egypt that night he did not enter the homes covered by the blood of the Passover lamb.
The instructions given by Moses on that fateful night became part of a lasting ordinance from God. The observance of the Passover Feast was passed on to generations (Exodus 12, Numbers 9:1-14, 28:16-25, Deuteronomy 16:1-6, Joshua 5:10, II Kings 23:21-23, II Chronicles 30:1-5, 35:1-19, Ezra 6:19-22, Ezekiel 45:21-24). God hoped that His people would never forget His great deliverance that night and how he brought them through the Red Sea soon after, and later as He guided them into the Promised Land.
Paul reminded the early Christians that the Jewish feasts and celebrations were a shadow of the things to come through Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:16-17). Most of us as Christians do not commemorate holidays like Passover, in the traditional biblical sense, but as we discover the significance of each we can gain a greater knowledge of God's Word and unending plan to save man. However, the Jews still observe Pesach (the Hebrew word meaning "to pass over"), though it has changed much since most can no longer offer a lamb in sacrifice without criticism.
Before He went to the cross, Jesus shared the Passover meal with his apostles saying, "I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God." (Luke 22:15-16) Jesus revealed in these words that He is the fulfillment of the Passover. He told His disciples that He was about to take His place as the Lamb of God and be sacrificed to set us free from bondage to sin (John 1:29, Psalm 22, Isaiah 53). The blood of Jesus is what covers us and protects us. His body was broken upon on the cross of Calvary to free us from eternal death. (I Corinthians 5:7)
You might find it interesting that in the Jewish tradition a hymn of praise known as the Hallel is to be sung during the Passover Seder (the retelling of the story of Exodus). In that traditional reading is Psalm 118:22, which speaks of the Messiah saying, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone." Jesus said in Matthew 21:42, one week before His death that He was that stone that the builders rejected. As God commanded the Israelites to always commemorate his great deliverance through the Passover meal, we Christians were instructed by Christ as well, to continually remember his sacrifice through The Lord's Supper. Therefore, Christians observe His Last Supper (Passover meal) each Lord’s Day to remember our own deliverance (Acts 2:42, Acts 20:7, Hebrews 10:24-26, I Corinthians 11:20-31, 16:1-2).
Today, Passover begins on day 15 of the Hebrew month of Nissan (March or April) and continues for 8 days. Originally, Passover began at twilight on the fourteenth day of Nissan (Leviticus 23:5), and then the next day, day 15, the Feast of Unleavened Bread would begin and continue for seven days (Leviticus 23:6). Passover is quickly followed by Easter, which is another well-known and celebrated holiday, recognizing the resurrection of Jesus. This year Easter falls on April 4, which is very close to the day scholars believe He actually died (April 3 – see Josephus). My prayer is that you will use this information to strengthen your spiritual walk.