How the Passover Reveals Jesus Christ
by Rich=20 Deem

Introduction

The festival of the Passover has been celebrated by Jews for = thousands of=20 years. It is the retelling of the great story of how God redeemed the = Jewish=20 nation from enslavement in Egypt.^{1<=
/SUP> The=20
celebration itself was given to the Jews while they were still in =
Egypt.^{2<=
/SUP> The=20
original celebration centered around the Passover lamb, which was =
sacrificed and=20
its blood put over the doorposts as a sign of faith, so that the Lord =
passed=20
over the houses of the Jews during the last plague poured out on the =
Egyptians -=20
the killing of every firstborn.^{3<=
/SUP> To=20
a large degree, the Passover lamb has been eliminated from the Passover =
festival=20
(with the only remnant being the roasted lamb shank bone).^{4<=
/SUP> The=20
New Testament says that Jesus is our sacrificial Lamb.^{5<=
/SUP> The=20
Passover lamb was to be a "male without defect,"^{6<=
/SUP>=20
which is the same description given to Jesus.^{7<=
/SUP> In=20
addition, when the lamb was roasted and eaten, none of its bones were to =
be=20
broken.^{8<=
/SUP>=20
This fact was also prophesized for the Messiah, whose bones were not to =
be=20
broken.^{9<=
/SUP> It=20
was customary during crucifixion to break the leg bones of the person =
after a=20
few hours in order to hasten their death. The only way a person could =
breathe=20
when hanging on a cross was to push up with his legs, which was very =
exhausting.=20
By breaking the legs, death followed soon by asphyxiation. However, in =
the case=20
of Jesus, they broke the legs of the other two men, but did not break =
His, since=20
He was already dead.¹⁰⁼}}}}}}}}}

Passover symbolism

Much of the symbolism of Jesus' last Passover week is lost to us = because we=20 are unaware of the customs of the time. For example, Jesus came into the = city of=20 Jerusalem five days before the lamb was killed in the temple as the = Passover=20 sacrifice for the sins of the people of Israel. Five days before the = lamb was to=20 be sacrificed, it was chosen. Therefore, Jesus entered Jerusalem on lamb = selection day as the lamb of God.¹¹⁼=20 The people did not understand the significance of this, since they = greeted Him=20 with palm branches¹²⁼=20 and hailed Him as King,¹³⁼=20 shouting "Hosanna,"¹⁴⁼=20 which means "save us." However, they were not looking for a spiritual = Savior,=20 but a political savior. Palm branches were a symbol of freedom and = defiance,=20 since Simon Maccabeus had entered Jerusalem with that symbolism.¹⁵⁼=20 Jesus' reaction was to weep,¹⁶⁼=20 since He realized that they did not understand the Messiah's purpose in=20 coming.

Passover sacrifice

Good Friday was the day of the Passover celebration and the day that = the=20 Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. For the previous 1,200 years, the = priest=20 would blow the shophar (ram's horn) at 3:00 p.m. - the moment the lamb = was=20 sacrificed, and all the people would pause to contemplate the the = sacrifice for=20 sins on behalf of the people of Israel. On Good Friday at 3:00,¹⁷⁼=20 when Jesus was being crucified, He said, "It is finished"¹⁸⁼ -=20 at the moment that the Passover lamb was sacrificed and the shophar = was blown from the Temple. The sacrifice = of the=20 lamb of God was fulfilled at the hour that the symbolic animal sacrifice = usually=20 took place. At the same time, the veil of the Temple (a three-inch = thick,=20 several story high cloth that demarked the Holy of Holies¹⁹⁼)=20 tore from top to bottom²⁰⁼ -=20 representing a removal of the separation between God and man. Fifty days = later,=20 on the anniversary of the giving of the law (Pentecost), God left the = earthly=20 temple to inhabit those who call on the name of Jesus through His Holy=20 Spirit.²¹⁼

Burial

The festival of unleavened bread began Friday evening (at sunset). As = part of=20 the festival, the Jews would take some of the grain - the "first fruits" = of=20 their harvest - to the Temple to offer as a sacrifice. In so doing, they = were=20 offering God all they had and trusting Him to proved the rest of the = harvest. It=20 was at this point that Jesus was buried - planted in the ground - as He = said=20 right before His death.²²⁼=20 Paul refers to Jesus as the first fruits of those raised from the dead = in 1=20 Corinthians.²³⁼ As=20 such, Jesus represents the fulfillment of God's promise to provide the = rest of=20 the harvest - resurrection of those who follow the Messiah.

Resurrection

3D"matzah Christian symbolism in the Passover occurs early in the Seder = (the=20 Passover dinner). Three matzahs are put together (representing the = Father, Son,=20 and Holy Spirit). The middle matzah is broken,²⁴⁼=20 wrapped in a white cloth, and hidden, representing the death and burial = of=20 Jesus.²⁵⁼=20 The matzah itself is designed to represent Jesus, since it is striped = and=20 pierced, which was prophesized by Isaiah, ²⁶⁼=20 David,²⁷⁼=20 and Zechariah.²⁸⁼=20 Following the Seder meal, the "buried" matzah is "resurrected," which = was=20 foretold in the prophecies of David.²⁹⁼

Christian communion

It was during a Passover seder³⁰⁼=20 that Jesus proclaimed that the meal represented Himself and that He was=20 instituting the New Covenant, which was foretold by Jeremiah, Ezekiel, = and=20 Isaiah.³¹⁼=20 The celebration of this covenant has become the ordinance of communion = in the=20 Christian Church. At the end of the meal, Jesus took the unleavened = bread, broke=20 it, and said that it represented His body.³²⁼=20 Then He took the cup of wine, which would have been the third cup of the = Seder -=20 the cup of redemption. He said that it was the new covenant in His blood = "poured=20 out for you."³³⁼ It=20 is through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that = we are=20 declared clean before God, allowing those of us who choose to accept the = pardon,=20 to commune with Him - both now and forevermore through the eternal life = He=20 offers.

Conclusion

If you are a Christian, I encourage you to celebrate the Passover = with your=20 friends and neighbors. Our family has been doing this for the last six = years and=20 have used the celebration as a way of sharing the gospel of Christ in a = fun and=20 non-threatening manner. For more information on how you can celebrate = your own=20 Passover Seder, see the related pages below.

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References

The entire story can be read in the book of = Exodus=20
See Exodus chapter 12.=20
Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and = said to=20 them, "Go at once and select the animals for your families and = slaughter the=20 Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the = basin and=20 put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. = Not one=20 of you shall go out the door of his house until morning. When the LORD = goes=20 through the land to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood = on the=20 top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he = will=20 not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. = (Exodus=20 12:21-23)=20
The Passover lamb was still sacrificed in the = first=20 century, as indicated in the New testament - Then came the day of = Unleavened=20 Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. (Luke = 22:7)=20
Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new = batch=20 without yeast--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has = been=20 sacrificed. (1 Corinthians 5:7)
The next day John saw Jesus = coming=20 toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of = the=20 world! (John 1:29)
When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, = "Look, the=20 Lamb of God!" (John 1:36)
For you know that it was not with=20 perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from = the empty=20 way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the = precious=20 blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Peter=20 1:18-19)
I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are = they who=20 have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes = and made=20 them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14)
"And = they=20 overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word = of their=20 testimony, and they did not love their life even to death. = (Revelation=20 12:11)=20
The animals you choose must be year-old males = without=20 defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. (Exodus=20 12:5)=20
For you know that it was not with perishable = things such as=20 silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life = handed down=20 to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a = lamb=20 without blemish or defect. (1 Peter 1:18-19)=20
"It must be eaten inside one house; take none of = the meat=20 outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. (Exodus = 12:46)=20
He keeps all his bones; not one of them is = broken.=20 (Psalms 34:20)=20
The soldiers therefore came, and broke the legs = of the=20 first man, and of the other man who was crucified with Him; but coming = to=20 Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His = legs;...=20 For these things came to pass, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, = "Not a=20 bone of Him shall be broken." (John 19:32, 33, 36)=20
The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and = said, "Behold,=20 the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John = 1:29)=20
On the next day the great multitude who had come = to the=20 feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the = branches=20 of the palm trees, and went out to meet Him, and began to cry out, = "Hosanna!=20 BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of = Israel."=20 (John 12:12-13)
And most of the multitude spread their = garments in=20 the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees, and = spreading them=20 in the road. (Matthew 21:8)=20
saying, "BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE = NAME OF THE=20 LORD; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (Luke = 19:38)
And=20 the multitudes going before Him, and those who followed after were = crying out,=20 saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE = NAME OF=20 THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9)=20
And the multitudes going before Him, and those = who followed=20 after were crying out, saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED = IS HE WHO=20 COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew=20 21:9)
And those who went before, and those who followed after, = were=20 crying out, "Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; = Blessed=20 is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!" = (Mark=20 11:9-10)=20
Simon Maccabeus entered the Akra at Jerusalem = after its=20 capture, =93with thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees, and with = harps, and=20 cymbals, and with viols, and hymns, and songs: because there was = destroyed a=20 great enemy out of Israel=94 (1 Maccabees 13:51) (see also 2 = Maccabees=20 10:7).=20
And when He approached, He saw the city and wept = over it,=20 (Luke 19:41)=20
And about the ninth hour [3:00 p.m.] Jesus cried = out with a=20 loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY = GOD,=20 WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?"... And Jesus cried out again with a loud = voice,=20 and yielded up His spirit. (Matthew 27:46, 50) (see also Mark = 15:34-37,=20 Luke 23:44-46)=20
When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, = He said,=20 "It is finished!" And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit. = (John=20 19:30)=20
And behind the second veil, there was a = tabernacle which is=20 called the Holy of Holies, (Hebrews 9:3)=20
And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in = two from top=20 to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, (Matthew=20 27:51)
And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to = bottom.=20 (Mark 15:38)
the sun being obscured; and the veil of the = temple was=20 torn in two. (Luke 23:45)=20
Acts chapter 2.=20
And Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has = come for the=20 Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain = of=20 wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but = if it=20 dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:23-24)=20
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the = first=20 fruits of those who are asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20)=20
And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and = said, "Take,=20 eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in = remembrance=20 of Me." (1 Corinthians 11:24)=20
And so they took the body of Jesus, and bound it = in linen=20 wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. = (John=20 19:40)=20
But he was pierced through for our = transgressions,=20 he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was = upon him;=20 and by his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)=20
For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers = has=20 encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. (Psalms=20 22:16)=20
"And I will pour out on the house of David and on = the=20 inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so = that=20 they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will = mourn for=20 Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over = Him, like=20 the bitter weeping over a first-born. (Zechariah 12:10)=20
For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Sheol; = Neither wilt=20 Thou allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay. (Psalms 16:10) =
O=20 LORD, Thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol; Thou hast kept me = alive, that I=20 should not go down to the pit. (Psalms 30:3)
But God = will=20 redeem my soul from the power of Sheol; for He will receive me. Selah. = (Psalms 49:15)
I shall not die, but live, And tell of = the=20 works of the LORD. (Psalms 118:17)=20
And He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to = eat this=20 Passover with you before I suffer; (Luke 22:15)=20
"Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, = "when I will=20 make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house = of=20 Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the = day I took=20 them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant = which=20 they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. "But = this is=20 the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those = days,"=20 declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them, and on their heart = I will=20 write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. = (Jeremiah=20 31:31-33)
"And I shall give them one heart, and shall put a new = spirit=20 within them. And I shall take the heart of stone out of their flesh = and give=20 them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My=20 ordinances, and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be = their=20 God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20)
"I am the LORD, I have called you in = righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you, = And I will=20 appoint you as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, = (Isaiah=20 42:6)=20
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave = thanks and=20 broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is = my=20 body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, = saying,=20 "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is = poured=20 out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:26-28)=20
In the same way, after the supper He took the = cup, saying,=20 "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for = you.=20 (Luke 22:20)

Last Modified March 11, 2005

How the Passover Reveals Jesus Christby Rich=20 Deem