Passover

Passover is one of the major Jewish festivals, instituted by God to commemorate the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It is observed annually on the 14th day of the first month, Nisan (Exodus 12:11; Leviticus 23:5; Numbers 28:16). <BR> The festival's name derives from the event in which the Lord "passed over" the houses of the Israelites during the tenth plague, sparing their firstborn while striking down those of the Egyptians (Exodus 12:27). This night marked the beginning of the Exodus, the foundational event of Israelite identity (Exodus 12:43,48). <BR> The Passover celebration includes the sacrifice of a lamb without blemish, whose blood was originally applied to the doorposts and lintels of Israelite homes (Exodus 12:21). The meal involves eating the lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, symbolizing haste and suffering (Exodus 12:8). <BR> Detailed instructions for observing Passover are found in Deuteronomy (Deu.16.1-6), and it was to be celebrated in the place God chose, later understood to be Jerusalem (Deu.16.2,6). The festival was central to Israelite worship and identity, with significant observances noted during the reigns of kings Hezekiah and Josiah (2Ch.30.1-2, 35:1,18). <BR> Notable Passover celebrations include those led by Joshua after entering the Promised Land (Joshua 5:10-11), during King Josiah's reforms (2Ki.23.21-23), and as described in Ezra during the return from exile (Ezra 6:19-20). <BR> In the New Testament, Passover plays a significant role in the narratives surrounding Jesus' crucifixion, which occurred during the festival. Jesus shared a Passover meal with His disciples, known as the Last Supper, which Christians commemorate as the institution of the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:17-19; Mrk.14.12-16; Luke 22:7-15). The apostle Paul refers to Christ as "our Passover lamb" who has been sacrificed (1Co.5.7). <BR> The festival's significance extends into Christian theology, symbolizing redemption and deliverance from sin, as noted in the epistle to the Hebrews, which highlights its faith aspect (Hebrews 11:28).