What is Passover?
The original Passover was the night of the tenth plague when the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt. All the firstborn in every household that were not “set apart” by the blood of a lamb on the doorpost of their homes died (Exodus 12). An annual commemoration of being “passed over” was instituted by the Almighty:
And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever. It will come to pass when you come to the land which the Lord will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service. And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ that you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.’
You may have heard someone say that we can’t really keep Passover because there’s no temple in Jerusalem. That’s true… but it doesn’t mean we can’t “celebrate” it!
Passover starts at sundown, immediately followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread from sundown (the first and seventh days are High Holy Days).
Has Passover Been Fulfilled?
Yes, Passover has been fulfilled.
On the tenth day of the month, the very day the Passover lamb was selected, Yeshua rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. This is the announcement that Yeshua is the Passover Lamb. As the people were all choosing their Passover lambs, the Almighty orchestrated this declaration of THE Passover Lamb.
A few days later, after his last meal with his disciples, which happened the evening before the Passover was sacrificed, Yeshua was arrested. Throughout the next day, as people prepared for their meals that night, he was questioned, beaten, mocked, and ridiculed, but officially declared faultless (John 19:6). Just as the Passover lamb was to be without flaw (Exodus 12:5), so was THE Lamb, the Messiah, flawless.
Finally, the people called for Yeshua’s crucifixion. As the Passover lambs were being sacrificed, the land became dark. Yeshua recited Psalm 22, and then, as the final lamb was sacrificed in the Temple, he cried “IT IS FINISHED,” bowed his head, and gave up the spirit, paying our debt.
For years, the sacrifice of lambs demonstrated the picture of a substitution for the price we owed for breaking the blood covenant with the Almighty. Finally, the Messiah came as THE substitution, redeemed us, and renewed the covenant.
What Does It Mean?
The events of Passover served as a prophecy for the Messiah’s sacrifice — the day the blood of “THE” Lamb redeemed us from sin. Passover is the ultimate celebration of our deliverance from sin (Egypt) through the sacrifice and resurrection of Messiah Yeshua!
Passover Resources
Celebrating Passover
What you need to know for a great celebration
Week 1: What is Passover?
Passover is one of the Feasts of the LORD outlined in Leviticus chapter 23. Passover is actually just one day – the day of the sacrifice – but it
Week 2: Do We Keep Passover or Celebrate Passover?
We do not keep Passover today; the Passover is a sacrifice. Every year a perfect male lamb was to be sacrificed “at the place which
Week 3: How is Passover different from Easter?
Passover and Easter have a lot of similarities, actually, with a couple of important distinctions. Because we believe in Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah, we can
Week 4: Has Passover Been Fulfilled?
The Spring Feasts of the LORD, including Passover, have been fulfilled in the Messiah. The first Passover took place back in Egypt on the night of the 10th plague.
Week 5: A Child’s Understanding of Passover
Children generally love to take part in special holidays. Passover is a time for great learning, togetherness, and spiritual growth. There are many ways to
Week 6: The Feast of Unleavened Bread
Once the night of the seder is over, there is still a week of feast left! The Feast of Unleavened Bread is seven days and begins just
Week 7: Time to Clean!
Many people use Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread as a time to get their houses clean from top to bottom. All leaven is supposed to
Week 8: Time to Prepare!
As the feast nears, it’s time to get serious about preparation! Make sure you have your meal all planned out and your grocery list made. Don’t forget
Week 9: Time to Celebrate!
The Feast has arrived! Remember, the day of Passover was the actual day of the sacrifice. So, while you are organizing, cooking, and getting ready, know
