What is Passover?

Passover is a Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and their freedom from slavery (Exodus 12). The Feast of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were the first festivals God commanded Israel to observe (see Exodus 12:14, 17).

Passover always takes place in the spring, during the Hebrew month of Nisan. In the Western world, Passover is celebrated in early- to mid-April, in close conjunction with the date Easter is celebrated that year.

The Story of God Passing Over

"The blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt." —Exodus 12:13 (NLT)

The book of Exodus records the Israelites' bondage in Egypt and how God followed through on His promise to redeem them from a life of slavery (Exodus 6:6). Acting under orders from God, Moses went to Pharaoh and demanded he grant them freedom (Exodus 8:1). Pharaoh refused, so God brought ten plagues upon the land of Egypt (Exodus 7-12). Despite being warned that the plagues would get progressively worse, Pharaoh stubbornly refused to free them.

Before the last (and worst) of the plagues fell upon Egypt (Exodus 11), God gave the Israelites specific instructions for that fateful night: sacrifice a spotless lamb and mark your doorposts and lintels with its blood (Exodus 12:21-22). When the Lord passed through the land to take the lives of the firstborn children, He would "pass over" any households that had been marked by the sacrificial blood (Exodus 12:21-23).

The Egyptians did not know to mark their doors with lamb's blood, and every one of their firstborn sons died at midnight (Exodus 12:29). This horrific judgment finally changed Pharaoh's stubborn heart—but at great loss to the people of Egypt (Exodus 12:30). The Israelites were finally freed from their 400-year enslavement (v. 31-33).

Quite literally, the blood of the lamb saved the Israelites from God's wrath, as it kept the destroyer from coming into their homes.

Passover & Jesus Christ

"Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us." —1 Corinthians 5:7b (NLT)

The parallels between the events that brought about Passover and the events that would come centuries later, at the end of Jesus' life on earth, is both beautiful and chilling. Recognizing the similarities between these significant moments in time proves God's foresight and sovereignty in restoring His relationship with humankind.

Firstborn Sons

After the Israelites were freed, from that point on, God commanded that every firstborn (both man and beast) belonged to the Lord and had to be redeemed with a sacrifice (Exodus 13:1-2, 12). This was to be a reminder for future generations of when God took the lives of all firstborn in Egypt yet passed over the Israelites because of their sacrifice (Exodus 13:14-15).

Centuries later, Mary and Joseph brought their young son Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to dedicate Him to the Lord—for this exact Jewish tradition (Luke 2:22-24). While they were there, a man named Simeon revealed that the Holy Spirit told him that he would see the Messiah before his death, and that this child called Jesus was the very salvation of all the people (Luke 2:25-25).

A Sacrifical Lamb

In addition to marking their doors that night, the Israelites were instructed to roast an unblemished lamb and consume it that night—along with bitter herbs and unleavened bread (Exodus 12:8). This specific meal commemorated that moment in their history, and they were to continue this observance no matter where they lived (Exodus 12:24-27). Sacrificing the spotless lamb saved the Israelites' from slavery and death.

Centuries later, Jesus gathered His disciples for Passover, His last meal with them before He would be crucified (Luke 22:7-8). When Jesus died on the cross, He became our Passover lamb, who saves us from being slaves to sin and the doom of spiritual death (Romans 6:17; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Revelation 5:12).

When we look at the life of Christ, we can't help but see the parallels between the spotless lamb the Israelites sacrificed for salvation from slavery and death and the spotless life of Jesus, who willingly gave His life as a final sacrifice that would fulfill the law once and for all (Matthew 5:17).

Observing Passover Today

"Celebrate this Festival of Unleavened Bread, for it will remind you that I brought your forces out of the land of Egypt on this very day. This festival will be a permanent law for you; celebrate this day from generation to generation." —Exodus 12:17 (NLT)

Today, the Passover Feast is a special meal called the Seder—a word that means "order" in Hebrew. The Passover meal has a specific order in which food is eaten, prayers are recited, and songs are sung. Each item on the Passover plate has a specific historical meaning related to the exodus of the Jews from Egypt and their freedom from slavery, such as unleavened bread (Exodus 12:17-20).

Among both the Jewish people and other believers, Passover is one of the most celebrated Jewish holy days. God commanded three "pilgrimage" festivals in Scripture: Passover, Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost), and Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles). For these festivals, the Jews were commanded to travel to Jerusalem to observe the feasts together.

The Israelites, who faithfully applied the lamb's blood to their doors, became a model for future Christians. It was not their ancestry or good works that saved them; it was only the blood of the lamb. When we recognize Christ's sacrifice and (spiritually) apply His blood to our lives in faith, we trust that God will "pass over" us in judgment for our sin—a judgment which would result in eternal separation from Him (John 1:29; Revelation 5:9-10).

"Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living." —Romans 6:17-18 (NLT)

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