Christ-Our-Passover

                      The Christian Passover (1Cor. 5:7)

       The Hebrew word pesah (from pasah), figuratively means to "leap over," but literally implies, to "spare, and show mercy." Paul states the significance of the Passover to us (the body of Christ, the Church) when he said, "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us." The bread and the cup are held a memorial (memory) to the death of Christ.
        The first Passover was in Egypt and was the most significant and final plague visited upon Egypt. (Ex. 12:3-27). It was this first Passover that secured the Hebrews freedom from Egyptian bondage and initiated the birth of a nation. This day was to be to this new nation a memorial; and kept as a feast to the LORD throughout every generation; an ordinance for ever. (Ex. 12:14).
       The Passover was instituted in memory (memorial) of Israel's preservation from the last plague visited upon Egypt. A consecration was imparted by the Passover, as a festival which was to lay the foundation of Israel's birth into the new life of grace and fellowship with God and to perpetuate it in time to come.
       The lambs or kids used in the festival feast were killed on the 14th of Nisan (Abib). The month Nisan (Abib) was the first month of the Hebrew calender. This month corresponds to around the middle of March to around the middle of April of the Roman calender, which we use today. The slaughter of the Passover lamb was to occur "at twilight." The first century Pharisees and rabbis understood this to be the time from 3:00pm to 6:00pm. Evening was considered by the Pharisees and rabbis to be the time when the sun begins to descend to its real setting from 3:00pm to 6:00pm.
       The 14th of Nisan (Abib) is called the Lord's Passover. (Lev. 23:5). The lamb was slaughtered near the close of Nisan 14. Nisan 14 (the Passover) was the day of preparation, commonly called "the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread."
(Mark 14:12). The preparation day was the day on which the Jews made the necessary preparation to celebrate a Sabbath. The day after the Passover, Nisan 15, is the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. (Ex. 12:15-18; Lev. 23:6-8).
       The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread shall be a holy convocation, as the seventh day sabbath is also a holy convocation. (Ex. 12:16; Lev. 23:7; 23:3, 4). Nisan 15, the day after the Passover, is to be observed as a Sabbath; a day of holy convocation. The Passover meal was eaten at the beginning of Nisan 15, between sunset and midnight. This was followed immediately by the festival of Unleavened Bread celebrated from Nisan 15-21 inclusive, to commemorate the Jews' exodus from Egypt. The Passover was also called the "preparation day" because it was the day before, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Sabbath; a day of holy convocation. The Sabbath day after the Passover was not the same as the seventh day sabbath. Food could be prepared on the Sabbath after the Passover, but not on the seventh day sabbath. In the New Testament the Sabbath after the Passover has been confused with the seventh day sabbath. Reading (Mark 16:1 and Luke 23:56) clears the confusion.
       Jesus Christ as child and as a adult observed the Passover. (Luke 2:41-43;
Matt. 26:18; Mark 14:14, 15; Luke 22:11, 12). Jesus told the "evil and adulterous generation" that "seeketh after a sign" He would prove He is the Messiah, for "so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matt. 12:39, 40 We know these were literal 24 hour days because Jesus asked a simple question, "Are there not twelve hours in the day?" (John 11:9).
       The passover lamb was a foreshadow of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. (Is. 53:7; John 1:29, 36; 1Pet. 1:19; Rev. 5:6). Jesus knew He would die as a Sacrifice for the world, by crucifixion (John 12:32, 33 Mark 10:45; 14:24). Jesus Christ instituted the "Lord's Supper" to be observed as a memorial (memory) to His Sacrificial death. (Matt. 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20).
       When our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was crucified it was the Passover, "the Jews' preparation day." (John 19:14, 31, 42). Jesus was crucified at 9:00am and gave up His life willing around 3:00pm when the Passover lambs were being slain for the Passover. (John 19:31, 42; Matt. 27:46-50; Mark 15:34-37). Jesus hanged on the cross for three hours in the daylight (9am till noon), and for three hours of darkness
(noon till 3pm) then He willing "gave up the ghost". (Mark 15:25, 33, 34;
Luke 23:44-46). This is of extreme significance and should be noted as such!
       The Passover as it was celebrated in the time of Christ and His apostles should be of utmost importance and interest to us in understanding the New Testament. Jesus Christ completely fulfilled the Passover as a Sacrifice for us. Jesus' death can not fully be comprehended, with no understanding of the significance of the Passover and it's application today. Just as the Passover was a constant reminder and proclamation of God's redemption of Israel from bondage in Egypt, so the keeping of the Lord's Supper as a memorial on the Passover would be a remembering and proclaiming of the deliverance of believers from the bondage of sin through Christ's atoning work on the cross. As the Feast of Passover was a commemorative meal, so also the Lord's Supper is a memorial supper, recalling and portraying Christ's death for sinners; having more meaning when it is observed on the "Passover." There Is No Commandment In The New Testament To Partake The Lord's Supper, everyday, once a week, or once a month. God Bless. Peace!