Please read the one page article “God’s Festivals: An Historical Perspective” for an introduction to the subject of God’s Holy Days.
Lev. 23:5 and Numbers 28:16 The Passover shows God’s plan for mankind’s redemption from sin by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Passover lamb. Throughout history God has symbolized this process by having His people sacrifice a lamb on the 14th day of the first month of each Hebrew year. In the New Testament God changed the symbols to unleavened bread and wine and commanded His followers to do this “in remembrance of me” each year on the 14th day of the first month. John 13:15; Luke 22:19.
-Gen. 3:14-15 God prophecies the future Passover lamb- Himself.
Abraham and Isaac. -Gen. 22: 1-14 Abraham is to sacrifice Isaac but God provides a ram in his place. This event took place around 2,000 B.C.E. on the site of what was to become the city of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. It was a forerunner of the future Passover lamb- Jesus.
Moses, Israel and Egypt. -Ex. 12: 1-14 The Passover event on the last night Israel were slaves in Egypt. This was the 14th day of the first month and Israel was told it was a “memorial” and “ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.” There is no place in the Bible where God ever said to stop keeping His Passover. It has always been kept on the 14th day of the first month of the Hebrew calendar.
The Passover service continued into the First Century Christian Church.
-I Cor. 5:6-8 Shows Paul was instructing the Corinthian Church (a gentile church) about Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. Christ is our Passover lamb just as prophesized in the Garden of Eden to Adam and Eve. -I Cor. 11:23-29 The Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread were still being kept by Paul many years after the crucifixion of Jesus.
-Luke 22:19 On His final night on earth Jesus said, “…do this in remembrance of me.” See also I Cor. 11:23.
The crucifixion of Jesus as our New Covenant Passover lamb.
John 11 LAZARUS resurrection had very recently happened. See verses 25 &26. “I am” the “resurrection and the life”. Jesus was the God of the Old Testament.
Jesus and His disciples. John 12: 23-33, 44-50 Prelude to crucifixion. John 13: 1-17 Foot washing. It was a common practice of the time to have a servant wash the feet of a guest in a home. In this case Jesus humbled himself to wash the feet of his disciples. Verse 15, Jesus set us an example and tells us to do this too. BREAK TO WASH FEET.
Matt. 26:26 Jesus broke bread (it was unleavened) and distributed it to the disciples. This was to show his broken body. Pray over the bread. See also Luke 22:19. BREAK TO DISTRIBUTE UNLEAVEND BREAD.
Matt. 26: 27-28 Jesus then distributed a sip of wine as a symbol of his blood. Pray over the wine. See also Luke 22:20. BREAK TO DISTRIBUTE WINE.
These accounts can also be found in Luke 22:16-20 and Mark 14:22-23. We should note Luke, a gentile convert to Christianity was keeping the Passover more than 30 years after the death of Jesus.
New Commandments Christ gave on this Passover night: John 13: 34-35 “Love one another”. John 15: 12-17 “Love each other”. John 13:15 Jesus said, “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you”. As Jesus did, we are to observe the Passover on the 14th day of the first month every year.
After they sang a hymn the service ended (Matthew 26:30).
Prayer of dismissal.
Note: There are many other references and examples of the Passover service. I chose these three as the prime examples of history.
