The Feast of Passover

The Bible outlines seven major feasts given to Israel by God in Leviticus 23. These feasts were more than just religious observances—they were divine appointments that pointed to God's plan of redemption. Each feast carries deep spiritual significance, with many fulfilled in Jesus Christ, while others still point toward His second coming.

The seven feasts, outlined in Leviticus 23, are divided into two seasons—Spring and Fall. The Spring feasts (1-4) were fulfilled in Jesus' first coming. They were prophetic shadows of His death, burial, resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Let's take a deep dive into the Feast of Passover and see how this biblical feast points to God's redemptive plan. The Bible speaks extensively about Passover, as it honors God’s deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

In 2025, Passover begins at sunset on April 12 and ends at sunset on April 20.

Exodus 12:1-30 outlines the origin of Passover. There, we read where God institutes the first Passover in Egypt. The Israelites are commanded to sacrifice a lamb without blemish, apply its blood to their doorposts, and eat the meal with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. This act caused the Lord to “pass over” their homes when striking down the firstborn of Egypt. In Exodus 12:14-17, Passover is established as a lasting ordinance, followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days.

In Exodus 13:3-10, God commands the Israelites to observe Passover annually as a reminder of their deliverance. There, the Passover as a memorial feast was born. Passover is listed among the Lord’s appointed feasts in Leviticus 23:4-8.

​“These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the Lord's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. But you shall present a food offering to the Lord for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work.” Leviticus 23:4-8

Additional instructions are given for observing Passover in Deuteronomy 16:1-8, once the Israelites enter the Promised Land.

The Bible records five specific celebrations of Passover in Israel’s history:

• The First Passover is in Egypt (Exodus 12:1-30) when God institutes Passover as He delivers the Israelites from slavery.
• There is the Passover in the Wilderness (Numbers 9:1-14), where the Israelites celebrate Passover at Mount Sinai a year after the Exodus.
• The first Passover in the Promised Land is recorded in Joshua 5:10-12. After crossing the Jordan, the Israelites observed Passover before eating the produce of Canaan.
• Hezekiah’s Passover Revival (2 Chronicles 30:1-27) was when King Hezekiah restored the observance of Passover during a time of spiritual renewal.
• Lastly, Josiah’s Great Passover Celebration (2 Chronicles 35:1-19). King Josiah led one of the most remarkable Passover celebrations in Israel’s history.

The returned exiles celebrated Passover after rebuilding the Temple (Ezra 6:19-22), and Jesus observed Passover throughout His life, most notably at the Last Supper, where He revealed its ultimate fulfillment in Him (Matthew 26:17-30, Luke 22:7-20).

In the New Testament, we see four connections between Jesus and the Passover:

• Luke 2:41-50 – Jesus’ family observes Passover yearly, and at age 12, Jesus stays behind in the Temple to discuss the Scriptures.
• John 2:13-22 – Jesus cleanses the Temple during Passover, declaring Himself the true dwelling place of God.
• John 6:4, 35-58 – Jesus, during Passover season, teaches that He is the true Bread of Life.
• Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-30 – Jesus celebrates Passover with His disciples at the Last Supper, instituting the Lord’s Supper as a new covenant in His blood.

Let's look at the deeper meaning of Passover in Christ. In John 1:29 and 1 Corinthians 5:7, Jesus is identified as the “Lamb of God” who takes away the sins of the world. Paul calls Him “our Passover Lamb.” 1 Peter 1:18-19 describes Jesus as the perfect, unblemished Lamb whose blood redeems believers. In Revelation 5:6-12, we see a peek into Heaven where Jesus is worshiped as the Lamb who was slain, fulfilling the ultimate purpose of Passover.

The key themes we see play out in the Passover feast are:

• Deliverance and Redemption – God rescues His people from bondage, foreshadowing Jesus’ work on the cross.
• The Blood of the Lamb – Salvation comes through the sacrificial lamb, pointing to Christ’s atoning sacrifice.
• Unleavened Bread – A symbol of purity and readiness, calling believers to remove sin from their lives (1 Corinthians 5:8).
• God’s Faithfulness – The Passover is a reminder of God’s covenant and His power to save.

​How does understanding Jesus as our Passover Lamb deepen your appreciation of His sacrifice and God's plan of redemption?

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