As we conclude this five-part journey through the story and significance of Passover, we arrive at the heart of it all – the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ, the ultimate Passover Lamb. It’s here, at the cross, where everything in the Exodus narrative finds its deepest spiritual meaning. And it’s here where we as Christians are invited not only to understand Passover, but to embrace and observe it in light of our Messiah.
Jesus: The True Passover Lamb
The blood of lambs in Egypt spared the Israelites from judgment, leading to their deliverance from slavery. It was a divine act of mercy wrapped in a command: take an unblemished lamb, sacrifice it, and mark your doorposts with its blood. That blood served as a sign that God’s people were covered, redeemed, and set apart.
But as the prophets foretold, this was not the end of the story but instead it was a foreshadowing. Isaiah 53 speaks of one who would be “led like a lamb to the slaughter,” and who would “bear the sin of many.” John the Baptist recognized this fulfillment when he saw Jesus and cried:
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
(John 1:29)
Paul echoes this connection:
“For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.”
(1 Corinthians 5:7)
Jesus’ crucifixion occurred during Passover week not by coincidence, but by God’s design. At the very hour the Passover lambs were being slaughtered in the temple, Jesus was on the cross. His blood, like the blood on those ancient doorposts, now covers all who believe in Him, delivering us not from the bondage of Egypt, but from the bondage of sin and death.
Passover vs. Easter: What’s the Difference?
For centuries, Christians have celebrated the resurrection of Jesus through what is commonly called Easter. While the resurrection is unquestionably central to our faith, the shift from Passover to Easter is historically and theologically significant as well as intentional.
Easter, as it developed over time, became disconnected from its Jewish roots. It adopted elements from pagan spring festivals, both in name and practice. The early Church, particularly after the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D., began to distance itself from the Jewish calendar and all Jewish traditions and chose to celebrate the resurrection on a Sunday separate from Passover. This was partly due to growing anti-Jewish sentiment in the Roman empire and a desire to forge a distinct Christian identity separate from its Jewish roots.
But in doing so, something vital was lost!
Passover isn’t just about the cross – it’s about the entire story of redemption. It connects creation, covenant, deliverance, sacrifice, and resurrection into one grand narrative. To observe Passover is to remember not only that Jesus died, but why He died, and how that fits into God’s plan from the very beginning. It’s about redemption through the blood of the Lamb, freedom from slavery to sin, and entry into a covenant relationship with God.
In contrast, Easter often becomes a one-day celebration with chocolate eggs and pastel colors. Passover, however, is a week-long immersive experience rooted in Scripture. It involves preparing your home, retelling the story, eating symbolic foods, and reflecting deeply on what it means to be a redeemed people. It is participatory, reflective, and deeply tied to the rhythms of God’s appointed times.
An Everlasting Command
“This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.”
(Exodus 12:14)
The Hebrew word used here, olam, means eternal or everlasting. This wasn’t a temporary command for Israel in Egypt. It was to be a perpetual remembrance for all generations of God’s covenant people.
Some may argue that the cross did away with the need to observe Passover. But Jesus Himself said:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
(Matthew 5:17)
He didn’t cancel Passover. Far from it. He completed it. And in Luke 22, at His last Passover meal (often referred to as the Last Supper), Jesus didn’t end the celebration but instead He redefined it:
“Do this in remembrance of Me.”
(Luke 22:19)
Jesus was not introducing a brand-new ritual; He was placing Himself at the center of an existing one. When we take communion, we are participating in a New Covenant Passover which is a celebration of deliverance through the blood of Christ. Far from being obsolete, the Passover gains a much deeper meaning through Jesus. It becomes both a remembrance and a prophecy: looking back to the Exodus and the cross, and forward to the final redemption when we will dine with the Lamb in His Kingdom.
Why Christians Should Still Observe Passover
1. Because it’s Biblical
God didn’t give Passover to the Jews alone. It was given to His covenant people. Through Christ, we are grafted into that covenant (Romans 11). The story of Passover is our story too. Observing it connects us to the roots of our faith and the fullness of God’s Word.
2. Because it Deepens Our Understanding of Jesus
Passover brings clarity to the Gospel. It shows the richness of Christ’s sacrifice in context. The plagues, the lamb, the deliverance, the blood, the bread, the wine all point directly to Him. You begin to see that nothing Jesus did was random. He fulfilled every detail.
3. Because it Shapes Our Identity
We are no longer slaves to sin, but redeemed children of God. Passover reminds us of who we are, where we came from, and what it cost. In a world that constantly tries to redefine identity, Passover grounds us in biblical truth.
4. Because it Prepares Us for the Future
Jesus said in Luke 22:16:
“I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
Passover is not just a memorial—it’s a rehearsal for the coming Messianic banquet. Observing it keeps our eyes on eternity.
A Call to Rediscover
We live in a time when many believers are yearning for something deeper than commercialized holidays and surface-level faith. Rediscovering Passover is part of returning to the roots of biblical Christianity. It is not about becoming Jewish or abandoning grace. It’s about honoring God’s appointed times and seeing Jesus in them more clearly than ever before.
So as this Passover season begins, let it mark a beginning—a beginning of reclaiming the rhythm of God’s calendar. A beginning of seeing Jesus not just in the New Testament but woven throughout the entire Bible. A beginning of walking in the freedom, identity, and promise secured by the blood of the Lamb.
“Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed. Let us keep the feast.”
(1 Corinthians 5:7–8)