“The connections between the Passover Lamb and the Israelites putting the blood on the doorposts of their houses during the last plague in Exodus Chapter 12....there’s a lot of connection to Jesus taking the cup and saying this is the New Covenant in My blood.” - B.Press
Christians around the world will remember and celebrate the essence of the gospel this weekend — “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4).
We believe that the Apostle Paul’s inspired summary statement is true, and we are certain that these events actually happened in real history, providing the basis of our salvation.
Dr. Tim Sigler adds this succinct observation: “It is unmistakable that Jesus was crucified in connection with Passover.”1 As Paul states again, “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Cor. 5:7).2
When we delve deeply into the question of exactly when these events happened, however, and how they relate to the timing of Passover—details that are not included in the infallible text—we may be surprised to find the number of complications that lie between us and the answer.
Bible students have offered numerous explanations regarding the day on which Jesus died and the date on which that fell, among other issues. Of course, the year in which these events occurred will affect the dates—which tie to the relation between the events of Passion Week and the celebration of Passover.
When you represent The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, there is sort of an unwritten rule that you will present Passover Seder demonstrations in the spring, leading up to Easter.
Notice that I am careful to point out the fact that these are educational presentations. We are not mandating that the church return to the Mosaic Law and reinstate the Passover. However, there is so much that we can learn from the wonderfully rich heritage behind this festival—which I call the world’s oldest holiday.
I had intended to devote the spring of 2020 to studying the Seder and sharing my initial lessons on it. Of course, those plans were changed by the coronavirus crisis, and the project was postponed until this year.
So, for several weeks I have been researching the origin, traditions, celebration and significance of Passover. My wife and I have been watching numerous videos of Passover Seder presentations, and I have enjoyed listening to lectures on the subject and making dozens of multi-media slides for my messages.
I have been amazed to discover, first of all, just how much there is to learn about Passover—and how much I did not know!
Obama, the Interpreter of the Message of Passover
President Obama: “The story of Passover…instructs each generation to remember its past, while appreciating the beauty of freedom and the responsibility it entails. This year that ancient instruction is reflected in the daily headlines as we see modern stories of social transformation and liberation unfolding in the Middle East and North Africa”
