BIBLICAL CONCEPT: Israel’s Passover,
the Passover of Christ and Easter

Israel’s Passover:

• Passover = the Hebrew word: pasach = to pass over - Exodus 12:1-27.
• Passover = Hebrew New Years - Exodus 12:2.
• Passover occurs during the Hebrew month Nisan = Abib (Exodus 13:4) = Canaanite: in ear = March - April on our calendar.
• The Passover lamb: Observed from Nisan 10 (Exodus 12:3) and slaughtered on Nisan 14 (Exodus 12:6).
• Passover blood: Exodus 12:7, 13.
• Passover a permanent memorial: Exodus 12:14.
• The Passover Feast of unleavened bread: Exodus 12:15-20.
• Passover = to go forth. See Exodus 13:4.

The Passover of Christ:

• The Passover of Christ is a remembrance ceremony started by our Lord - Matthew 26:17-30.
• Christ is our Passover sacrifice - 1 Corinthians 5:7.
• Key elements of  Israel’s Passover are remembered in the Passover of Christ : The Passover lamb = Jesus’ sinless life (1 Peter 1:19), the slaughter = the Cross of Christ (Philippians 2:8), Passover blood = the covering of sin (Matthew 26:28), unleavened bread = Jesus’ sinless life (1 Corinthians 5:7-8), to go forth = resurrection (Matthew 26:29), and a permanent memorial = as often as in the Lord’s Supper in: 1 Corinthians 11:25b and 26a.

Easter:

• Easter: "A festival in the Christian Church commemorating the resurrection of Christ, celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or next after March 21."  March 21 (Spring equinox) = Nissan 14, approximately, conceptually.
• Easter comes from the Old English eastre which was taken from the Old Germanic austron a dawn-goddess whose holiday was celebrated at the vernal (rising / Spring) equinox.

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