Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread

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The Christian Passover memorializes Israel's deliverance from slavery and recalls Jesus' sacrifice, as a Passover lamb, for our sins and the sins of all humans who would ever live.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a period that comes right after Passover where no leavened bread or leavening is to be eaten. In fact, God commands that leaven be removed completely from where a person lives.

The Passover

Jesus Christ willingly came down from heaven and took the form of a man to die for our sins. Though he was hated and rejected by many, he endured to the end of his life to become the perfect sacrifice and to reconcile man to God.

Jesus, therefore, said to them, 'Verily, verily, I say to you, If ye may not eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and may not drink his blood, ye have no life in yourselves . . . (John 6:53, YLT)

The Hebrew word pesach, which is Strong's Concordance #6453, means to pass over or a passing over. Jesus fulfilled the meaning of Passover by offering his life (flesh and blood) to pay for our sins and make possible our ultimately receiving eternal life.

Jesus Kept the Passover

The Bible clearly states that Jesus, during his earthly ministry, kept the Passover. He sometimes kept it in Jerusalem (John 2:22 - 23) and usually with his disciples.

Jesus Ate Last Passover with Disciples

And on the first day of the unleaveneds, when they were killing the Passover lambs, His disciples said to Him, "Where do You desire that we go and prepare, so that You may eat the Passover?" (Mark 14:12)

Christ is our Passover

Therefore, purge out the old leaven, so that you may become a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us (1Corinthians 5:7, HBFV).

Before the Feast

We need to examine ourselves before partaking of the Passover, lest we take it unworthily and bring God's judgment upon ourselves (1Corinthians 11:28 - 29).

Commemorating the Exodus

When you eat this meal, do not eat bread prepared with yeast. For seven days you are to eat bread prepared without yeast, as you did when you had to leave Egypt in such a hurry. (Deuteronomy 16:3)

Offering to the Eternal Required

All the men of your nation are to come to worship the Lord three times a year at the one place of worship . . . Each man is to bring a gift as he is able . . . (Deuteronomy 16:16 - 17)

The Book of Acts

Herod arrested Peter during the days of Unleavened Bread (Acts 12:3). The Apostle Paul sailed from Philippi during this special time so that he could make it to Troas (Acts 20:6).

Recommended Articles
Meaning of Biblical Sacrifices (Offerings)
What Is the Second Passover?
How to Make Unleavened Bread
What Does Bread Symbolize?
Let This Cup Pass from Me
What Are Firstfruits?
Guidelines for the Christian Passover
Could Jesus Have Sinned?

The Feasts of the Lord

Overview of the Feasts
Passover and Unleavened Bread
Meaning of Pentecost
Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets)
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
Feast of Tabernacles (Booths)
The Last Great Day