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==Jesus Christ and the Passover==

==Jesus Christ and the Passover==

Throughout His life and ministry Jesus observed the Passover<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202:41-42;%20John%202:13,23;%206:4;%20Mat.26:1-2,%2017-20;&version=9; Luke 2:41-42; John 2:13,23; 6:4; Mat.26:1-2, 17-20] [[King James Version]] BibleGateway</ref>. He also knew it depicted His suffering and death and told His [[disciple]]s this.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mat.26:1-2;&version=9; Mat.26:1-2] [[King James Version]] BibleGateway</ref> On the night of the 14th He sat down with His disciples to observe the Passover meal. During this supper He said to His disciples, "This do in remembrance of me."([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2022.19;&version=9; Luke 22:19])

Throughout His life and ministry Jesus observed the Passover.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202:41-42;%20John%202:13,23;%206:4;%20Mat.26:1-2,%2017-20;&version=9; Luke 2:41-42; John 2:13,23; 6:4; Mat.26:1-2, 17-20] [[King James Version]] BibleGateway</ref> He also knew it depicted His suffering and death and told His [[disciple]]s this.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mat.26:1-2;&version=9; Mat.26:1-2] [[King James Version]] BibleGateway</ref> On the night of the 14th He sat down with His disciples to observe the Passover meal. During this supper He said to His disciples, "This do in remembrance of me."([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2022.19;&version=9; Luke 22:19])

Jesus and the Passover has been at the root of many serious misunderstandings between Christianity and Judaism. By the second century "both Judaism and Christianity were trying to distinguish each from the other in the eyes of [[Roman Empire|Rome]], as both had unique [[political]] concerns."<ref>''Classical and Christian Anti-Semitism'' [http://remember.org/History.root.classical.html The Holocaust: A Guide for Pennsylvania Teachers]. Remember.org. Retrieved 28 July 2008.</ref> Towards the end of the fourth century, the emphasis on the Hebraic tradition had diminished to the point that the Church Council of Laodicea removed all connections between Jesus and the celebration of Passover. For their part, Judaism rarely, if ever, acknowledges the most famous and influential Jew who ever lived.<ref>Cowen, Rabbi Jaimie [http://www.richmond.com/faith-values/10135 ''Jesus and Passover''] Faith & Values. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>For many centuries Jews observed Passover in secret, as many Christians and anti-Semites believed that Jews used the blood of Christian babies in the making of unleavened bread, and Jews were fearful of possible retaliation.<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/jud_blib1.htm ''The Blood Libel Myth''] "Blood libel, host desecration, ritual murder, & other largely anti-semitic fables" Religious Tolerance. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>  

Jesus and the Passover has been at the root of many serious misunderstandings between Christianity and Judaism. By the second century "both Judaism and Christianity were trying to distinguish each from the other in the eyes of [[Roman Empire|Rome]], as both had unique [[political]] concerns."<ref>''Classical and Christian Anti-Semitism'' [http://remember.org/History.root.classical.html The Holocaust: A Guide for Pennsylvania Teachers]. Remember.org. Retrieved 28 July 2008.</ref> Towards the end of the fourth century, the emphasis on the Hebraic tradition had diminished to the point that the Church Council of Laodicea removed all connections between Jesus and the celebration of Passover. For their part, Judaism rarely, if ever, acknowledges the most famous and influential Jew who ever lived.<ref>Cowen, Rabbi Jaimie [http://www.richmond.com/faith-values/10135 ''Jesus and Passover''] Faith & Values. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref> For many centuries Jews observed Passover in secret, as many Christians and anti-Semites believed that Jews used the blood of Christian babies in the making of unleavened bread, and Jews were fearful of possible retaliation.<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/jud_blib1.htm ''The Blood Libel Myth''] "Blood libel, host desecration, ritual murder, & other largely anti-semitic fables" Religious Tolerance. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>  

[[Image:Angel of death.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The Angel of Death passed over]]

[[Image:Angel of death.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The Angel of Death passed over]]

Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary notes about the sacrificial lamb and Jesus Christ:<ref>[http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?b=2&c=12&com=mhc ''Commentary on Exodus 12:1-20''] "Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary" Hosted at Christ Notes. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>  

Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary notes about the sacrificial lamb and Jesus Christ:<ref>[http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?b=2&c=12&com=mhc ''Commentary on Exodus 12:1-20''] "Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary" Hosted at Christ Notes. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>  

*Not a bone of it must be broken ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2012:46;&version=9; Exodus 12:46]) - which is expressly said to be fulfilled in Christ ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2019:33,36;&version=9; John 19:33,36])

*Not a bone of it must be broken ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2012:46;&version=9; Exodus 12:46]) - which is expressly said to be fulfilled in Christ ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2019:33,36;&version=9; John 19:33,36])

On the 14th of Nisan, at the third hour of the morning (9 a.m. by Biblical reckoning<ref>Blank, Wayne [http://www.keyway.ca/htm2003/20031223.htm ''Hours Of The Day''] Daily Bible Study. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>), the high priest took the lamb and ascended the altar so he could tie the lamb in place.  At the same time on that day, Jesus was crucified ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2015:25;&version=9; Mark 15:25]).  At the time of the evening sacrifice (3 p.m.) for Passover, the high priest ascended the altar, cut the throat of the lamb with a knife, and said the words, "It is finished." (These are the words said after giving a peace offering to God.) At this same time, Jesus died (the ninth hour, 3:00 p.m., [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2027:46;&version=9; Matthew 27:46]), saying "It is finished." ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2019:30;&version=9; John 19:30])

On the 14th of Nisan, at the third hour of the morning (9 a.m. by Biblical reckoning<ref>Blank, Wayne [http://www.keyway.ca/htm2003/20031223.htm ''Hours Of The Day''] Daily Bible Study. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>), the high priest took the lamb and ascended the altar so he could tie the lamb in place.  At the same time on that day, Jesus was crucified ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2015:25;&version=9; Mark 15:25]).  At the time of the evening sacrifice (3 p.m.) for Passover, the high priest ascended the altar, cut the throat of the lamb with a knife, and said the words, "It is finished." (These are the words said after giving a peace offering to God.) At this same time, Jesus died (the ninth hour, 3:00&nbsp;p.m., [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2027:46;&version=9; Matthew 27:46]), saying "It is finished." ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2019:30;&version=9; John 19:30])

==The sacrifice of Jesus Christ==

==The sacrifice of Jesus Christ==

Although it was the Roman Catholic Church which had, centuries before, widened the schism between Judaism and Christianity, it was Vatican II's "Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions" in 1965 which gave impetus to the growing renewal of these teachings:  

Although it was the Roman Catholic Church which had, centuries before, widened the schism between Judaism and Christianity, it was Vatican II's "Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions" in 1965 which gave impetus to the growing renewal of these teachings:  

<blockquote>''Thus the Church of Christ acknowledges that, according to God's saving design, the beginnings of her faith and election go back as far as the days of the patriarchs, of Moses and the prophets She affirms that all who believe in Christ - [[Abraham]]'s sons according to faith (cf. Gal. 3,7) are included in the call of this patriarch - she also affirms that her salvation is mysteriously prefigured in the Exodus of the chosen people from the land of bondage. The Church, therefore, cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God, in that loving-kindness words cannot express, deigned to conclude the Ancient covenant... For the Church believes that by His cross Christ, who is our Peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles, making the two one in Himself (cf. Eph. 2, 14-16)''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Thus the Church of Christ acknowledges that, according to God's saving design, the beginnings of her faith and election go back as far as the days of the patriarchs, of Moses and the prophets She affirms that all who believe in Christ - [[Abraham]]'s sons according to faith (cf. Gal. 3,7) are included in the call of this patriarch - she also affirms that her salvation is mysteriously prefigured in the Exodus of the chosen people from the land of bondage. The Church, therefore, cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God, in that loving-kindness words cannot express, deigned to conclude the Ancient covenant... For the Church believes that by His cross Christ, who is our Peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles, making the two one in Himself (cf. Eph. 2, 14-16)''</blockquote>

==See Also==

==See also==

*[[The Passover Last Supper Conflation: An Essay]]

*[[The Passover Last Supper Conflation: An Essay]]

*[[Passover Seder]]

*[[Passover Seder]]