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==The Passover story==
==The Passover story==
The original Passover marked the Exodus of the Israelites from [[Egypt]], as described in [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=2&chapter=12&version=9 chapter 12] of the book of Exodus. On the 10th day of the first month they were instructed to set aside a young lamb without spot or blemish, which was to be kept until the 14th day of this first month, when they were to kill it in the evening. As soon as it was killed, the blood was to be sprinkled over the door posts of their houses, and the lamb roasted and eaten, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, in haste ready to move out quickly. At midnight on the 14th the Angel of Death passed through the land, striking dead the firstborn of each family in Egypt. But those under the blood of the lamb were saved from death.
The original Passover marked the Exodus of the Israelites from [[Egypt]], as described in [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=2&chapter=12&version=9 chapter 12] of the book of Exodus. On the 10th day of the first month (Nisan in the Jewish calendar) they were instructed to set aside a young lamb without spot or blemish, which was to be kept until the 14th day of this first month, when they were to kill it in the evening. As soon as it was killed, the blood was to be sprinkled over the door posts of their houses, and the lamb roasted and eaten, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, in haste ready to move out quickly. At midnight on the 14th the Angel of Death passed through the land, striking dead the firstborn of each family in Egypt. But those under the blood of the lamb were saved from death.
God made it clear that this day would be a memorial: "And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever." ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2012:14;&version=9; Exodus 12:14]). In the [[New Testament]] the [[apostle]]s explained that the continuing annual Passover observance symbolized Christ. [[Paul]] referred to Christ as "our Passover" ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%205:7;&version=9; 1 Corinthians 5:7]), and [[John]] wrote that [[John the Baptist]] recognized Christ as "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201:29;&version=9; John 1:29]).
God made it clear that this day would be a memorial: "And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever." ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2012:14;&version=9; Exodus 12:14]). In the [[New Testament]] the [[apostle]]s explained that the continuing annual Passover observance symbolized Christ. [[Paul]] referred to Christ as "our Passover" ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%205:7;&version=9; 1 Corinthians 5:7]), and [[John]] wrote that [[John the Baptist]] recognized Christ as "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201:29;&version=9; John 1:29]).
==Jesus Christ and 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 the Christianity and Judaism. Because of the persecution directed towards the Jews by the Romans, it was safer for Christianity to present iteself as a separate religion rather than as a sect of Judaism.<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/sabbath.htm#move ''Why and When the Weekly Sabbath was Moved''] "The weekly Sabbath: is it to be Saturday or Sunday?" ReligiousTolerance. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref> Towards the end of the fourth century, 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. Accesed 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 were fearful of the consequences.<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 the Christianity and Judaism. Because of the persecution directed towards the Jews by the Romans, it was safer for Christianity to present iteself as a separate religion rather than as a sect of Judaism.<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/sabbath.htm#move ''Why and When the Weekly Sabbath was Moved''] "The weekly Sabbath: is it to be Saturday or Sunday?" ReligiousTolerance. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref> Towards the end of the fourth century, 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. Accesed 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 were fearful of the consequences.<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]]
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>
*Christ is our Passover - [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Cor.5:7;&version=9;1 Cor.5:7]
*Christ is our Passover - [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Cor.5:7;&version=9;1 Cor.5:7]
*It was to be killed by the whole congregation between the two evenings. Christ suffered at the end of the world ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Heb.9:26;&version=9; Hebrews 9:26]) by the hand of the multitude ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2023:18;&version=9; Luke 23:18]) and for all His spiritual Israel.
*It was to be killed by the whole congregation between the two evenings. Christ suffered at the end of the world ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Heb.9:26;&version=9; Hebrews 9:26]) by the hand of the multitude ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2023:18;&version=9; Luke 23:18]) and for all His spiritual Israel.
*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])
==The sacrifice of Jesus Christ==
Christ's shed blood makes possible mankind's access to the throne of God the Father. Originally, only the high priest could enter the area of the tabernacle known as the "Holiest of All" ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%209:6-10;&version=9; Hebrews 9:6-10]). The "mercy seat" positioned there represented God's throne. [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2016;&version=9; Leviticus 16] describes the ceremony that took place each year on another Holy Day, the [[Day of Atonement]]. At that time the high priest took the blood of a goat, representing the future sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and sprinkled it on the mercy seat so the Israelites could be symbolically cleansed of all their [[sin]]s (verses 15-16). Because the blood of Jesus Christ removes sin, making us pure before God, mankind can enjoy direct access to the Father ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%209:24;&version=9; Hebrews 9:24]).<ref>[http://www.ucg.org/booklets/HD/havetodie.htm ''Access to the Father''] "The Passover: Why Did Jesus Christ Have to Die?" UCG. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>
==Observance in the early Church==
The New Testament records Christians continuing to observe the annual festivals at the times commanded by God. As a youth, Christ kept the Passover annually on the specified day (Luke 2:41), and He continued the practice with His disciples. The early Church as well continued to observe the other Holy Days at their specified times. For example, Acts records that Jesus' followers met to observe the Feast of Pentecost: "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place." ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:1;&version=9; Acts 2:1])." Keeping the Passover each year reminds us that God is the forgiver of sin who grants us eternal life in His Kingdom through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our Passover. This observance is a memorial of our Creator's continuing role in humanity's salvation.
==Passover and Easter==
<small>''See also [[Easter]]''</small><br>
The word "easter" appears nowhere in the early bible, and its use in later translations is a mistranslation or substitution of the [[Greek]] word ''pascha'' ("passover"). That the early Church continued to keep Passover as a memorial to the ''death'' of Jesus Christ on the 14th of Nisan is confirmed by the writers of the second century. [[Polycarp]], a disciple of John the apostle, travelled to [[Rome]] to try to persuade the bishop of Rome to observe the 14th of Nisan as opposed to celebrating a feast of the ''resurrection'' several days later. [[Polycrates]] later in the 2nd century also contended with the Roman church in favor of the 14th of the first month, Jewish calendar. This controversy became known in Church History as the "[[Quartodeciman controversy]]."<ref>Hunt, Keith [http://www.biblestudy.org/basicart/how-often-should-christian-passover-lord-supper-be-taken.html ''How often should the Christian Passover (Lord's Supper) be taken?''] BibleStudy.org. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>
==References==
==References==
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