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[[Image:Jesus Mary and lamb.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The lamb and Jesus Christ as our sacrifical lamb are enduring symbols of the Passover]]

[[Image:Jesus Mary and lamb.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The lamb and Jesus Christ as our sacrificial lamb are enduring symbols of the Passover]]

<small>''This article is about the Biblically commanded feast from a general and [[Christian]] perspective; for Passover in [[Judaism]] see [[Pesach]]''</small><br>

<small>''This article is about the Biblically commanded feast from a general and [[Christian]] perspective; for Passover in [[Judaism]] see [[Pesach]]''</small><br>

'''Passover''' ([[Hebrew]] פֶּסַח ''pesach'' "to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare") is a [[Bible|Biblical]] festival, one of seven of [[God|God's]] commanded [[Holy Days]]. Its name is derived from the night of the [[Exodus|Tenth Plague]], when the Angel of Death saw the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of the houses of [[Israel]] and "passed over" them and did not kill their firstborn. "Pesach" is also the name of the sacrificial offering (a lamb) that was made in the [[Temple]] on this holiday. Passover is the oldest continually observed feast in existence today, celebrated for some 3,500 years. Even today, more Jewish people observe Passover than any other high holy day,<ref>Boshart, David Holt [http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/feasts/passover.htm "Passover"]. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref> and according to the 1990 National Jewish Population Survey (NJPS), more than 80% of Jews have attended a Passover celebration.<ref>Rich, Tracey R. [http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm "Pesach: Passover"] Judaism 101. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>

'''Passover''' ([[Hebrew]] פֶּסַח ''pesach'' "to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare") is a [[Bible|Biblical]] festival, one of seven of [[God|God's]] commanded [[Holy Days]]. Its name is derived from the night of the [[Exodus|Tenth Plague]], when the Angel of Death saw the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of the houses of [[Israel]] and "passed over" them and did not kill their firstborn. "Pesach" is also the name of the sacrificial offering (a lamb) that was made in the [[Temple]] on this holiday. Passover is the oldest continually observed feast in existence today, celebrated for some 3,500 years. Even today, more Jewish people observe Passover than any other high holy day,<ref>Boshart, David Holt [http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/feasts/passover.htm "Passover"]. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref> and according to the 1990 National Jewish Population Survey (NJPS), more than 80% of Jews have attended a Passover celebration.<ref>Rich, Tracey R. [http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm "Pesach: Passover"] Judaism 101. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>

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. 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 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]]

[[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>