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==The sacrifice of Jesus Christ==

==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>  

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==

==Observance in the early Church==

<small>''See also [[Easter]]''</small><br>

<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"). Easter was established later in church history by the [[Roman Catholic]] Church, which does not claim these days as biblical, but rather that the Church had

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"). Easter was established later in church history by the [[Roman Catholic]] Church, which does not claim these days as biblical, but rather that the Church had

the authority to establish them.<ref>Geierman, Peter ''Question: Which is the Sabbath day? Answer: Saturday is the Sabbath day. Question: Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday? Answer: We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea (A.D. 336) transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.'' "The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine" (B. Herder Book Co., St. Louis; 1930) ISBN 0-8955-5029-6</ref> The church in Rome had begun to distance itself from relating the death of Jesus Christ to the Jewish Passover and instead began to time the celebration of the [[Resurrection]] of Jesus to coincide with the [[pagan]] rites of Attis. 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>

the authority to establish them.<ref>Geierman, Peter ''Question: Which is the Sabbath day? Answer: Saturday is the Sabbath day. Question: Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday? Answer: We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea (A.D. 336) transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.'' "The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine" (B. Herder Book Co., St. Louis; 1930) ISBN 0-8955-5029-6</ref> The church in Rome had begun to distance itself from relating the death of Jesus Christ to the Jewish Passover and instead began to time the celebration of the [[Resurrection]] of Jesus to coincide with the [[pagan]] rites of Attis. 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>

At the end of the second century, Victor, the [[bishop]] of Rome began to threaten other Church leaders in an

At the end of the second century, Victor, the [[bishop]] of Rome began to threaten other Church leaders in an

<blockquote>''We for our part keep the day [14th of Nisan = Passover] scrupulously, without addition or subtraction. For in Asia great luminaries sleep who shall rise again on the day of the Lord's advent, when He is coming with glory from heaven and shall search out all His [[saint]]s – such as Philip... there is John, who lent back on the Lord's breast… there is Polycarp, bishop and [[martyr]]... All these kept the fourteenth day of the month as the beginning of the Paschal Festival [Passover], in accordance with the [[Gospel]], not deviating in the least but following the rule of the Faith. Last of all, I too, Polycrates, the least of you a... and my family has always kept the day when the people put away the leaven [Feast of Unleavened Bread]. So I, my friends, after spending sixty-five years in the Lord's service and conversing with Christians from all parts of the world, and going carefully through all Holy Scripture, and not scared of threats. Better people than I have said: "We must obey God rather than men".''<ref>[[Eusebius]] (c.324 AD) "The History of the Church from Christ to Constantine" (transl. G. A. Williamson; reprint; Hippocrene Books; 1983) ISBN 0-8802-9022-6</ref></blockquote>

<blockquote>''We for our part keep the day [14th of Nisan = Passover] scrupulously, without addition or subtraction. For in Asia great luminaries sleep who shall rise again on the day of the Lord's advent, when He is coming with glory from heaven and shall search out all His [[saint]]s – such as Philip... there is John, who lent back on the Lord's breast… there is Polycarp, bishop and [[martyr]]... All these kept the fourteenth day of the month as the beginning of the Paschal Festival [Passover], in accordance with the [[Gospel]], not deviating in the least but following the rule of the Faith. Last of all, I too, Polycrates, the least of you a... and my family has always kept the day when the people put away the leaven [Feast of Unleavened Bread]. So I, my friends, after spending sixty-five years in the Lord's service and conversing with Christians from all parts of the world, and going carefully through all Holy Scripture, and not scared of threats. Better people than I have said: "We must obey God rather than men".''<ref>[[Eusebius]] (c.324 AD) "The History of the Church from Christ to Constantine" (transl. G. A. Williamson; reprint; Hippocrene Books; 1983) ISBN 0-8802-9022-6</ref></blockquote>

The dispute continued until the [[Council of Nicea]] in 325 AD, ordered by the (pagan) Emperor Constantine to resolve various controversies that existed in the Church – including whether the Passover or Easter should be celebrated. In his order from the Council of Nicea he said:<blockquote>''Constantine, August, to the churches… When the question arose concerning the most holy day of Easter, it was decreed by common consent to be expedient, that this festival should be celebrated on the same day by all, in every place... it seemed to every one a most unworthy thing that we should follow the custom of the Jews in the celebration of this most holy solemnity, who, polluted wretches having stained their hands with a nefarious crime, are justly blinded in their minds. It is fit, therefore, that, rejecting the practice of this people, we should perpetuate to all future ages the celebration of this rite, in a more legitimate order, which we have kept from the first day of the Lord’s passion even to the present times. Let us then have nothing in common with the most hostile rabble of the Jews.''<ref>Boyle, Isaac "A Historical View of The Council of Nicea" (T Mason and G Lane, New York; 1839)</ref></blockquote>

The dispute continued until the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, ordered by the (pagan) Emperor Constantine to resolve various controversies that existed in the Church – including whether the Passover or Easter should be celebrated. In his order from the Council of Nicea he said:<blockquote>''Constantine, August, to the churches… When the question arose concerning the most holy day of Easter, it was decreed by common consent to be expedient, that this festival should be celebrated on the same day by all, in every place... it seemed to every one a most unworthy thing that we should follow the custom of the Jews in the celebration of this most holy solemnity, who, polluted wretches having stained their hands with a nefarious crime, are justly blinded in their minds. It is fit, therefore, that, rejecting the practice of this people, we should perpetuate to all future ages the celebration of this rite, in a more legitimate order, which we have kept from the first day of the Lord’s passion even to the present times. Let us then have nothing in common with the most hostile rabble of the Jews.''<ref>Boyle, Isaac "A Historical View of The Council of Nicea" (T Mason and G Lane, New York; 1839)</ref></blockquote>

==The Christian Passover in the present day==

==The Christian Passover in the present day==