Topical Bible: The Feast of the Passover: Called The: Lord's Passover

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Feast of the Passover, also known as the Lord's Passover, is one of the most significant and ancient festivals in the Jewish calendar, commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt. This event is foundational to Jewish identity and is also of profound importance in Christian theology, symbolizing redemption and foreshadowing the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

Biblical Origin and Institution

The Passover is instituted in the Book of Exodus, where God commands Moses and Aaron to instruct the Israelites on the observance of this feast. The event is described in Exodus 12, where the Lord details the specific instructions for the Passover meal, including the selection of a lamb without blemish, the application of its blood on the doorposts, and the consumption of the lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. The Lord declares, "This is the LORD’s Passover" (Exodus 12:11), signifying His direct involvement and the divine nature of the event.

Significance and Observance

The Passover commemorates the night when the Lord passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, sparing them from the plague of the firstborn, which struck the Egyptians. This act of divine judgment and mercy led to the liberation of the Israelites from bondage. The Passover is to be observed annually as a lasting ordinance, as stated in Exodus 12:14, "This day is to be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD. You are to celebrate it as a permanent statute for the generations to come" .

Rituals and Traditions

The Passover meal, or Seder, is rich with symbolism and tradition. The lamb represents the sacrifice, the unleavened bread (matzah) signifies the haste of the Israelites' departure, and the bitter herbs (maror) symbolize the bitterness of slavery. The festival begins on the 14th day of the first month, Nisan, and is followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, lasting seven days, during which no leavened bread is to be consumed.

Theological Implications

In Christian theology, the Passover holds deep significance as a typology of Christ's sacrificial death. The Apostle Paul refers to Christ as "our Passover lamb" (1 Corinthians 5:7), drawing a parallel between the Passover lamb's blood, which spared the Israelites, and the blood of Christ, which redeems believers from sin. The Last Supper, which Jesus shared with His disciples, was a Passover meal, during which He instituted the Lord's Supper, further linking the Passover with His atoning sacrifice.

Historical and Cultural Context

The Passover has been observed by Jewish communities throughout history, adapting to various cultural contexts while maintaining its core elements. It serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and deliverance, reinforcing the covenant relationship between God and His people. The festival's enduring legacy is evident in its continued celebration and its influence on Christian liturgical practices.

Scriptural References

Key scriptural references for the Passover include Exodus 12:1-28, Leviticus 23:4-8, Numbers 9:1-14, and Deuteronomy 16:1-8. These passages provide detailed instructions and underscore the importance of the Passover as a divinely ordained observance.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 12:11,27
And thus shall you eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Passover: an Expiation and a Feast, a Memorial and a Prophecy
... We have called the Passover a sacrifice ... of the remainder after the feast; the very
feast itself,"all ... The designation of it as 'a passover to the Lord,' and in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the passover an expiation and.htm

The Passover visit
... On completing this year a Hebrew boy was called a son of the ... There were three annual
feasts, the Passover, the Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 8 the passover visit.htm

Preparation for Passover. Disciples Contend for Precedence.
... It was a feast commemorating a great deliverance from ... The passover was typical of
the Lord's suffering ... that have authority over them are called Benefactors.26 ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxvii preparation for passover disciples.htm

Christ Our Passover
... The way in which what is called Higher Criticism may finally ... expounder of the laws
of the feast, the feast's own Founder ... In the Passover men fed on the Sacrifice ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/christ our passover.htm

Jesus Predicts, the Rulers Plot For, and Judas Bargains for his ...
... discussion of the time when the Passover was eaten ... better to postpone his apprehension
until after the feast. ... entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, being ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxvi jesus predicts the rulers.htm

Of the Question Whether There is any Contradiction Between Matthew ...
... in thus: "Ye know that after two days shall be the feast of the passover, and the ...
people unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and ...
/.../the harmony of the gospels/chapter lxxviii of the question whether.htm

How the Steps in the Passion of the Saviour were Predetermined in ...
... so earnestly expressed His desire to eat the passover, He considered it His own
feast; for it ... what He meant by the bread, when He called the bread ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xl how the steps in.htm

Why the Passover is Said to be that of the "Jews. " Its ...
... the law is given regarding them, they are called feasts of ... which is really the Lord's,
and the passover is one ... of assembly, and in the days of the feast of the ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/11 why the passover is.htm

Another Heresy, that of the Sabbatians, is Originated by the ...
... The Montanists, who are called Pepuzites and Phrygians, celebrate the Passover
according to ... those who regulate the time of observing the feast according to ...
/.../chapter xviii another heresy that of.htm

Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry.
... gives the entire length of our Lord's ministry as ... two hundred thousand lambs for
the passover feast, but his ... not be driven out; hence Jesus called upon their ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxiv jesus attends the first.htm