One of the three major feasts that the ancient Israelites were commanded to celebrate in honour and remembrance of Yahweh's mighty act and provisions (Deut 16). The Passover commemorates the night Yahweh "pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and bring down judgment on all the gods of Egypt . . . [but] I will pass over you" (Exo 12:12-13).
The original instructions provide for every Israelite family to slaughter a "year-old male without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire—head, legs and inner parts. Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord's Passover" (Exo 12:5-11).
It was at a meal during the Passover celebration that Jesus washed the disciples' feet and instituted the ritual we now call "the Lord's Supper," "Eucharist," or "Holy Communion," in remembrance of his death on the cross (Mt 26: 17ff; Mk 14: 16ff; Lk 22:15ff; Jn 13).
Because only unleavened bread was permitted to be eaten during the feast, the Passover is also known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread (2 Chron 35:17; Matt 26:17; Mk 14:1; Lk 22:1, 7).
There is, in more recent times, a tendency for many Christians to urge that Christians should do their best to turn up in Jerusalem and to celebrate the festival with the Jews as a way of rediscovering "the Jewish roots of our Christian faith." This habit, though well-meant, is deeply misguided, and for two reasons. First, Passover was a religious requirement under the old covenant. The Christian faith is founded upon the work of Christ on the Cross and authenticated in His resurrection. It is Easter and Resurrection Sunday that forms the foundation of our faith. Paul is adamant on this: "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed," he insists (1 Cor 5:7). Of the 30× the Passover is mentioned in the NT, only on this occasion is it referred to in a theological context; all the others refer to the festival in historical recalls. Second, Passover, as it is celebrated today is a rabbinic reconstruction, framed to accomodate the loss of the Jerusalem temple and its sacrifices. While it has some continuity with the Passover celebrated during the Israeli commonwealth, it is an altogether different thing nonetheless. (It may also be said that the Passover still celebrated by the Samaritans in Nablus come closer to the ancient rites.) If there is any kind of roots to be rediscovered by/for the Christian at all in the celebration of Passover they are merely cultural roots—not theological ones—roots that are heavily attenuated and have been made obsolete for the Christian by Christ's accomplished work.
Resources:
Maurice Casey, "The Date of the Passover Sacrifices and Mark 14:12," Tyndale Bulletin 48.2 (1997): 245-247.☰
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