JESUS BECAME OUR PASSOVER The following will show that Jesus became our Passover, and that is why we should commemorate the Passover, in remembrance of Jesus, shedding His blood for us. In addition we will find that Jesus not only became our Passover, He actually died on the Passover day.
Peter in the following verses reaffirms that man was redeemed by the blood of Christ and nothing else. He refers to Jesus as a lamb without spot, because Jesus who as our sacrifice, was without sin, that is why He was acceptable as a sacrifice presented to God.
(I Peter 1:18) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Paul states in the following verses that Jesus is our Passover. But even more interesting is the fact that Paul is instructing those at Corinth to keep the Passover feast. We will find later that Paul is the one most quoted when people support the changing of the Passover into the various titles you have today, The Last Meal, Communion, etc. Now one needs to admit themselves that something is not quite right when the individual (Paul) whom they quote in changing God's feast day, namely the Passover is here telling the people at Corinth to keep the Passover.
(I Corinthians 5:7) Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: (8) Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
The following verses will confirm that Paul is talking about the Passover. Note what's said in verse (25) Jesus says as often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me. Jesus is stating, that each time you do this, do it in remembrance of Him. Not that one should do this as often as they wish or do it whenever they wish, because the Passover has a set time for observance.
(I Corinthians 11:23) For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: (24) And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (25) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
The following scriptures will show that Jesus died on the Passover day, which He had to in order to adhere to the commandment, which states that the sacrificial lamb, must be killed on the evening of the Passover.
First, Jesus tells us in Matthew that He will be crucified on the Passover. (Matthew 26:1) Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. At verse (21) Jesus while eating the passover meal, with His disciples ,told them, that one of them would betray Him. In the Gospel of John (21-29) you will find that the disciples were unaware what Judas was about to do, even though Jesus told the disciples, that He was to be betrayed, and Jesus said to Judas, to do what he had to do quickly. They thought Jesus was sending Judas to buy something, since Judas held the money bag. Now Jesus identified His betrayer by giving him sop. Pay close attention to when the activities of the following verse took place.
John (13:30) He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
When Judas betrayed Jesus it was at night, the evening of the Passover. The following verses from John further confirm that Jesus was taken the night of the Passover.
Note in verse (3) when they came looking for Jesus, they came with lanterns and torches, letting you know that it was still nighttime. John (18:3) Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus is going to address those looking for Him and you will see that Judas is with them, letting you know that this all happens the night of the Passover.
(4) Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? (5) They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
The following verses also show that Jesus was crucified on the Passover. The first verse states that while they had Jesus, the Jews did not want go into the judgment hall because its still the Passover.
John (18:28) Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. (29) Pilate then went out into them, and said, “What accusation bring ye against this man?”
In the following verses it states that Pilate was conscious of the Jews custom, and would release unto the Jews a prisoner at Passover. We know that the Jews selected Barabbas to be released. This left Jesus to be crucified and by now one should realize this is still the Passover.
John (18:38) Pilate saith unto him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. (39) But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto the King of the Jews? (40) Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas, Now Barabbas was a robber.
The following verses will still yet further confirm that Jesus was crucified on the Passover. Note verse (14) states it was the preparation of the Passover. The Passover is at times also referred to as the day of preparation, because it is the day before the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
John (19:1) Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. (2) And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe. (14) And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the “Jews, Behold your King!” (16) Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.