Jewish Passover
The Jewish Passover, or "Pesach" in Hebrew, is a significant feast in the biblical tradition that commemorates the Israelites' exodus from slavery in Egypt. Its origins are detailed in the Book of Exodus, particularly in Exodus 12:1-14, where God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood. This act was to protect them from the final plague—the death of the firstborn—when the Lord passed through Egypt. The blood on the doorposts served as a sign for the Lord to "pass over" those homes, sparing the inhabitants from the plague (Exodus 12:13). The Passover feast is observed annually, starting on the 14th day of the month of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, and it lasts for seven days (Exodus 12:17, Leviticus 23:5-6). It is a time of remembrance and celebration, where families gather to retell the story of their deliverance from bondage, often through a ritual meal known as the Seder. The themes of redemption, freedom, and God's faithfulness permeate the observance, making it a foundational event in Jewish identity and theology. In the New Testament, the significance of Passover is further deepened through the lens of Jesus’ crucifixion, where He is identified as the ultimate Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), symbolizing deliverance from sin and spiritual death for believers.