Topical Bible: Passover: Jesus Crucified at the Time of

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The Passover, a pivotal Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from Egyptian bondage, holds profound significance in the Christian narrative, particularly in the context of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The timing of Jesus' crucifixion during the Passover festival is seen as a fulfillment of Old Testament typology and prophecy, underscoring His role as the ultimate Passover Lamb.

Old Testament Background

The Passover originates in the book of Exodus, where God commands the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb without blemish and apply its blood to the doorposts of their homes. This act would spare them from the plague of the firstborn, as the Lord passed over the houses marked by the blood (Exodus 12:1-13). The Passover lamb thus becomes a symbol of deliverance and redemption.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the Gospel accounts align the crucifixion of Jesus with the Passover festival, drawing a parallel between Jesus and the sacrificial lamb. The Apostle Paul explicitly identifies Christ as "our Passover lamb" who has been sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5:7). This connection is further emphasized in the Gospel of John, where Jesus is crucified on the day of Preparation for the Passover, at the same time the Passover lambs were being slaughtered (John 19:14).

The Last Supper

The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) describe the Last Supper as a Passover meal, during which Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper. Jesus takes the bread and the cup, symbolizing His body and blood, and instructs His disciples to partake in remembrance of Him (Luke 22:19-20). This act signifies the new covenant and highlights Jesus as the fulfillment of the Passover sacrifice.

Theological Significance

The crucifixion of Jesus during Passover is laden with theological implications. It signifies the transition from the Old Covenant, based on the Law and sacrificial system, to the New Covenant, established through the atoning death of Christ. Jesus' sacrifice is seen as the ultimate act of redemption, delivering believers from the bondage of sin and death, much like the original Passover delivered the Israelites from physical slavery.

Prophetic Fulfillment

The timing of Jesus' death also fulfills the prophetic imagery found in the Old Testament. Isaiah 53:7 describes the suffering servant as "a lamb led to the slaughter," a prophecy Christians believe is realized in Jesus' sacrificial death. Furthermore, the Passover's themes of liberation and divine protection resonate with the Christian understanding of salvation through Christ.

Conclusion

The crucifixion of Jesus at the time of Passover is a cornerstone of Christian theology, illustrating the continuity between the Old and New Testaments. It affirms Jesus as the Lamb of God, whose sacrifice brings about the ultimate deliverance and redemption for humanity.

Nave's Topical Index

Matthew 26:2
You know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
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Mark 14:1,2
After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
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John 18:28
Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas to 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.
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Library

And when Jesus Finished all These Sayings, He Said unto his ...
... that after two days will be the passover, and the Son of man is delivered up to
be [3] crucified. ... and they took counsel together concerning Jesus, that they ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xliv and when jesus.htm

Fragment v. --That up to the Time of the Destruction of Jerusalem ...
... the Passover in the evening, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was crucified, being
made ... confidently affirm that after He had eaten the Passover, He was ...
/.../peter/the writings of peter of alexandria/fragment v that up to the.htm

Christ Crucified.
... Led away to be crucified (Matt.27:31; Mark ... expostulation against the injustice of
murdering Jesus with hoarse ... uprising at a time when the passover had brought ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/christ crucified.htm

Jesus Predicts, the Rulers Plot For, and Judas Bargains for his ...
... cometh, and the Son of man is delivered up to be crucified. [We may regard Jesus
as having ... The passover was eaten Thursday night after sunset, which the Jews ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxvi jesus predicts the rulers.htm

The Crucifixion.
... Week of Our Lord's Ministry, the Fourth Passover, the Crucifixion. ... These two may
have been crucified at this time for ... sake, but the fact that Jesus was placed ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxxxiii the crucifixion 2.htm

The Chronology
... It therefore seems probable that Jesus was born in the summer ... was baptized in AD26;
that the first Passover of his ... 26 or 27; and that he was crucified in the ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/iv the chronology.htm

John Chapter xix. 17-22.
... Hence in the case of this parasceve of the passover, that is, the preparation ... then
read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate cxvii john chapter xix.htm

Of the Hour of the Lord's Passion, and of the Question Concerning ...
... therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and ... it was the preparation of
the passover, about the ... Him therefore unto them to be crucified." [1403] And ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xiii of the hour of.htm

Judas
... At the Passover supper Jesus proved His divinity by revealing the traitor's purpose. ...
Judas reasoned that if Jesus was to be crucified, the event must come ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 76 judas.htm

Chronological Table of the Life of Christ [From Andrews. ]
... ". Sending of Peter and John to prepare the passover; the paschal supper ... is forced
to scourge him and give him up to be crucified. ... Jesus is crucified at Golgotha ...
/.../the new testament commentary vol iii john/chronological table of the life.htm