What the Bible says about Passover as Annual Observance
(From Forerunner Commentary)
During the evening of Nisan 14, Jesus and His disciples ate the Passover, commonly known as the "Last Supper." After the meal was served, Jesus rolled up His sleeves, as it were, tied a towel around His waist and washed His disciples' feet. Later in the evening, after He predicted that one of the disciples would betray Him (verses 21-26), Jesus introduced the symbols of bread and wine as part of the Passover service (Mark 14:18-24). Following this example, the church places the footwashing ritual first in the annual service.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
FootwashingRelated Topics: "Last Supper" | "Lord's Supper" | Bread | Bread and Wine | Bread and Wine as Symbols | Bread, Symbolism of | Footwashing | Footwashing Ritual | Jesus Christ's Example | Passover | Passover , Symbols of | Passover as Annual Observance | Passover, Changing the Symbols of | Wine , Symbolism of
The word "Passover" in this context requires some explanation. At some time before Christ's day, the Jews had begun calling the day of Passover and the following seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6-8) by the single name "Passover." This has caused great confusion for non-Jews, especially when they read the account of this particular Passover. But John 19:31 should clear up any confusion: "Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day) . . ."!
So, without a doubt, Jesus was crucified on a Passover day, Nisan 14, and the Sabbath that followed was the first day of Unleavened Bread, an annual holy day, a high day. This only makes sense, for the apostle Paul says in I Corinthians 5:7, "For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us."
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
'After Three Days'Related Topics: Annual Sabbaths | Days of Unleavened Bread | Holy Days | Jesus Christ as Passover | Judaism | Passover | Passover as Annual Observance | Passover as Preparation Day | Passover Season | Preparation Day | Sabbath
It is evident the New Testament church of God continued to keep the Passover yearly. Some translations grossly mistranslate the Greek word pascha as "Easter." It always means "Passover."
Earl L. Henn
Holy Days: PassoverRelated Topics: Easter | Pascha | Passover | Passover as Annual Observance | Passover as Memorial of Christ's Death