The gospels show Jesus observing the Passover at the beginning of the 14th. Should we use the time when He observed it or the time He died as our guide?

Jesus and His disciples are shown observing the Passover in a home at the beginning of Abib/Nisan 14. However, a few verses seem to indicate the next day.

Out of the entire world, we have been chosen now to develop friendship, not with the world, but with those placed in the love and friendship of the Body of Christ.

In Deuteronomy 16:1, the word 'Passover' is out of context. It applies to the whole season, including the Night to be Much Observed and the Days of Unleavened Bread.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke each seem to put Passover on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, but a closer look reveals the consistency of Scripture.

We are to seriously consider this season, examining ourselves carefully and soberly, measuring ourselves against the sinless life of Jesus Christ.

The sin offering, typifying Christ's paying the price for our sins, is not the same as the Passover offering, which symbolizes fellowship with the Creator God because of God's favor and acceptance. The Passover sacrifice is a type of peace offering. Ezekiel 20:5-7 clarifies that the Israelite slaves in Egypt were unabashed idolaters, even carrying their idols out of Egypt into their tents in the desert. God destroyed the first born of the Egyptians and mercifully passed over the sins of the idolatrous Israelites. The Passover sacrifice is basically unconnected with expiation, but represents the peace and security which attends fellowship with God. In its ancient historical context, the Passover sacrifice made possible God's protection from the death of the firstborn, His willingness to mercifully overlook (pass over) the people's sins. The Passover sacrifice does not prefigure the forgiveness of sin, neither in its historical context nor in the symbolism of the lamb's sacrifice. In the New Testament context, God's people enjoy a covenantal relationship with God—the covenant of peace. Through the New Covenant symbols of the covenant, God's people eat of the bread of life and drink of His blood in order to maintain the precious communion between themselves and God, thereby showing their continued faithfulness to the Covenant confirmed by Christ in His death.

Jesus was crucified late on Abib 14, yet the Passover lambs were to be killed at the beginning of the 14th. The time of Christ's death is highly significant.

Passover may be the most important festival ordained by God. Not only does it memorialize Christ's death, it also symbolizes our redemption and the covenant.

Many people believe that our sins are the focus of Passover—but they are wrong! Jesus Christ, the Passover Lamb, should be our focus. How well do you know Him?

The words in Ezekiel's Millennial vision seem to say that the Passover should be observed for seven days. However, this contradicts other clear scriptures.

The timing of Christ's crucifixion does not coincide with the Passover, but instead lines up with the covenant God made with Abraham, marking a major fulfillment.

At the time of Christ, because of historical deviation, some kept Passover at home at the start of the 14th and others kept it at the Temple at the end of the 14th.

Using subterfuge, some proponents of the 15th Passover muddle up otherwise clear, day and night issues by surreptitiously inserting modern English language usage.

The context of Deuteronomy 16:1-3 indicates the focus of these verses is on the Night to be Observed and the Days of Unleavened Bread rather than the Passover.

Christ's blood does much more than remit sin; it gives eternal life. The Passover wine represents the blood of the covenant, by which we are made complete.

The sequence of events that took place on Passover, from Jesus' arrest through His death, was orchestrated so we could appreciate what God did for us.

The focus of our self-examination should not be self-centered or comparing ourselves with others, but on the awesome significance of His sacrifice.

The Passover is to be kept on the twilight of the 14th, while the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins on the 15th. The Word of God supersedes tradition and heritage.

The annual reaffirmation of the covenant through the Passover is at the core of an on-going relationship with the Father and Son, beginning the perfecting process.

Nine steps had to be included with the Passover observance, all within the house until morning. It takes place between sun's setting and complete darkness.

We must thoroughly examine ourselves, exercising and strengthening our faith, actively giving love back to God, to avoid taking Passover in a careless manner.

Christ's redemption obligates us to obey and serve Him. We show our gratitude for this priceless gift by doing good in acts of love and service to others.

The temple Passover commanded by Hezekiah was a very unusual circumstance in which the king centralized worship to keep Baalism from defiling the Passover.

The Catholic Church did not forbid keeping the Passover until AD 325. The controversy over Passover or Easter boils down to following Scripture or Roman tradition.

The proponents of a 15th Passover discount clear scriptural details and instead speculate. One cannot build doctrines on implication, distortion, and traditions.

Major reinterpretations have significantly distorted the meaning of Passover and Unleavened Bread, blurring the distinction between the two events.

Some believe in a late-14th Passover on the basis of II Chronicles 35:10-11, but this overlooks the context. The Passover was originally a home-based observance.

We keep Unleavened Bread because of what God did to bring us out of sin (typified by Egypt). While God compels us to make choices, He is with us all the way.

Among God's many titles is one that proclaims His supremacy over all others: 'Most High God' or 'God Most High.' It provides confidence in God's governance.

The Passover is a beacon of hope in an otherwise hopeless milieu. Jesus provided hope at His last Passover, exuding confidence despite what lay ahead.

Christ's bones had to remain unbroken to fulfill the Passover. Additionally, His self-maledictory oath to Abraham required an unseperated—unbroken—body.

To some, Barabbas is nothing more than an interesting detail in Christ's trial. However, his presence during that event contains significant implications for us.

How often have we heard the phrase 'Christ's broken body'? Is it a valid and accurate concept? What effect does it have on our observance of the Passover?

The biblical proof that God's people should keep the Passover (the Lord's Supper), explaining that it occurs annually on the evening of Nisan 14.

If an unbeliever partakes of the Passover, he will indeed be held accountable due to his unworthiness, but how much more will God hold a believer accountable?

For the most part, Passover is not about us: It is a solemn assembly to remember Jesus Christ and what He has done for us in laying down His life.

Was Jesus Christ's body actually broken? If so, it would have symbolized disqualification and a broken covenant. Only the bread of Passover was broken.

The Israelites were to eat the Passover, not in haste, but with serious reflection. The only thing standing between them and death was the blood on the doorpost.

God asks that we use the Passover to bring to remembrance His redemptive act, especially how our sins caused Christ to die in our stead.

The Garden of Gethsemane has particular significance because it was not only an olive grove, but also the location where olives were pressed into oil.

God has imputed righteousness to us as His Children because we are in Christ. Our state before God is unleavened provided we maintain this relationship.

Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Old Testament types, slain as the Passover Lamb, resurrected with the cutting of the wavesheaf, and ascended to His Father at the time of the waving of the sheaf.

Christ's body was not broken, and the bread of Passover, broken so it can be shared, is a symbol of being joined to His sinless life rather than death.

The word 'selfsame' refers to a specific commemorative date. The selfsame day is a signal that God is faithfully in control of time over multiple centuries.

The Bible frequently uses the hyssop plant as a symbol of cleansing and purification. In relation to Christ's sacrifice, this herb has a connection to the Passover.

When we partake of the cup of wine at Passover, we usually think of Christ's blood shed for sins. However, the cup and its contents have another meaning for us.

God equates belittling His signs with rejecting Him. The signs of the weekly and annual Sabbaths are emphasized by God, but commonly cast aside by men.

If we are merely seeking a crown of glory, hoping to skirt by Christ's suffering, we must ask ourselves whether we really accept the Passover cup.

Since the church no longer keeps the Passover with the slaughter of a lamb, we miss important and poignant details that could enhance our observance.

We assess costs and values all the time in our daily lives. We should employ the same process to God's love for us in giving His Son as the sacrifice for sin.

Only after we have examined ourselves should we partake of the Passover symbols. Thoroughly examining ourselves should become a way of life.

Does it matter when we keep the Passover as long as we keep it? The logistics of Israel leaving Egypt prove that Passover should be kept on the 14th, not the 15th.

It is our responsibility to glorify God. As obedient children, we bring Him honor; as disobedient children, we bring shame on Him and blaspheme His name.

Of all of God's appointed times, the Passover is one that we should not rush into without thought and preparation, lest we miss the awesome depth of its meaning.

Here are the foundational principles to keep in mind in observing the Feasts of God throughout the year.

Crucifixion is man's most cruel form of punishment. Why did Jesus need to die this way? What does it teach us? And was Jesus stabbed before or after He died?

Human tradition and Bible truth regarding the timing of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection do not square. Here is the overwhelming chronological evidence.

The wavesheaf offering is reckoned from the weekly Sabbath within the Days of Unleavened Bread. It had specific requirements that were not met in Joshua 5.

Passover takes place at twilight as the 14th of Abib begins. Unleavened Bread begins 24 hours later on the 15th of Abib. The Passover is a preparation day.

Only those who have fellowship with God can have any hope, understanding, peace, or rest. The world remains under the sway of Satan, unable to live righteously.

We need to be sobered at the awesomeness of the cost to set us free from sin—what the Creator endured. We have been purchased, and are obliged to our Purchaser.

When God calls us and redeems us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we suddenly come under obligation—a debt we cannot pay but overshadows all we do.

A scriptural explanation of the time of Christ's death, burial and resurrection, showing that He died on a Wednesday and rose from the dead on the Sabbath.

Prior to the Days of Unleavened Bread, we are told to examine ourselves. How can we do that? Here are a few pointers on doing a thorough, honest once over.

Easter is not a Christian name, but belongs to the idolatrous 'queen of heaven.' Here are the origins of Easter eggs and sunrise services, which pre-date Christ.

As God's people keep God's law in its spiritual intent, they begin to think like the Father and His Son, both of whom habitually do good.

We live in a time when people have acquired a weak sense of obligation to family, society, or nation. Because sin cannot be undone, all are debtors to God.

Many consider the footwashing at Passover merely as a ritual to remind us of the need to serve one another. But it teaches another godly attribute: forgiveness.

The Night Much to be Observed is a memorial of the covenant with Abraham, and God's watchfulness in delivering ancient Israel as well as spiritual Israel.

Footwashing is the initial part of the Passover ceremony. Why did Christ institute it? What is its purpose?

The movie Ben-Hur captures the essence of the time and ministry of Christ. By letting go of anger and hatred, we take on the yoke of Jesus Christ.

Christians prepare for Passover by engaging in a thorough, spiritual self-examination. An analysis of II Corinthians 13:5 shows us what we need to look for.

John 6 has always been a difficult chapter to explain. However, Jesus' teaching is clear. Here is what it means to us.

Jesus modeled the practice of foot-washing to demonstrate the need to be submissive to one another, to serve one another, including those who betray.

God 'took pleasure' in Christ's being bruised, not in the pain and suffering that His Son endured, but in the ultimate goal of adding to His Family.

Galatians 4:9-10 is a favorite crutch of those who claim Christians no longer need to observe God's holy days. However, Paul's meaning is quite different.

If we do not keep God's holy days, we will deprive ourselves of the knowledge of God's purpose. Jesus and the first century church observed and upheld these days.

Egypt is not directly a symbol of sin, but instead the world. The Days of Unleavened Bread symbolize what God did for us, not what we did by our own power.

I Corinthians gives ready instruction in the order and decorum that is fitting for church organization, as well as the Passover and weekly service.

God's people are the precious jewels (or the private, personal possessions) of God, obligated to conform exclusively to His will and purpose.

Purity before God is far more than just being clean. To Jesus, being pure in heart, described in the Beatitudes, touches on the very holiness of God.

The term house can mean structure, family, kingdom, or church of God. The instruction to us personally is to not leave the church or fellowship of faith.

The peace (or thank) offering was the most commonly given in ancient Israel. It pictures God, the priest, and the offerer in satisfying fellowship.

David Grabbe reminds God's people that the experiences of ancient Israel serve as examples. As the Israelites on the Sinai soon discovered, the crossing of the Red Sea marked only the beginning of a lengthy redemption process. The successful completion of the process requires a relationship with God (I Corinthians 10:6). When God through Paul notifies us that He redeems His called-out ones from the curse of the law, He is not saying that the law is a curse; rather, that curse is death, the consequence of sin. Jesus, through His death, redeems His people from the penalty of past sins, justifying them before God. But, He demands that the children of light, through the power of God's Holy Spirit, keep God's law, mortifying the flesh (Romans 8:13), thereby avoiding the curses resulting from breaking the law (Leviticus 26:28). During the sanctification process, God's people will still stumble, requiring repentance and forgiveness, but the ultimate goal through this entire process is the acquiring of a new nature as a result of the earnest payment of God's Spirit (Ephesians1:13-14) maturing into full term at the first resurrection. Redemption is a continual spiritual process not completed until the finish of the sanctification process. Passover commemorates what Christ's death set in motion. Christ's atoning work redeems from past sin, but those so redeemed require periodic redemption from sins, and await final redemption at their resurrection.

Despite the Council of Laodicea's condemnation of the Sabbath, a group of believers termed Paulicians kept God's laws and resisted the heresy from Rome.

In Revelation, John refers to Christ as the Lamb more than any other designation because of His role of Redeemer, which is different from a sin offering.

In Book Five of the Psalms, Psalms 113-118 (sometimes termed the Hallel) are to be considered one continuous Psalm of praise, associated with the holy days.

Jesus shared many happy feasts with His disciples and attended banquets and celebrations, much to the chagrin of the self-righteous Pharisees.

Because even Satan can transform himself into an angel of light, we must be careful not to assess goodness by surface appearances. God's goodness is our pattern.

It is an unusual fact that the subjects of God's spring holy days and firstborns appear in the same contexts. Here is what this means to us.

Leviticus 23 not only reveals God's holy days—it also provides, in symbol form, a detailed schematic of God's plan!

The Law (including the judgments, ordinances, and statutes), far from being done away, shows us our faults and outlines the way of mercy and love—how to live.