More Than Just Passover

More Than Just Passover—this feast, along with the Feasts of Unleavened Bread and Firstfruits, reveals God’s plan of redemption and points to Jesus, our Passover Lamb.

“Why is this night different from all other nights?”

“On all other nights we eat leavened products and matzah, and on this night why do we eat only matzah?”

So begins the Mah Nishtanah, the traditional questions asked during a Jewish Seder meal that commemorates Passover.

Passover, one of the most well-known biblical feasts, commemorates God’s miraculous deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt. But did you know that Passover is part of a larger celebration that includes the Feasts of Unleavened Bread and Firstfruits? These three feasts reveal a powerful picture of redemption that points to our Redeemer, Jesus.

The First Passover: A Night of Deliverance

The first Passover took place on the night before the Israelites left Egypt. After suffering nine destructive plagues, Pharaoh still refused to release God’s people. So, the Lord sent one final plague—the death of every firstborn (people and animals) throughout Egypt (Exodus 11:4–6).

But God provided protection for His people: Each Israelite household was to choose a perfect lamb, sacrifice it, and place its blood on their doorposts. That night as the Death Angel passed through Egypt, he “passed over” every home covered by the lamb’s blood (Exodus 12:7, 12–13).

This was not only the beginning of Israel’s freedom, but it was also a foreshadowing of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who would take away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

The next morning, Pharaoh finally told the Israelites to leave (Exodus 12:31–32). Passover is a reminder of how God saved His people. Passover is celebrated in the first month of the Jewish calendar, Nisan (March–April), and lasts for eight days.

Jesus, Our Passover Lamb

More than 1,400 years later, Jesus celebrated Passover with His disciples the night before His crucifixion—the night He instituted what we now call Communion (Luke 22:7–22 ESV).

Jesus took the unleavened bread, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you” (Luke 22:19). He then took the cup, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20).

Just as the blood of the Passover lamb saved the Israelites from death, so Jesus’ blood ransoms us from sin and eternal punishment (1 Peter 1:18–21).

The Feast of Unleavened Bread: Leaving Sin Behind

The day after Passover begins Unleavened Bread, a seven-day feast (Nisan 15–21) when all leaven (yeast) had to be removed from Jewish homes (Exodus 12:15–20). This feast commemorates the Israelites’ hasty escape from Egypt when they didn’t have time for bread to rise. Instead, they ate unleavened bread—matzah—as they fled from Pharaoh’s wrath.

In the Bible, leaven represents sin. Jesus warned His disciples to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1). The apostle Paul also connected leaven with sin, urging believers to “cleanse out the old leaven” and live as “unleavened” because our Passover Lamb, Jesus, has been sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5:7–8).

During this feast, Jewish families remove all leaven from their homes, symbolizing the removal of sin. In the same way, Christians are called to live holy lives. Jesus, the sinless Bread of Life (John 6:35), was buried during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, thus fulfilling its prophetic meaning.

The Feast of Firstfruits: A Picture of Resurrection

On the day after the Sabbath following Passover (Nisan 16), the Israelites were to celebrate the Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:9–14). This feast involved bringing the first sheaf of the barley harvest as an offering to the Lord, dedicating the whole harvest to Him.

Though many Jews do not observe this feast today, Christians celebrate its fulfillment in Jesus’ resurrection. The Feast of Firstfruits foreshadowed the resurrection of Jesus, which occurred on the same day. Paul confirms this connection: “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20–22).

Just as the firstfruits offering was in expectation of the full harvest to come, so also Jesus’ resurrection guarantees the resurrection of believers at the Rapture. Because He lives, we too will live (John 11:25–26).

The Fulfillment of God’s Redemption Plan

These three feasts each reveal a part of God’s plan of redemption:

• Passover points to Jesus’ sacrifice as the Lamb of God, whose blood saves us from eternal death.
• Unleavened Bread symbolizes Jesus’ sinless life and our mandate to get rid of the sin in our lives.
• Firstfruits celebrates Jesus’ resurrection and the promise of new life for all believers.

God instituted these feasts as reminders of His faithfulness, but they also pointed forward to Jesus as the Messiah.

Celebrating Passover Today

Many believers today choose to observe Passover as a way to remember Jesus’ sacrifice and celebrate God’s plan of redemption:

• Read Exodus 12, the biblical account of the first Passover.
• The traditional Passover meal, or Seder, includes symbolic foods that represent key parts of the Exodus story.
• The Haggadah, read during a Seder, gives the order and symbolism of the meal.
• Communion ties together Passover, Jesus’ death, and His resurrection.

Paul reminds us:

The Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread. […] In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:23, 25).

As you observe these feasts, pray for deliverance in whatever area you need. As you honor God’s appointed time, He will meet with you in a new and exciting way.

Living in the Power of the Resurrection

For believers today, these feasts are more than just Old Testament observances—they are invitations to live in the reality of Jesus’ finished work. Through His sacrifice, we are freed from the bondage of sin, just as Israel was freed from Egypt. Through His resurrection, we have the hope of eternal life.

As we reflect on Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits, let’s remember that we are called to walk in the fullness of God’s redemption. We are covered by the blood of the Lamb, called to live holy lives, and promised resurrection life.

Because of Jesus, we don’t just celebrate a past deliverance—we live in the power of His victory, which is far more than just Passover!