Preparing for Passover

What were Jesus and His disciples doing before He was crucified? We know that His crucifixion took place during Passover but do you know the connection between the Jewish Passover and Christ's death on the cross?

The Passover was ordained by God while the Jewish people were living in exile in Egypt. Moses was instructed by God to plead with pharaoh for the release of the Jewish people from captivity. Pharaoh's heart remained hardened and he refused to let the Jewish people go regardless of the plagues God brought upon the people of Egypt.

In the final plague, God said he would kill the first born of every household in Egypt. The Jewish people were instructed to slaughter a year-old male goat or lamb at twilight and apply the blood on the doorposts of their homes. They were to eat the meat roasted over a fire along with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast.

"This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste, it is the Lord's Passover." Exodus 12:11

That night the Lord struck down the first born in the land of Egypt, but the Lord passed over those who had the blood on their doorposts. Pharaoh released the Jewish people from their bondage that night and they left the land of Egypt in haste. The Jewish people continue to celebrate Passover each year during the first full moon in the spring to commemorate God's promise to free them from captivity.

Jews from all over Israel made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem each year to celebrate the Passover in the Holy City. Jesus and His disciples were on their way to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. As the people made the journey up the hills leading to Jerusalem, they sang "Pilgrim Psalms" or "Songs of Ascent." These songs can be read in the book of Psalms, beginning with Psalm 120 and ending with Psalm 134.

The Psalms were used as a time to reflect on sins committed and prepare hearts to be in an attitude of repentance before the sacrifice was made at the temple on Passover.

We can use these Psalms during Lent to prepare our hearts and repent of sin before we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Easter. 

"Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins." Psalm 130

Jesus fulfilled this scripture when he willingly died on the cross for the sins of the world. His body was placed on the cross and his sinless blood covered the crosspieces to make atonement for sin. He is the sacrificial lamb, slaughtered at twilight to save all those who believe in him from eternal damnation. Thanks be to God!