Passover in Jerusalem

Passover in Jerusalem

Passover in Jerusalem was the place to be at the time of Jesus — kind of like Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Jerusalem was overflowing with pilgrims from across the Roman world as the Passover feast drew near.

Passover in Jerusalem occurred each year in early spring. It was the main Jewish holiday, celebrating the time in the Exodus when God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The Passover meal was eaten in remembrance of the Lord “passing over” the houses of those who had sacrificed a lamb and sprinkled its blood on their wooden doorposts and mantles, while the angel of death visited those who had not sprinkled the blood of the lamb. According to the Hebrew Scriptures, the angel of death was the final of ten plagues sent by God to save the Israelite people from Egyptian bondage.

The theme of the Jewish Passover is remembering the gift of salvation from slavery in Egypt. The Passover lamb was to be perfect, without flaw. The lamb was to have no bones broken when sacrificed. Those who were covered by the blood of the lamb were saved from the angel of death. Remember when John the Baptizer first saw Jesus coming toward him at the Jordan River? He declared, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

It turns out that Jesus’ role as the Lamb of God is central to the Gospel message. Many believe that Jesus was the fulfillment of centuries of Passovers that had been observed before him. For many scholars, the slaying of the Passover lamb in order for the death angel to “pass over” those who are “covered by the blood” is the prophetic picture of Jesus.

Read more: https://www.drivethruhistory.com/passover-in-jerusalem/