God’s Calendar Begins with Redemption
Did you know God's calendar doesn't start at creation or with Adam, Noah, or Abraham—but with the Passover? In Exodus 12:2, God tells Moses, “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.” This moment, the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt, becomes the foundation of God's calendar.
Why? Because Passover is all about Jesus—Yeshua—the Lamb, the blood, and the unleavened bread. Let’s explore how every ancient symbol in the Passover points to Him.
What Is the Passover “Seder”?
First, let’s clear something up. The correct term is Seder, which means “order” in Hebrew. It's a traditional meal the Jewish people have observed for thousands of years to remember their deliverance from Egypt.
At the Passover Seder, families tell the Exodus story, drink four cups of wine, and eat symbolic foods. It’s more than just tradition—it’s a living prophecy.
Did Jesus Celebrate Passover?
Absolutely. In Luke 22:15, Jesus tells His disciples, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” He wasn’t just observing a religious custom—He was fulfilling it. Jesus knew the Passover pointed to Him. H e knew it is not a religious rituals the Passover was all about Gods redemptive plan to the whole world.
The Passover Is a Shadow of Christ
Paul reminds us in Colossians 2:16–17 that the festivals, including Passover, are “a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” The Seder table isn’t just about the past—it reveals the Messiah.
Let’s look at the symbols one by one.
The Passover Plate: Every Element Speaks of Jesus.
The Passover Lamb and the Blood
In Exodus 12:23, God says, “The Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood... He will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come in.”
Notice it wasn’t about nationality or identity. It was about the blood. Even an Egyptian who would have listened and applied the blood would have been spared.
That’s the Gospel. We apply the blood of Jesus to the doorposts of our hearts, and judgment passes over.
Paul confirms this in 1 Corinthians 5:7: “Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.”
Not One Bone Broken
According to Exodus 12:46, the Passover lamb’s that is to be sacrifice during Passover, bones should not be broken. And When Jesus died on the cross, John 19:33 tells us, “they did not break His legs,” fulfilling that requirement perfectly.
The Matzah: Striped, Pierced, Unleavened
Unleavened bread—matzah—represents a sinless life. But look closely. It’s striped and pierced, just like Isaiah 53:5 says: “By His stripes we are healed.” And Zechariah 12:10 prophecies: “They will look on Me whom they pierced.”
At the Seder, there are three matzot placed together. Traditionally, they represent the priests, Levites, and Israelites. But during the meal, the middle matzah is broken, hidden, and brought back later for a reward. That hidden piece is called the Afikoman, a Greek word meaning “what comes later.”
Sound familiar? The Father, the Son (broken and hidden), and the Holy Spirit—three in one. Jesus, the Afikoman, is still hidden from many of His people, but one day, all Israel will recognize Him and all will be saved. romans 11.
Bitter Herbs: A Taste of Suffering
The bitter herbs remind Jews of the suffering in Egypt. But for us, they also echo Matthew 26:38, where Jesus said, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful.” He drank the bitter cup of suffering in Gethsemane so we could be free.
The Four Cups: A Picture of God's Promises
The four cups of wine in the Seder represent God's promises in Exodus 6:6–7:
• I will bring you out
• I will deliver you
• I will redeem you
• I will take you as My people
At the Last Supper, Jesus took the first cup as normal. But then something amazing happened—He skipped the second cup, the cup of judgment. Why? Because He was going to drink it alone—on the cross.
Then after the meal, He took the third cup, the cup of redemption, saying in Luke 22:20:
“This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
How graceful. He drank the cup of judgment so we could all be saved and have eternal life.
Communion Is Not Man-Made
When we take communion, we’re not engaging in some religious invention. We’re connecting to God’s original redemption story. The bread and wine Jesus used at the Last Supper were part of the Passover meal. It all fits perfectly.
From Garden to Glory: The Timing Is Divine
Jesus didn’t first shed blood on the cross. Luke 22:44 says it began in Gethsemane, where His sweat became like blood. Adam sinned in a garden and brought death. Jesus, suffered in a the garden to bring life.
And the timing? Flawless.
• Jesus died on Passover, just as the temple lambs were being slaughtered.
• He was buried during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, symbolizing His sinless life.
• He rose on the Feast of First fruit, as the firstborn from the dead.
No human could orchestrate such precision—only the true Messiah, who established the feast 1,500 years earlier through Moses, could fulfill it so perfectly.
Final Thoughts
The Passover isn’t just a Jewish holiday. It’s a divine blueprint that points directly to Jesus Christ. Every element—the lamb, the matzah, the blood, the cups, the timing—testifies to His identity as the true Messiah.
So next time you take communion, remember—you’re not just looking back. You’re stepping into the ancient rhythm of God’s plan to redeem the world through the Lamb of God.