PASSOVER AND EASTER TOGETHER: A FULFILLED PROMISE
Easter 2025
From the desk of Ron Pearce
The connection between Passover and Easter is one of the most profound theological links in the Bible. Both events centre on deliverance — one from physical slavery in Egypt and the other from spiritual bondage to sin.Jesus Christ, (the promised Messiah) through His death and resurrection, fulfills the meaning of Passover, demonstrating how God’s plan for redemption was foreshadowed in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New. By understanding this connection, we see how Easter is the culmination of God’s redemptive work in history to bring salvation to everyone who calls upon His Name. And it is this message of deliverance from sin and freedom to experience a pure, personal relationship with God, that is revolutionizing missions today, as millions of people from a variety of nationalities and backgrounds are unashamedly giving their lives to Christ.
The Origin of Passover: Deliverance from Egypt
The story of Passover originates in Exodus 12, when God prepared to bring the tenth and final plague upon Egypt: the death of the firstborn children. The Israelites were instructed to take an unblemished lamb, slaughter it, and apply its blood to the doorposts of their homes. When the angel of death saw the blood, he would “pass over” those homes, sparing the firstborn inside.
This event was the turning point for Israel. After this final plague, Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go, freeing them from 400 years of slavery. God commanded Israel to commemorate this event annually as a lasting ordinance (Exodus 12:14). It was not just a reminder of their physical deliverance but also a prophetic foreshadowing of a greater deliverance yet to come.
The Passover was divided into three distinct feasts, each with profound spiritual significance:
1. Passover – This feast represents the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sin, foreshadowing Jesus as the ultimate Passover Lamb.
2. The Feast of Unleavened Bread – Observed during the week following Passover, this feast symbolizes the removal of sin calling people/believers to examine their hearts and be cleansed through Christ.
3. The Feast of First Fruits – Celebrated on the first day after the Passover Sabbath (which coincides with Easter Sunday), this feast signifies the resurrection of Jesus, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:20).
Here is a brief overview of the significance and parallels of Passover and Easter.
1. Jesus as the Fulfillment of Passover
The New Testament reveals that Jesus is the ultimate Passover Lamb. The parallels between the Passover lamb and Jesus Christ are unmistakable:
- The Lamb Was Without Blemish:
Exodus 12:5 states that the Passover lamb had to be “without blemish.” This pointed to Jesus, who was
sinless and the ultimate, perfect Passover Lamb. Hebrews 4:15 affirms this: “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
- The Lamb Was Slain for Salvation:
Just as the Passover lamb was sacrificed to spare Israel from death, Jesus was sacrificed for the sins of the world. John 1:29 records John the Baptist proclaiming, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
- The Blood Provided Protection:
The Israelites had to apply the lamb’s blood to their doorposts to be saved from death. In the same way, salvation through Jesus requires faith in His blood. Romans 3:25 says, “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood — to be received by faith.”
- Jesus Died During Passover:
Jesus’ crucifixion took place during the Passover festival. The timing was not a coincidence — it was a divine fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. As Jewish families were sacrificing their lambs, Jesus was being crucified as the final and perfect Passover Lamb. 1 Corinthians 5:7 makes this clear: “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”
2. The Last Supper: A New Covenant in Christ’s Blood
On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus gathered with His disciples to celebrate the Passover meal. However, He redefined its meaning.
- The Bread as His Body:
In Luke 22:19, Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, and broke it, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” The unleavened bread, which had symbolized Israel’s hasty departure from Egypt, now symbolized Jesus’ body, which would be broken for the salvation of mankind.
- The Cup as His Blood:
In Luke 22:20, He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Just as the Passover lamb’s blood saved the Israelites, Jesus’ blood would save all who believe in Him.
By instituting the Lord’s Supper during Passover, Jesus revealed that He was the fulfillment of the feast. Passover was no longer just about Israel’s deliverance from Egypt — it was about the salvation of His people through His sacrificial death.
3. From Deliverance to Resurrection: The True Exodus
Passover was not only about avoiding death; it was about entering into new life. Israel was set free from Egypt to worship and serve God in the Promised Land. Similarly, Easter is not only about Jesus’ death but also His resurrection, which brings believers into the new life of the Kingdom of God.
- Resurrection as the True Exodus:
Just as Israel left Egypt behind, believers leave behind sin and death through the power of the resurrection. Romans 6:4 says, “Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
- Victory Over Death:
The first Passover spared Israel’s firstborn from death, but they would still eventually die. Jesus’ resurrection, however, brings eternal life. 1 Corinthians 15:54 – 57 declares, “Death has been swallowed up in victory… Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- The Firstborn and The First Fruits:
Christ is the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18). His resurrection brings new life to all who have believed and will believe in Him. His rising from the grave (Easter Sunday) marks the beginning of a new chapter in God’s redemptive plan and powerfully fulfills the Feast of First Fruits, which takes place on the day after the Sabbath following Passover.
4. The message of national believers worldwide: Living in the Fulfillment of Passover
Easter fulfills the meaning of Passover, delivering a powerful message of redemption that believers are not only experiencing personally but also sharing with friends and relatives in countries where the Holy Spirit is being
poured out abundantly. For those who have been held captive by the deception of false religions and demonic powers, the following points summarize the freedom found in Christ and the emancipation from sin.
- We Are Saved by the Blood of the Lamb
Just as the Israelites had to apply the lamb’s blood to their doorposts, we must personally accept Christ’s sacrifice for salvation (Romans 10:9 – 10).
- We Are Called to Holiness
After the Exodus, Israel was called to be a holy people (Leviticus 11:45). Likewise, as redeemed believers, we are called to live holy lives in response to God’s grace (1 Peter 1:15 – 16).
- We Celebrate Our Deliverance
Just as Israel was commanded to remember Passover, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper to remember Jesus’ sacrifice. Each time we partake, we declare His death until He comes again (1 Corinthians 11:26).
- We Walk in Resurrection Power
Easter reminds us that we are not just freed from sin, but also empowered to live a new life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11). In 1 Peter 1:3,4 (NET) it clearly states: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefined and unfolding. It is reserved in heaven for you…”
In these times of massive social, political and economic upheaval, the lost of this world are quickly coming to the realization that in Christ, all things have become new… the old things have… and are passing away. Plus, the message of Easter is a perfect way to provide hope to a desperate world seeking stability and a future. As it says in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
