The Passover feast was the last meal that the Israelites had in Egypt that eventually led to their liberation and marked the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land through the wilderness.

It involved the offering of sacrifices on which the people of Israel feasted the whole night before leaving for the Promised Land under the leadership of Moses.

It was on this occasion that the angel of the Lord passed or jumped over the houses of the Israelites which had been identified by the blood of the sacrificial animal smeared on the door posts and killed the firstborn sons of the Egyptians in order to let their king allow Israel leave their land.

Besides, it was on this same occasion God protected and spared the Israelites as he killed the Egyptians as Moses had announced.

Moses prepared the people of Israel for Passover meal after the ninth refusal of the Egyptian king to let them leave for the Promised Land to the annoyance of God.

Moses went on to Moses to announce the death of the firstborns of the Egyptians both of humans and animals upon God's instruction.

The death of the firstborns proved to be the last disaster that broke the arrogance of the king of Egypt who had initially counteracted the previous plagues including water from the river turning into blood, death of animals and hailstorm among others.

God also instructed Moses to give some instructions to the Israelites on how they were to prepare themselves to celebrate the day of their freedom.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE PASSOVER CELEBRATIONS

God gave some instructions to Moses to pass them to the whole community of Israel as basic guides for the Passover feast.

The month of the Passover feast would be the first month of the year in the Jewish calendar as God revealed to Moses.

Moses urged each man to choose either a lamb or a young goat for his household on the tenth day of the month of the Passover feast.

However, if a family was too small to eat a whole animal, it had to share it with the next neighbour in equal proportion to the number of people and the amount that each person could eat. This signified unity among the Israelites. ~

The lamb or the goat chosen had to be a one-year old male without any defects to signify Israel as the firstborn sons of God and the holiness of God respectively.

Moses urged the people of Israel to slaughter their animals on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month of the Passover.

He urged the Israelites to put some of the blood of the slaughtered animals on the doorposts and above the doors of the houses where the animals were to be eaten. This blood helped to identify and protect the people of Israel from the deadly disaster that struck Egypt at night.

Besides, Moses urged the Israelites to roast and eat with bitter herbs and with bread made without yeast to signify their bitter experiences in Egypt and on their way to the Promised Land.

The Israelites were forbidden from eating any raw or boiled meat for they were only to eat the roasted one including the head, the legs, and the internal organs.

Moses instructed the Israelites to eat everything until morning. In case of any left over, they had to burn it.

Besides, they were required to eat their meat quickly while dressed with sandals on their feet and sticks in their hands to show their readiness for the journey.

Moses revealed to the people of Israel that the Passover festival was intended for the honour the Lord.

The Israelites were told that the Lord would kill every firstborn male of both human and animal and would also punish all the gods of Egypt as well.

Moses urged the Israelites to celebrate the Passover day as a religious festival to remind them of the Lord's mighty act.

The Israelites were instructed to eat only the unleavened bread for seven days as they were to get rid of all the yeast in their houses thus eating of bread made with yeast would deny a person the chance of God's people.

Moses urged the Israelites to meet on the first and seventh day to worship the Lord. Therefore, no one had to work on these days.

Moses urged the Israelites and their children to obey all the rules they had been given forever. Besides, he instructed the Israelites to perform the Passover rituals upon entering the Promised Land purposely as a sacrifice to honour the Lord.

The Lord appeared and killed all the first-born sons; both of humans and animals including the king's own son. This eventually broke the king's arrogance who asked the Israelites to leave his land.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PASSOVER TO THE JEWS

It marked the end of the Jewish slavery and exile as they left Egypt immediately after having their meals following the deadly plague during the festival that saw all the firstborns of the Egyptians get killed.

It proved the omnipotence of God as He killed firstborns of the Egyptians both of human beings and animals.

It confirmed Moses as the leader of the chosen people of God for it was him who struggled for their liberation and went on to lead them in the wilderness.

It confirmed Israel as the chosen people of God as He referred to them as His people. Besides, only the circumcised celebrated the Passover meal.

It fulfilled the promises that God had made to Israel's ancestor, Abraham that his descendants were to be enslaved in a foreign land and delivered later.

It signified God's protection over the people of Israel for He protected their firstborns from the deadly disaster that hit Egypt killing all their firstborns.

It revealed God's love for the people of Israel for He set them free from the bondage. Even the later generations were constantly reminded of this love He portrayed to their ancestors by rescuing them.

It became an annual religious festival in the Jewish calendar that they celebrated as a day of their freedom.

Israel became a monotheistic community as they left Egypt which allowed them worship God as opposed to worshiping of many Egyptian gods.

Besides, Israel became a theocratic nation as God constantly guided them when they left Egypt on their way to and even after they settled in the Promised Land.

The Passover meal created unity among the Israelites. Smaller families shared the sacrificial meal thus this enhanced the spirit of brotherhood.

The Passover feast separated the Israelites from the Egyptians. The blood of the sacrificial animals smeared on the door-posts differentiated the Israelites and the Egyptians.

It showed the holiness of God as the Israelites offered the animals without defects for the festival.

The Passover feast was a gate way for the Israelites to enter and occupy the land that God had promised them through their ancestor, Abraham.

It proved the omnipresence of God as he showed His presence during the event and continued to be with them even they had left and were now in the wilderness.

It marked the beginning of prophetic institution in Israel as Moses mediated between God and them during the Passover festival and in their later history.

It signified Israel as the firstborn sons of God symbolized by the offering of one-year animals as sacrifices during the festival.

The Passover celebration became the basis of teaching among the people of Israel in their later history. The later generations were constantly reminded of this event.

THE PASSOVER MEAL IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Passover festival had become ~ tradition and an annual celebration at the time of Jesus Christ among the Jews in memory of God's mighty act of delivering their ancestors from their Egyptian slavery.

Jesus participated in the Passover celebrations at the age of 12 as he went together with his parents to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover festival (Luke 2:41 ff).

Jesus had a positive attitude towards the Passover celebrations as he identified himself with it since he belonged to same community.

However, the Jews had misinterpreted and commercialized the celebration of the Passover that they eagerly looked forward for the day to come.

In cleansing of the temple, Jesus gave the Passover its true meaning as he showed that it had to be a day of worshiping.

Jesus transformed the Passover festival into a new covenant to mean deliverance of every believer from the bondage of sins.

Before the last supper, Jesus and his apostles prepared for the Passover meal. He showed that he knew about everything well in advance (Luke 22:7-13).

Jesus expressed eagerness to share the Passover meal with his disciples before eventual suffering.

He revealed that he would never again have the Passover until given the full meaning in the kingdom of God.

During the last supper, Jesus went on to refer to the bread as his body which believers had to feed on. Therefore, his body becomes the sacrificial meal.

In the same way, Jesus referred to the wine as his blood poured out and encouraged everyone to take for their own salvation (Luke 22:20).

In essence, Jesus presented himself as the sacrificial animal offered during the Passover celebration as he predicted his eventual death on the cross.

His death on the cross symbolized the death of the animals slaughtered during the Passover celebrations.

Just like the blood of the sacrificial animal protected the Israelites from the deadly plague, the blood of Jesus Christ protects every believer.

In his death and resurrection, Jesus delivered every believer in him from the power of death.

By shedding his blood, Jesus united all believers just like the Israelites were united during the celebration of the Passover celebrations.

Jesus is presented as a new leader replacing Moses. Therefore, the coming of Jesus Christ set mankind free from the slavery of sins.

The significance of the Passover to modern Christians

To Christians, the Passover meal is transformed into the Lord's Supper It acts as a reminder of the death and resurrection of Jesus

It gives assurance to Christians the hope of sharing in Jesus' resurrection

It calls upon Christians to prepare for the second coming of the Christ

It creates unity among Christians as they share blood and body of Jesus Christ.

It calls for repentance among Christians in preparation for their own salvation

It helps Christians to remember the death of Jesus Christ their sins

  It prepares Christians to inherit the kingdom of God

  It calls upon Christians to believe in the saving power of Jesus Christ

It is an avenue of fellowshipping with God through his son, Jesus Christ

Christians should respect the sacrament of Holy Communion

There is need for Christians to observe and celebrate Good Friday

He calls Christians to trust in Jesus Christ as their savior