Feasts of Israel Explained (or, Why Did Jesus Die on Passover?)
Scripture is clear that Jesus died on Passover. Jesus said: “You know that after two days the PASSOVER is coming, and the Son of Man is to be delivered up for CRUCIFIXION” (Mt 26:2).
But why did He die on Passover?
Jesus is the Lord God of Israel who introduced His own seven feasts or “appointed times” in the Law, the Torah. His seven appointed times are: Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Feast of Weeks, Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles.
The Lord God of Israel’s appointed times are shadows of the works He would perform as Jesus of Nazareth. His feasts, His days, are “things which are a shadow of what is to come” (Col 2:17).
That’s why when He came as Jesus, He was called the Lamb of God, and He died on Passover and not on any other day. He was fulfilling His first appointed time, which He Himself established in the Old Testament…
In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the LORD’S Passover.” (Lev 23:5)
“Behold, the Lamb of God!” (Jn 1:29)
“Christ our Passover … has been sacrificed” (1Cor 5:7)
However, when He came as Jesus, He didn’t fulfill Passover only. He was also buried and ascended during the Week of Unleavened Bread, rose from the dead on First Fruits, and sent His Spirit on the Feast of Weeks.
Jesus, the LORD God, has already fulfilled four of His seven appointed times. What will He do for the remaining three? Probably these major end-times events: His first assembly of believers in heaven, His return, and His marriage feast. See the chart below.
| FULFILLED | ||
| 1 | PASSOVER | His death |
| 2 | UNLEAVENED BREAD | His burial and ascension |
| 3 | FIRST FRUITS | His resurrection |
| 4 | FEAST OF WEEKS | His giving of the Spirit |
| YET TO BE FULFILLED | ||
| 5 | TRUMPETS | His first assembly in heaven? |
| 6 | DAY OF ATONEMENT | His return? |
| 7 | TABERNACLES | His marriage feast? |
Jews don’t realize that the LORD God of Israel came in flesh as Jesus. Church people don’t realize that Jesus is the LORD God of Israel. Learn the Bible from God Himself, not men. If you do, then you will see the truth, beauty and power of His Word, and of what He has done and is going to do on His appointed times.
“He has a name written which no one knows except Himself.”
“His name is called THE WORD OF GOD.”
Rev 19:12-13
“THE WORD became flesh and dwelt among us”
John 1:14