Passover (Easter)
The most important Jewish festival — the exodus from Egypt and liberation from slavery.
Bibelsk grunnlag
Institution in Exodus 12: the Passover lamb is slaughtered, its blood is smeared on the doorposts, and the Lord 'passes over' (pesach) the marked houses when he strikes down the firstborn in Egypt. Unleavened bread is eaten for seven days as a memorial to the haste of the departure (Exod 12:14-20). The crossing of the Red Sea (Exod 14). The Seder meal retells the story of salvation with the question 'Why is this night different from all other nights?' (based on Mishnah Pesachim 10:4).
Betydning
Passover is the foundational narrative of the Jewish people — liberation from slavery defines Israel's identity. God hears his people's cry and intervenes. The Passover lamb and the blood on the doorposts form the direct prototype for Christian theology concerning Christ as the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 1 Cor 5:7). The Lord's Supper was instituted during a Passover meal.
GT-forbindelser
The entire Exodus 1-15 is the Passover narrative. Deuteronomy 16:1-8 concerns the Passover celebration. Joshua 5:10-12 — the first Passover in the Promised Land. 2 Chronicles 30 and 35 concern Hezekiah's and Josiah's Passover reforms. Ezekiel 45:21-24 concerns the Passover in the future temple.
Liturgisk kontekst
Passover begins on 15 Nisan in the Hebrew calendar and lasts seven days (eight in the diaspora). The Seder evening with the reading of the Haggadah is the liturgical highlight. The Hallel psalms (Ps 113-118) are sung. The date of Christian Easter is linked to Passover through the calculation of Easter.
Historie
Passover has been celebrated continuously for over 3000 years. The Temple in Jerusalem was the center of celebration with the mass sacrifice of the Passover lamb. After the destruction of the Temple (70 AD), the home celebration (Seder) became the primary form. The Haggadah text took shape during the first centuries AD.