by Rev. Dr, Tim Verhey, March 2026

PASSOVER AND EASTER

“Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” John 1:29

In an era of growing anti-Semitism and decreasing knowledge of Christianity, it is important to remember the deep resonances between Judaism and Christianity, which are especially apparent at this time of the year. Jewish Passover and Christian Holy Week are both week-long, spring festivals that celebrate the central themes of their respective (and related) faith traditions. They are always fairly close, but this year they overlap significantly. Maundy Thursday, on which Christians remember Jesus’ Last Supper, is the second day of the Jewish Passover.

We often forget that Jesus’ Last Supper was a Passover meal. Moreover, some of the symbolism we use to understand Jesus Christ is drawn from the Passover. For example, Paul writes, “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” Elsewhere, Peter compares Jesus to a Passover lamb, “without defect or blemish.” (I Pet. 1:19) Our understanding of God and Christ depend, in significant ways, on our knowledge of Passover.

Passover is the most important Jewish holiday because it celebrates the most important event in Jewish history—God setting the people of Israel free from slavery in Egypt. As one of the oldest passages in the Hebrew Bible (what Christians call the Old Testament) puts it,

‘A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders.’ (Deuteronomy 26:5b-9)

The Hebrews’ understanding of God and themselves is centered around their helpless and hopeless slavery and God’s gracious and powerful liberation. When Jesus gathered with his disciples to celebrate the Passover meal on the evening he was arrested, he must have been thinking about God’s grace and power, the people’s affliction and desperation, and the Passover lamb whose sacrifice was at the heart of it all. That night, he identified with the sacrificial lamb.

Unlike Martin Luther, John Calvin claimed there was little difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament. It was the same God, doing the same thing. In both Passover and Holy Week, God is a powerful liberator, graciously saving those who cannot save themselves. As we celebrate Holy Week this year, we have the opportunity to participate in a Jewish Passover Seder, led by James and Barbara Arieti. It is particularly marvelous that it will take place on Maundy Thursday, the day Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples. I hope you will put the date on your calendar and plan to attend.

Shalom,
Pastor Tim