Passover is Fulfilled in Jesus Christ

Like every other biblical holiday, Passover was meant to point us to something greater: Jesus Christ (Col. 2:16–17). The idea that Jesus fulfilled Passover can be found in several places in the Bible.

The True Passover Lamb

The Apostle Paul identified Jesus as the true Passover lamb when he wrote,

1 Corinthians 5:7 Clean out the old leaven, so that you might be a new mixture, just as you are, unleavened, because our Passover, Christ, has been sacrificed.

The Apostle Peter used language regarding the Passover lamb when he wrote,

1 Peter 1:19 but [you were redeemed] with precious blood, as with a blemishless and stainless lamb, Christ.

During the first Passover, a Passover lamb was killed so that the firstborn of the Israelites would be spared from death. Likewise, when Jesus died on the cross, he was sacrificed as the true Passover lamb, saving all those who believe in him from eternal death by cleansing them from their sins.

Unbroken Bones

Sometimes, Jesus’ fulfilment of Passover can be found in subtle allusions. An example of this can be found in the crucifixion account in the Gospel of John:

John 19:31–37 ESV Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. ₃₂ So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. ₃₃ But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ₃₄ But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. ₃₅ He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. ₃₆ For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” ₃₇ And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

When the soldiers came to break the legs of the people on the crosses, they did not break Jesus’ legs since he was already dead. The Apostle John explained that this happened in order to fulfil a certain scripture, “Not one of his bones will be broken.” This is an allusion to Exodus 12:46, where God commanded the Israelites not break a bone of the Passover lamb.

Accomplishing the Exodus

Another example can be found in the account of the Transfiguration in the Gospel of Luke:

Luke 9:30–31 ESV And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, ₃₁ who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Luke wrote that Moses and Elijah were speaking with Jesus about “his departure, which he was about to accomplish”. This is an unusual expression. What does it mean for someone to “accomplish his departure”?

The Greek word for “departure” here is exodos (ἔξοδος), which was used by the Jews as a technical term for the “going out” of the Israelites from Egypt, just like the English term “Exodus”. The first Exodus happened on the day after the first Passover Evening. Jesus was going to accomplish the true Exodus at Jerusalem, where he would die on the cross on the day after Passover Evening, and rise again to life on the third day.