Most of us have heard that Jesus Christ died for our sins, but what
does that really mean? Why was His death necessary? What part does Christ's
sacrifice play in God's plan for mankind? How is Jesus Christ's death
reflected in God's holy festivals? This chapter on the New Testament
Passover will address these important questions.
Jesus' sacrifice is the pivotal event in God's plan to save humanity.
Speaking of His certain death, Christ said He, referring to Himself
as the Son of Man, must be "lifted up" (crucified) even as "Moses
lifted up the serpent in the wilderness," so that "whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so
loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes
in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:14-16).
We see here that Jesus' sacrifice, the central message of the Passover,
was a supreme act of love for humanity. This important event laid the
foundation for the remaining annual Holy Days and festivals. It is the
most momentous step in God's plan.
Just before the Passover feast that would see His execution, Jesus
said that "for this purpose I came to this hour ... And I, if I
am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself" (John 12:27,32).
The day on which this profound event, the crucifixion, transpired was
the 14th day of the first month of God's calendar, the same day on which
the Passover lambs were to be killed (Leviticus 23:5). Paul later wrote
the congregation at Corinth that "Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed
for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7).
