The Reasons Why This Week Matters

​Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the start of the most solemn week in most of Christendom and Judaism. For Christians, it is the start of Holy Week, where we celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, after fasting for forty days in the desert, His Last Supper on Holy Thursday, His crucifixion on Good Friday and His Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

For our Jewish brethren, on Wednesday night, the remembrance of the first Passover will be celebrated.

Passover (Pesach) is a major eight-day Jewish spring festival commemorating the biblical Exodus, where Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt over 3,000 years ago, It is celebrated by removing leavened products (chametz) from the home, eating matzah (unleavened bread), and hosting a ritual-packed, symbolic dinner called a Seder.  

Passover is foundational to Christianity because it foreshadows Jesus Christ's sacrifice, with the Exodus story providing the direct context for the Last Supper and the sacrificial role of Jesus as the "Lamb of God". It symbolizes the transition from physical deliverance from Egypt to spiritual salvation from sin, aligning with Easter. 

Christians believe Jesus is the true Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), unblemished and sacrificed to save people from the death penalty of sin, just as the lamb's blood saved the Israelites from the plague on Egypt.

The Last Supper was a Passover Seder. Jesus used the traditional elements, unleavened bread and wine, to institute the new covenant, representing his body and blood.

The Passover feast is part of the spring feasts (including Unleavened Bread and First Fruits) that align with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Why Christians should study and understand the Jewish Holiday of Passover:

• Spiritual Heritage: It helps Christians understand their Jewish roots and the context of Jesus' ministry.
• Deepened Communion: Understanding the Passover story brings deeper meaning to the act of Holy Communion
• Reflection and Remembrance: It is an annual reminder of God's salvation and a call to live a life free from the "leaven” of sin.

Both traditions rely on lunar-based calendars, which means the dates vary annually on the standard Gregorian calendar.

Easter is determined by the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox, while Passover is set for the 15th of the Jewish month of Nisan, which always coincides with a full moon.

Therefore, Christians and Jews should honor each tradition as we commemorate the signifance why both traditions and their importance matter to each religious group. And enjoy your Blessed Holy Week.