Old Testament
Passover traditionally begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, which typically falls in March or April. In terms of historical context, the first Passover is associated with the biblical Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, which many scholars place in the 13th century BCE, though the exact historical dating varies.
Passover commemorates the event when, according to the Hebrew Bible, God “passed over” the homes of the Israelites during the tenth plague, sparing them from the death of the firstborn in Egypt.
New Testament
In the New Testament, the Passover plays a significant role, particularly in relation to the events of Jesus’ crucifixion. According to the Gospels, the Last Supper, which Jesus shared with his disciples, is often understood as a Passover meal (although there is some debate among scholars about this). This meal took place the night before Jesus was arrested, and his crucifixion occurred shortly after.
In the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), the Last Supper is described as occurring on the evening of the first day of Passover, with Jesus being crucified the next day, which corresponds to the 15th of Nisan in the Jewish calendar.
The Gospel of John, however, presents a different timeline, suggesting that Jesus was crucified on the day of preparation for the Passover, which would be the 14th of Nisan, when the Passover lambs were being slaughtered, possibly aligning Jesus’ death symbolically with the sacrificial lambs.
In both timelines, the Passover season frames the events of Jesus’ final days, adding deep symbolic significance to the narrative of his sacrifice.