The concept of Passover was conceived by the Almighty before the foundation of the world (I Pet. 1:19,20). God knew that He was placing mankind on earth on which He had given some power and control to Satan and the demons. God also knew that humans were created with less capacity, strength and ability than demons, so humans would need some assistance. Out of love for the world, God planned assistance in various ways and one way would be to send the Logos or Word who was to become the Passover lamb. More than that, the Word was with and was God and everything was made through, by and for the Word (John 1:1-5,14). The Word was to become that which Israel knew as God until the time of the coming of the Christ who was destined to pay the penalty for the sins of mankind by His sacrifice, then to be resurrected and sit in a high position as the Son of God for eternity. There are few precise details given about the complete plan of God, but mankind was given the opportunity to be sanctified and justified through the sacrifice God offers. God is seeking godly offspring who would become the children of God and who would be like Jesus Christ (I John 3:1-5). Within the plan, humans are to learn to hate sin and love God and His laws. The Passover was to teach that the penalty of sin is death and through the grace of God that penalty can be lifted.
In the history recorded in Scripture there are not many Passovers that were clearly referenced. But there were a few very special ones that teach huge lessons about God. It is important that we realize that God the Father did not directly speak with humans or appear to them, but the Word filled that role. It was the Word that walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the garden and it was the Word who spoke face to face with Moses. Knowing that, we can understand that when Moses wrote about the Sabbaths of God and the Passover, he knew they were the feasts of the Word (and the Father), declared to be holy convocations. They were to be kept exactly as God commanded. When we look at the several Passovers that are written about in the Bible, we must consider that it was the Word who became Christ that gave the clear instructions. Christ was the Rock that Israel followed (I Cor. 4:9). Knowing that, we can understand that it was Christ who led Israel out of Egypt and who chose Abraham with whom He made the Old Covenant. Sadly enough Israel failed miserably to do their part, and that led to the cancellation of the Old Cove-nant and replacement of the New Covenant through the blood of Christ.
Moses carefully recorded the events of the Passover in Egypt. "The Lord said" was the clear in-struction of the Word (Christ) and before the sentence of death to the firstborn of Egypt and all who lived in Egypt including livestock was carried out, the establishment of the Old Covenant with the people of Israel was made. Strangers who wanted to dwell in Israel were to become like the Israelites. The acceptance of the covenant was sealed by the physical circumcision of all the males in the covenant. All the males of Israel who came out of Egypt had to be circumcised and this event had to take place before Israel departed. It is recorded in the book of Joshua (5:5). What was stressed was that anyone who was not circumcised was forbidden by God to take part in the Passover. Knowing what people are like, it is possible a few Israelites refused to be cir-cumcised and although nothing is recorded, the sentence of death was carried out on every household that did not have the splash of blood on the doorposts and circumcised males. The Word (Christ) made that very clear to Moses (Exod. 12:41-51). There can be no doubt that no-body was excused who was not circumcised and obedient to the terms given.
Israel broke the Old Covenant with God almost as soon as they left Egypt. They complained, disobeyed God and even made a golden calf to worship. The result of their actions was the sen-tence of death the Word (Christ) imposed. The first special Passover was to save the lives of the Israelites as first fruits of God, but they did not abide under the protection of God. God had to take special steps to ensure that this rebellious people feared Moses and later Joshua, or they would certainly have returned to the evil ways they had left behind them (Joshua 4:14). Forty years after leaving Egypt, when all the males over the age of 20 had died, Joshua was led by the Word (Christ) to cross the Jordan River and prepare to enter the Promised land at Gilgal. Before they were allowed to continue, they were required to keep the Passover. Obviously it had not been kept after leaving Egypt because the Israelites did not act as circumcised and God treated them as uncircumcised (Jer. 9:25,26). The true problem was that circumcision was to be of the heart, not merely the flesh. Their hearts never turned to God. In His mercy, God gave them an-other chance and all the males who had grown up in the wilderness had to be circumcised. That was a huge task as perhaps as many as 1.5 million men and boys would need circumcision. That task was carried out at the mountain of foreskins (Josh. 5:3-8). Israel was to be an example for those God would invite into the New Covenant (I Cor. 10:4-12).
The second time the Word (now Christ) was directly involved with the Passover was the night He was to be captured. Jesus instituted the symbols of the New Covenant that night. The new symbols of agreement between God and man were the body and blood of Christ symbolized by the bread and wine. Once again it was Christ personally and directly who gave these symbols (Matt. 26:21-30). The better covenant was with the understanding that the heart was circumcised and that applied to male and female. Only those who had been cleansed by the blood of Christ were allowed to take the Passover. Mark also records this event (Mark 14:20-24). In both ac-counts Jesus pointed out He would be betrayed and thus one of those present were not clean, not circumcised in the heart and not worthy of taking the Passover. Paul had much to say to support this in his letter to the Corinthians. Paul said he had received the instructions from Jesus person-ally and Paul noted that anyone who took those symbols unworthily was eating judgment unto himself. Because some did take the Passover unworthily, some were sick and some died (I Cor. 11:23-30). When humans are conducting the Passover, they do not have the insight Jesus had about who was clean or unclean. But Jesus did know and just as the angel of death would not pass over any house that was not protected by blood, so too Jesus would not offer salvation to one He knows is not clean. Paul said if a person did not keep the law, he had once again become uncircumcised. If a person is baptized and yet turns back to his old ways, he is as one who is not baptized (Rom. 2:25-29). He carries the sentence of eternal death until he is saved.
John records the comments of Jesus during that special Passover. Jesus clearly stated that not all the disciples were clean. He knew that Judas was not clean. Since Jesus Christ is the same yes-terday (as the Word) today and forever, He could not make an exception for one unclean person anymore than the angel of death could pass over a house that did not have blood on it. The Word of God is true and strong. In order to stay true, the angel of death cannot pass one who is not protected. As Israel was sentenced to death, so too is anyone who was baptized and then turned back to sin. When elders or priests conduct a Passover, they do not know the hearts of each person who is present. Christ did know and because He is true, He can make no exceptions. Christ's judgment is true and faithful. Judas was not worthy of the Passover.