Shalom, beloved! The most sacred season on the Creator’s calendar is almost here. Passover — Pesach — begins at sunset on Tuesday, April 7th, 2026, the 14th day of Aviv. If you have not yet begun preparing, now is the time. Let us walk through what this appointed time means, what it calls us to do, and how we can honor YHWH as we observe Pesach together.
YHWH’s Command to Observe Passover
Passover is not a suggestion. It is a moed — a divinely appointed time — commanded directly by YHWH:
“YHWH said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: ‘This month shall be the beginning of months for you… on the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, is YHWH’s Passover.’”
— Exodus 12:1–2, 11
“These are the appointed feasts of YHWH… In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is YHWH’s Passover.”
— Leviticus 23:1–5
“Observe the month of Aviv and keep the Passover to YHWH your Elohim, for in the month of Aviv YHWH your Elohim brought you out of Egypt by night.”
— Deuteronomy 16:1
Three times in Torah, YHWH makes it plain: remember, observe, keep Passover. This is a feast for all generations — not just ancient Israel, but for all who have been grafted into covenant with the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
What Passover Commemorates
Passover remembers one of the greatest events in human history: the Exodus from Egypt.
For 430 years, the children of Israel were enslaved in Egypt — a brutal, dehumanizing bondage that stripped them of freedom, family, and dignity. Then YHWH heard their cries. He raised up Moses. He sent ten devastating plagues against Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt. And on the night of 14 Aviv, He passed through the land in judgment — but passed over every home whose doorposts were covered with the blood of a lamb.
The lamb was slain. The blood was applied. Death passed over. And by morning, Israel walked out of Egypt free.
Every year, Passover invites us to re-enter that story — to remember that we were slaves, and YHWH set us free.
The Messianic Significance: Yeshua, the Passover Lamb
For those who follow Yeshua the Messiah, Passover carries an even deeper layer of meaning. Yeshua was not crucified on a random day. He was crucified on 14 Aviv — Passover.
Consider the parallels:
- 🐑 The Passover lamb was selected on the 10th of Aviv — Yeshua entered Jerusalem on the 10th of Aviv (what is now called “Palm Sunday”), presented to the people as their King.
- 🔍 The lamb was inspected for blemishes for four days — Yeshua was questioned, tested, and examined by the religious leaders for four days before His execution. They found no fault in Him.
- 🩸 The lamb was slain at twilight on the 14th — Yeshua died at the very hour the Passover lambs were being slaughtered in the Temple.
- 🛡️ The blood of the lamb covered the household and brought deliverance — the blood of Yeshua covers those who trust in Him, delivering them from the judgment of sin and death.
As Shaul (Paul) wrote: “For Messiah, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
The Last Supper was a Passover Seder. Yeshua took the bread of affliction and the cup of redemption and gave them new meaning — but He did not replace Passover. He fulfilled it, layer upon layer, in His own body and blood.
Observing Passover is not going backward. It is going deeper.
How to Prepare for Pesach
1. Remove the Leaven (Chametz)
Before Passover begins, the Torah commands us to remove all chametz — leavened products — from our homes:
“For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses.” — Exodus 12:19
Practically, this means going through your home and removing bread, yeast, baking powder, beer, and anything leavened. Many families do a thorough cleaning of the kitchen. Spiritually, leaven is a picture of sin and pride — the search for chametz is also a search of our own hearts.
2. Prepare the Seder Elements
The Passover Seder (meaning “order”) is a structured meal that walks participants through the story of the Exodus. Traditional elements include:
- 🐑 Lamb (Zeroa): A lamb shankbone or roasted lamb, representing the Passover sacrifice
- 🌿 Bitter Herbs (Maror): Horseradish or bitter greens, representing the bitterness of slavery
- 🫓 Matzah (Unleavened Bread): Flat, unfermented bread — the “bread of affliction” eaten in haste
- 🍷 Four Cups of Wine: Each cup corresponds to one of YHWH’s four promises of redemption in Exodus 6:6–7
- 🍎 Charoset: A sweet mixture of apples, nuts, and wine, representing the mortar used in Egypt
- 🥬 Karpas (Green Vegetable): Parsley or celery, dipped in salt water representing tears
3. Gather Your Family
Passover is meant to be observed together. It is a family feast, a community meal, a multi-generational act of remembrance. Invite family, friends, and those who have no Seder to attend. The table is meant to be full.
Explain the Seder to your children. Let them ask the Four Questions. Pass the story down. This is exactly what YHWH commanded:
“And you shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what YHWH did for me when I came out of Egypt.’” — Exodus 13:8
The Feast of Unleavened Bread: April 8–14
Passover night is followed immediately by the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot), which runs from April 8–14, 2026 (15–21 Aviv). During these seven days, no leavened bread is eaten. The first and seventh days are miqra kodesh — holy convocations — set-apart assemblies for worship and rest.
This extended feast is a full week of walking in the reality of the Exodus — living as a freed people, nourished by the bread of liberation.
A Word of Encouragement
Perhaps you have never observed Passover before. Perhaps you grew up celebrating Easter and are only now learning about these appointed times. Welcome. You are not late — you are right on time. YHWH calls all His people back to His calendar, back to His feasts, back to the fullness of His Word.
These are not “Jewish holidays.” They are YHWH’s appointed times (Leviticus 23:2) — for everyone who belongs to Him. And they are not burdens. They are gifts — windows into the heart of Elohim, into the story of redemption, into the person of Yeshua like nothing else can give you.
This Passover, may you experience YHWH’s deliverance freshly. May the blood of the Lamb be real to you. May your table be full of joy and your heart full of gratitude.
Chag Pesach Sameach — Happy Passover!
Represent Your Faith This Feast Season
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