Thanks for this introduction to the significance of the Passover
You have hit upon many important points, but you have stumbled at one point that many get confused on.
John clearly tells us that the day AFTER Jesus was killed it was a high day: "The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was a high day) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. (John 19:31)
This High Day was not the Passover, as Jesus kept the Passover with his disciples the night before, see Matt 26:2 & 17-19, Mark 14:1 & 12-16, Luke 22:1 & 8-13. These verses can't be ignored, as many do.
By reading Leviticus 23:5-8 we see that this High Day was the annual Sabbath of the First Day of Unleavened Bread on the 15th of the First Month, and Passover is the day before, being the 14th day.
This is why Paul said (as you quoted) that those in Corinth were already unleavened, as they prepared for this feast by removing leaven from their homes.
This "preparation day" is the daytime portion of the Passover before the high day of the First Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This High Day is an Annual Sabbath Day, not a weekly Sabbath.
For the Passover is the 14th and the High Day is the 15th, which obviously starts after the Passover, which is when Jesus was killed on the daytime portion of it.
Remember that days start at sunset, which is why Jesus had the meal with his disciples on the previous night, and why the High Day started at sunset of the 14th.
It is a bit confusing when John said "And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour: and he said unto the Jews, Behold your King! (John 19:14)
Now the way it reads in English sounds like it was the time for them to prepare for the Passover, but that is not the case, as the disciples prepared for the Passover 24-hours earlier, and ate it with Jesus. (Matt 26:2 & 17-19, Mark 14:1 & 12-16, Luke 22:1 & 8-13)
Therefore, what John was actually saying should be read as: And it was the preparation (period) of the Passover (24-hour day).
When we understand this meaning, then the other three Gospels which also mention "the Preparation" also become clearer. For the preparation was not to prepare for the Passover meal, that was already over the night before, but it was to prepare for the Feast of Unleavened Bread on the 15th, which began at sunset at the end of the 14th.
The principal reason it’s called "the preparation", is that in order to prepare for the seven-day festival of Unleavened Bread, all leaven products were to be removed from their dwellings. (Exo 12:15-20) While unleavened bread was to be eaten at the Passover (Exo 12:8), there is no requirement to remove leaven prior to the 15th. Again this is why those in Corinth were unleavened, as they were keeping God's Festivals- as Christians and as Gentiles!!!
Yet this truth is suppressed, however Jesus is our Passover sacrifice. He is not our Easter sacrifice.
You can read in any encyclopaedia that the Catholic Church under the Roman Emperor in 325AD forbade the keeping of Passover by Christians. Yet there were many who did keep the Passover at the time, but they were persecuted by the Church, just as Christ said would happen: Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. John 16:2
Also don't get confused about the use of the term "The Preparation"
It is important to understand that the term "The Preparation" is ONLY ever used in this context of being the day before the High Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It is NEVER is used to mean preparation for a normal weekly sabbath day. When the other Gospel writers use this term they too therefore mean that the next day was a High Day.
There is much to learn about the basics understanding of the Passover, as it has been suppressed since 325 AD.
The daytime portion of Passover is, therefore, the preparation for the First Day of Unleavened Bread, when the removal of leaven from all households is to be completed.
Thanks for this introduction to the significance of the Passover
You have hit upon many important points, but you have stumbled at one point that many get confused on.
John clearly tells us that the day AFTER Jesus was killed it was a high day: "The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was a high day) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. (John 19:31)
This High Day was not the Passover, as Jesus kept the Passover with his disciples the night before, see Matt 26:2 & 17-19, Mark 14:1 & 12-16, Luke 22:1 & 8-13. These verses can't be ignored, as many do.
By reading Leviticus 23:5-8 we see that this High Day was the annual Sabbath of the First Day of Unleavened Bread on the 15th of the First Month, and Passover is the day before, being the 14th day.
This is why Paul said (as you quoted) that those in Corinth were already unleavened, as they prepared for this feast by removing leaven from their homes.
This "preparation day" is the daytime portion of the Passover before the high day of the First Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This High Day is an Annual Sabbath Day, not a weekly Sabbath.
For the Passover is the 14th and the High Day is the 15th, which obviously starts after the Passover, which is when Jesus was killed on the daytime portion of it.
Remember that days start at sunset, which is why Jesus had the meal with his disciples on the previous night, and why the High Day started at sunset of the 14th.
It is a bit confusing when John said "And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour: and he said unto the Jews, Behold your King! (John 19:14)
Now the way it reads in English sounds like it was the time for them to prepare for the Passover, but that is not the case, as the disciples prepared for the Passover 24-hours earlier, and ate it with Jesus. (Matt 26:2 & 17-19, Mark 14:1 & 12-16, Luke 22:1 & 8-13)
Therefore, what John was actually saying should be read as: And it was the preparation (period) of the Passover (24-hour day).
When we understand this meaning, then the other three Gospels which also mention "the Preparation" also become clearer. For the preparation was not to prepare for the Passover meal, that was already over the night before, but it was to prepare for the Feast of Unleavened Bread on the 15th, which began at sunset at the end of the 14th.
The principal reason it’s called "the preparation", is that in order to prepare for the seven-day festival of Unleavened Bread, all leaven products were to be removed from their dwellings. (Exo 12:15-20) While unleavened bread was to be eaten at the Passover (Exo 12:8), there is no requirement to remove leaven prior to the 15th. Again this is why those in Corinth were unleavened, as they were keeping God's Festivals- as Christians and as Gentiles!!!
Yet this truth is suppressed, however Jesus is our Passover sacrifice. He is not our Easter sacrifice.
You can read in any encyclopaedia that the Catholic Church under the Roman Emperor in 325AD forbade the keeping of Passover by Christians. Yet there were many who did keep the Passover at the time, but they were persecuted by the Church, just as Christ said would happen: Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. John 16:2
Also don't get confused about the use of the term "The Preparation"
It is important to understand that the term "The Preparation" is ONLY ever used in this context of being the day before the High Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It is NEVER is used to mean preparation for a normal weekly sabbath day. When the other Gospel writers use this term they too therefore mean that the next day was a High Day.
There is much to learn about the basics understanding of the Passover, as it has been suppressed since 325 AD.
The daytime portion of Passover is, therefore, the preparation for the First Day of Unleavened Bread, when the removal of leaven from all households is to be completed.
Thanks for sharing that!
Isn't it amazing how often the Old Testament predicts New Testament events?