The Passover Lamb was the key event for the people of God in the Old Testament as they set out to cross over from servitude, in the land of Egypt, to freedom. Through its blood, there was protection from death, and in the rituals of preparing and eating it, there lies many symbols and meanings that prepare the children of God to set out for crossing over. As we can see in the book of exodus: “And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.” (Exodus 12:11). There were two sides to this story. On the one hand, there was the Passover Lamb as a means for the people of God to cross over from death to life, from servitude to freedom, from sorrow to joy, and form objectionable life to honorable one. On the other, there was death, humiliation, sadness and desolation to Pharaoh and his people.

This example was an accurate prophecy about the Lord Jesus who was described by St. Paul as the true Passover Lamb, “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

The Passover Lamb was brought into the city of Jerusalem on the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Nissan, and was kept to be slaughtered on the eve of the fourteenth day of the month. Likewise Jesus entered Jerusalem on the tenth day of the month to be slain on the fourteenth day.

As the blood of the Passover Lamb saved those who accepted it as protection, likewise the blood of Jesus purifies all sins and sanctifies, to perfection, those who believe in it through baptism and communion. As the Passover Lamb caused destruction to Pharaoh and his solders, likewise, the true Passover of Jesus broke the sting of Satan, ended his dominion, and exposed him (Colossians 2:15). And He gave us, through the divine grace, to trample on serpents, scorpions and over all the power of the enemy.

It was mandatory to everyone to eat from the Passover Lamb otherwise man would be subjected to death “But the man who…ceases to keep the Passover, that same person shall be cut off from among his people” (Numbers 9:13). Likewise, the body and blood of the true Lamb is the principal source of life for us, as the Lord Jesus emphasized, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you…  He who so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.” (John 6:53-58).

It was unlawful for the uncircumcised to eat from the Passover Lamb, as they had to be circumcised first then eat from it, “No foreigner shall eat it. But… When you have circumcised him, then he may eat it.” (Exodus 12:43-44). Likewise, no one can come forward to partake of the holy sacraments unless they are first circumcised with the circumcision of Christ, which is baptism.

In His entrance into Jerusalem today, the Lord fulfills the prophecy of the Passover Lamb written about Him in the Old Testament. He also asserts the words of St. John the Baptist about Him: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Today He enters into Jerusalem as the true Passover to carry our sins, to die on our behalf, and to grant us live, freedom and Glory. He leads us from the darkness of sin to the light of the new life.

Therefore, today we receive Him with palm tree leaves and with joyful hearts because He came to save us and to lift us up from every weakness and shame, and from servitude and humility. He came to cross with us, in a great Passover, to a glorious life filled with honor, joy, and light. Every heart that opens up to Him today will cross over with Him, through repentance and communion, to a new life that is elevated above the humility, shame, sorrow, and darkness of sin. This is the great Passover that we taste throughout our sojourn on earth till we fully enjoy it in the kingdom of Heaven.