Passover
     On the last night before his crucifixion, Jesus shared what was called a Passover meal with his disciples.  The origin of Passover is recorded in Exodus, chapters 11-13.
     It is the story of God’s passing over the homes of the Jews enslaved in Egypt when death came to Egyptian homes.  The night the “Passover” was to occur, the Jews were instructed to eat roasted lamb and unleavened bread.  That was part of the menu Jews ate, and still eat today, on the night of Passover.
     Passover is also related in part to the Jews’ escape from Egypt as they passed through the Red Sea.
     The lamb served at the Passover meal came to be called the “Paschal Lamb”.  St. Paul picked up on that with these words to the church at Corinth:  “Our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7, NRSV).  Peter also wrote:  “You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways…with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish (1 Peter 1:18-19, NRSV).
     Christ became the perfect sacrifice so that animals no longer needed to be sacrificed to bring about reconciliation with God.  (See Hebrews, Chapter 10).