The crucifixion of Jesus and His resurrection took place during the celebration of Passover (Pesah), one of the three yearly pilgrimage festivals that were celebrated in Jerusalem the others being Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks) (our Pentecost) and Sukkot (the Festival of Booths) that occurs in the fall.
Passover
Passover preparations occur on the 14th day of the month of Nisan (also called Aviv) and the Passover celebration takes place after sundown (the beginning of 15 Nisan as Biblical days are marked from evening to morning). It commemorates the “passing over” of the Angel of Death and preservation of the firstborn of those households that had the sign of the blood of the lamb on the lintel and doorposts of their dwellings (Exodus 11). This plague was the last of the 10 plagues and secured the release of the Hebrew people from 400 years of Egyptian slavery. In this sense, Passover is a remembrance of deliverance from slavery.
Because the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. the Passover lamb can no longer be slain at the Temple and roasted and consumed by the household in God’s appointed place (Jerusalem). This is why you will see a Seder plate with a roasted bone, symbolic of the roasted lamb, but lambs are no longer slain, roasted, and eaten as commanded in Exodus 11 by Jewish people in their celebration of Passover.
The Passover Lamb
Preparations for Passover begins on 10 Nisan when each household would select their passover lamb (Exodus 12). The lamb was to be an unblemished a male a year old and interestingly enough could be either a sheep or a goat. The household was to examine the lamb for the next four days to ensure that it was truly unblemished and suitable for sacrifice. Only the blood of unblemished lambs on the lintels and doorposts of their dwellings were sufficient to signal to the Angle of Death to passover.
The Anointing
After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead he went off to Ephraim to avoid being captured by those who were trying to kill him. As Passover approaches Jesus begins his return to Jerusalem, but first goes back to Bethany and the house of Lazarus. You can read about this in John 12:1-11. The timeframe is important. Jesus arrives in Bethany six days before Passover. This would be 9 Nisan. It says that during the evening meal (now 10 Nisan since it is after sunset and likely a Shabbat celebration) Mary came and poured out about 12 ounces of an expensive perfume, spikenard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. Consider a couple of questions. Why did she anoint His feet and not his head? Why did she use perfume and not just olive oil? Why did she use an expensive perfume? Why did she wipe His feet with her hair?
Our Passover Lamb
Jesus’ anointing on 10 Nisan is not coincidental. Though the selection of unblemished passover lambs was made on physical characteristics, God always looks deeper into the heart of man. Jesus to be the suitable sacrifice for all mankind had to meet God the Father’s criteria as being unblemished. Jesus couldn’t just look good, He had to be sinless. God the Father used Mary to demonstrate what He had already determined, that Jesus was suitable. Her anointing was a very visible demonstration of God’s choice of the Passover Lamb on 10 Nisan, a decision that would result in the death of His Only Begotten Son.
As we approach the Resurrection consider your spiritual condition and Jesus, God’s chosen Passover Lamb. Have you put His blood on the lintel and doorposts of your life so that the Angel of Death might passover? Are you ready to be free from the bondage of sin? Metaphorically speaking, are you tired of living in or going back to Egypt? Consider Jesus, God’s chosen Passover Lamb. Claim His blood. No longer fear death. Be set free!
“Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. Now the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.”
John 8:34-36