Palm Sunday – Passover Explained

The Old Testament is a foreshadow of Jesus. Through study of God’s Word, we see that covenants were established by shedding blood to remit sin. Not only that, but the whole Jewish covenant and laws are a copy of things in Heaven.
Hebrews 9:22-23 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. 23 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (NKJ)

Let us take a quick view of these copies beginning with Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, what we call Palm Sunday.

Mark 11:1-9 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; 2 and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. 3 And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.”
4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. 5 But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?” 6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ 10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (NKJ)

The night in which Jesus was betrayed, He instituted the communion. (The Seder meal)

Matthew 26:26-29 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” (NKJ)

Passover began at sundown that Thursday celebrating freeing the Children of Israel out of bondage from Egypt which represents sin.

Exodus 12:21-24 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb. 22 And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. 24 And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever. (NKJ)

At the very moment Jesus was being crucified, the High Priest was in the Temple offering the blood of the lamb upon the Mercy Seat.

Hebrews 9:7-15 Into the second part (the Holiest of Holies) the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins  committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (NKJ)

Here is the timeline of Passover and Jesus’ death: The Sunday before Passover, Jesus made His triumphant entry. Thursday evening Jesus had the Sader meal with His disciples where He established communion with them. Sundown began the Passover (Friday). Jesus was betrayed, summoned to court before the Sanhedrin, Herod and Pontius Pilate, convicted, beaten, crucified, and buried before the next sundown which began the Sabath and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Friday has happened, but Sunday’s coming. The Resurrection!