Passover is a Jewish holy day, observing the time when the Angel of the Lord brought death to the land of Pharaoh but “passed over” the houses of the Hebrew slaves, which had been marked with the blood of a lamb. It was this final plague that convinced Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go. Thus began their “exodus” and eventual settlement in the Promised Land of Canaan.

Jesus was arrested when he came to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. Thus, his death was linked to the Passover in time. It was also linked in meaning, namely, that Jesus was perceived as the new “Passover lamb,” or “paschal lamb,” who would set people free by his blood. In most years, the Christian holiday of Easter comes after the Jewish Passover, but not always. The two traditions use different calendars.