The Passover and trial of Jesus Christ.
Today, just as in Christ’ day, the Jews called the Days of Unleavened Bread—Passover! "Now the feast of
unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might
kill Him; for they feared the people" (Luke 22:1-2).
Scripture shows, Jesus and His disciple kept Passover services at the end of the third day [Tuesday in our timing
today] the beginning of Wednesday, and of course, we know that Jesus knew the exact day of Passover. His word
says, "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed" (Mal 3:6). We know that all
of God's Holy Days are kept on the days He appointed! We cannot change a day for our own convenience!
We all know that Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread are two separate days. When the Jews changed
it into one day is not known for sure. The Jewish Book of Why, by Alfred I. Kolatch, page 183, states: "Originally,
Passover was two separate holidays. One was an agricultural holiday called "Chag Hamotzot (Festival of
Unleavened Bread). The other was a pastoral holiday called "Chag Hapesach"(Festival of the Paschal Lamb).
Both holidays developed independently in the springtime of the year, in the Hebrew month of Nissan
(March-April). Chag Hapesach (Passover), is the older of the two festivals."
After the Passover service with His disciples, Jesus went out to pray on the Mt. Of Olives. When Judas
betrayed Christ, Jesus was taken to the High Priest house and condemned to death by the Jews for blasphemy.
“Then took they Him and led Him, and brought Him into the high priest’s house, And Peter followed” (Luke 22:54).
Then He was taken to the Roman governor, "And the whole multitude of them arose, and led Him unto
Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give
tribute to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ a King" (Luke 23:1-2).
Pilate, three time said he found no fault with Christ . 1). "And Pilate asked Him, saying, Art Thou the King
of the Jews? And He answered him and said, Thou sayest it. Then said Pilate to the chiefpriests and to the people,
I find no fault in this man" (Luke 23:3-4). 2). "Said unto them, Ye have brought this Man unto me, as one that
perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined Him before you, have found no fault in this Man
touching those things whereof ye accuse Him" (Luke 23:14). 3). "And he said unto them the third time, Why,
what evil hath He done? I have found no cause of death in Him: I will therefore chastise Him, and let Him go"
(Luke 23:22).
Because the Jews of that day wanted Christ dead because they envied and feared His power, they were
willing to be false witnesses. God's word says; "And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the
witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought
to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you. And those which remain shall hear,
and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you. And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall
go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot" (Deut 19:18-21).
God's word is still active today, we should remember that the Jews accepted the verdict of their own making.
"And the governor said, Why, what evil hath He done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let Him be crucified.
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his
hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just Person: see ye to it. Then answered all the
people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children" (Matt 27:23-25).
There is a saying, 'Be careful what you ask for." Today the Jews are still paying for the false witness their
forefather made. ☜
COGIT