The Spring Festivals and Jesus' Triumphal Entry, Death and Resurrection

The Jewish Calendar and the Triumphal Entry, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus

As we approach Easter and reflect on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, it's striking to consider how His final days line up with the Jewish calendar, particularly the events surrounding the Passover. Through the lens of Jewish tradition and the symbolism of the Passover lamb, we can gain deeper insight into the profound significance of Jesus' sacrifice. Let’s take a closer look at how the key events—the Triumphal Entry, His death, and resurrection—are intricately woven into the Jewish calendar.

The 10th of Nisan: The Lambs Are Chosen

The 10th of Nisan was a significant day in the Jewish calendar, marking the day when the Passover lambs were selected and brought to the Temple in Jerusalem. This day corresponds to the moment when Jesus made His Triumphal Entry into the city, riding on a donkey, as the crowds waved palm branches and shouted, "Hosanna!" (John 12:13).

In the time of Jesus, pilgrims from all over the region would come to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, and the lambs for the sacrifice would be paraded through the streets, especially from the surrounding areas like Bethlehem. These lambs were brought into the Temple to be inspected by the priests to ensure they were without blemish—just as the Torah commanded that the Passover lamb be a one-year-old male without defect (Exodus 12:5).

On the very same day—the 10th of Nisan—Jesus, the Lamb of God, entered Jerusalem. His entry was no coincidence. As the lambs were brought to be inspected in the Temple, Jesus too was entering the Temple grounds. But rather than the priests inspecting Him for any imperfection, the scribes and Pharisees began to question and scrutinize Him, testing His teachings and authority (Matthew 21:23). Jesus, like the lambs, was under inspection—but He was found to be without sin or blemish, fulfilling the role of the perfect Passover Lamb.

Jesus, the Humble King: Riding on a Donkey

In another profound parallel, Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was remarkably humble. He entered riding on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9: "Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’"

This image echoes the humble entries of King David and his son Solomon, who both rode donkeys during significant moments in their reigns (1 Kings 1:33-34). In the same way, Jesus, the King of Israel, entered Jerusalem not as a conquering warrior on a mighty steed, but as a humble servant, bringing peace. The choice of the donkey is a powerful symbol of Jesus' kingship: He came not to overthrow the Romans, but to offer Himself as the sacrificial Lamb.

The Lambs in the Home: Jesus in the House of Lazarus

In the days leading up to Passover, it was customary for Jewish families to bring their Passover lamb into their homes on the 10th of Nisan, where they would tend to it, feed it, and care for it until it was sacrificed. This act of bringing the lamb into the home highlighted the personal connection between the family and the sacrifice they would soon make.

Similarly, during the final week of His life, Jesus spent time with His close friends, including Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Just before His Triumphal Entry, Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11). Afterward, He went to their home in Bethany, where Mary anointed His feet with expensive perfume (John 12:3). This act of care, hospitality, and devotion mirrored the tradition of tending to the Passover lamb, symbolically preparing Jesus—our Passover Lamb—for the sacrifice that lay ahead.

The 14th of Nisan: Jesus, the Lamb of God, is Sacrificed

The 14th of Nisan was the day when the Passover lambs were slaughtered in remembrance of God's deliverance of the Israelites from the angel of death in Egypt (Exodus 12:6). On this day, as the lambs were being slaughtered at the Temple in Jerusalem, Jesus was crucified on the cross at Golgotha, just outside the city walls.

The timing is remarkable. As the lambs were being killed to atone for the sins of the people, Jesus—the ultimate Passover Lamb—was being sacrificed for the sins of the world. The Apostle Paul later wrote, “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). Through His death, Jesus fulfilled the meaning of the Passover sacrifice, offering Himself as the Lamb who would take away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

The 17th of Nisan: Jesus Rises on the Festival of First Fruits

The resurrection of Jesus occurred on the third day after His crucifixion, which—according to the Jewish calendar—was the 17th of Nisan. Each Year, the third day after the Passover day corresponds to the Feast of First Fruits, a celebration of the spring harvest, where the first sheaf of grain was offered to God as a sign of gratitude for the coming harvest (Leviticus 23:9-14).

In the New Testament, Paul refers to Jesus as the "first fruits" of the resurrection, saying, "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20). Jesus' resurrection, occurring on the Feast of First Fruits, is deeply symbolic. Just as the first fruits of the harvest were a promise of the full harvest to come, so Jesus' resurrection is the guarantee of the resurrection that awaits all believers. He is the first of many to rise from the dead, ensuring that death is not the end for those who are in Him.

A Deeply Connected Story

The alignment between the Jewish calendar and the events of Jesus' final days is not coincidental; it is a testament to the deep connections between Jesus and the Jewish traditions that were established centuries before His birth. From the parading of the Passover lambs on the 10th of Nisan to Jesus' death on the 14th, and His resurrection on the 17th, we see the fulfillment of God's plan for redemption.

When reflecting on these events, we are reminded that Jesus is the true Passover Lamb—the Lamb of God who was chosen, inspected, and sacrificed for our sins. He is also the First Fruits of the resurrection, the guarantee of eternal life for all who believe in Him. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus fulfilled the promises of the Jewish calendar and ushered in a new covenant of grace for all people.

The precision and timing of the spring festivals is no coincidence. It's purposed and intentional, Showing the precision and perfection of God's plan. Let’s remember the beautiful connection between the Jewish Passover and the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus. Just as the lambs were chosen, inspected, and sacrificed for the salvation of God's people, so Jesus was chosen, inspected, and sacrificed to bring salvation to the world. And just as the Feast of First Fruits celebrates the beginning of the harvest, Jesus' resurrection marks the beginning of a new creation—a world where death no longer has the final word.

Christ has risen, the First Fruits of the resurrection—our Passover Lamb, who has conquered sin and death forever.