Is Jesus' Death Related to the Jewish Passover? 

The common Christian belief that Jesus’ death is fundamentally linked to the Jewish Passover has prevailed for over two thousand years. Jesus' final visit to Jerusalem was intended to share his divine message, but he faced rejection and was executed, a fate similar to prophets before him. Jesus opposed the primitive practice of sacrificial offerings, teaching instead that God desires the well-being and happiness of his children.

The misunderstanding about Jesus' death as a final sacrificial offering was introduced by Paul in an effort to win over the Jews and their long-held practice of sacrificing animals for God. However, it is contrary to Jesus' teachings about God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. God's love has never been contingent on sacrificing an animal or human to appease him.

Jesus, who frequently attended Passover in Jerusalem, knew his final visit was a crucial opportunity to share his divine message. Despite his efforts, he faced rejection and was executed, continuing the tragic pattern of the prophets before him.

The long evolutionary history of employing a sacrificial offering to please God is fading away. We realize there is no value in murdering a first-born, maiden, man, or animal. It came from our primitive past and certainly did not please God. Jesus, who loved animals, found the practice at Passover of sacrificing animals repulsive.

Jesus depicted God as a father desiring the happiness and success of his children, not their sacrifice. A good father wants to see his children live a long and happy life and be loved by many. Jesus could have died of old age with friends and family by his side and been equally successful.

Jesus never advocated for sacrificial atonement nor portrayed God as wrathful. Sin, as Jesus taught, is individual, not inheritable nor attributable to ancestry. Forgiveness is readily available through sincere repentance. The idea that Jesus was the last and all-sufficient human sacrifice ever needed was introduced by the Apostle Paul. By this analogy, he attempted to win over the Jews by incorporating their own theology of sacrifice and cleverly changing the murder of Jesus into the sacrifice of Jesus, making the religious leaders less culpable.

Paul never met Jesus in person, or he probably would not have attached such an explanation upon one who made no distinction between Jew or Gentile, let alone portray Jesus’ Father as the mastermind behind the murder of his beloved son.

The universal administration of love predates and postdates Jesus’ earthly life. His mission was to enhance our understanding of our relationship with God. Forgiveness was never contingent on sacrifice; God’s love and mercy are eternal and unchanging. Jesus’ teachings revealed that faith is the key to recognizing our spiritual lineage, independent of his earthly presence.

A good father does not hold a grudge against his children. A father always wants to be in a close and loving relationship. If Christ never came down to earth, God would still forgive our sins; the two are not related. The good news that Jesus proclaimed is that humans may, by faith, become spirit-conscious so they can then see that they are sons and daughters of God. Humans only approach to God is through faith.

The deep relationship between humanity and its maker has existed for eternity. God’s love and innate mercy have always been and will always be. God the Father remains unchanged before, during, and after Jesus’ incarnation.

Jesus’ intense suffering and cruel death on the cross had nothing to do with the Jewish sacrificial system or with Passover. The religious leaders were given the opportunity to see their errors and accept Jesus’ teachings. The week could have ended as brothers and sisters celebrating the Passover feast and together initiating a new start on earth, a spiritual renaissance. Acknowledging our historical errors could pave the way for a genuine spiritual renaissance and correct long-held misunderstandings of God's nature.