First, let us lay out the age old problem. What we find when examining the gospels is that the first three - Matthew, Mark, and Luke - clearly state that the meal Yahshua ate with His disciples immediately prior to His crucifixion was the feast day Passover meal, while in contrast the gospel of John clearly states that Yahshua was crucified on Passover, and the preceding meal was nothing more than "supper." The following relevant passages are provided here so that you can see the problem for yourself. We will begin with the account recorded in each of the first three gospels.

These passages leave absolutely no question that the last supper Yahshua had with His disciples was clearly the Passover meal observed specifically on Passover, Nisan 14 (Exodus 12:6, Leviticus 23:5, Numbers 28:16). And if these were all the passages we had to consider, then there would be no problem; for these all corroborate the Nisan 14 Passover meal. But when we read the gospel of John, we get an entirely different scenario relative to when Passover occurred, and what the meal was that Yahshua shared with His disciples just before His crucifixion. Let us now examine these relevant passages from John.

We see here already that the last supper that Yahshua had with His disciples was "before" or "prior to" the Passover, and not during, as clearly stated in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. But this is not all the evidence in John that equally corroborates a Passover crucifixion, in contrast to the other three gospel's Passover meal. Let us continue examining the testimony of John.

This last quote applies specifically to Yahshua’s fulfillment as the Passover lamb, which according to John 19:14 was being prepared at the very time of His crucifixion. Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12 record this specific law concerning the Passover lamb; and Yahshua’s crucifixion specifically on Passover, according to John, was its fulfillment - they did not break His legs. This Passover crucifixion is confirmed by Paul when he states in 1 Corinthians 5:7 - "For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed."

Now do you see the testy problems with which theologians have wrestled? Matthew, Mark, and Luke clearly state that Yahshua ate the Passover meal with His disciples, and was thus crucified on the day after Passover, or the first day of Unleavened Bread (Nisan 15). But, clearly John states that the meal with His disciples was merely a "supper" "before the feast of Passover," and that He was crucified on Passover (Nisan 14) as our Passover lamb. So which one is right? That question, again, is one theologians have wrestled with for many years. To give you a taste of how men have indeed wrestled with these contradicting dates, let us cite a few ways they have tried to resolve them. We will reference Harold W. Hoehner’s book, Chronological Aspects Of The Life Of Christ, pages 81-90, which lists a few of these.

• Some prefer the Matthew, Mark, and Luke account over the John account. Concluding that these two differing accounts cannot be harmonized, they simply ignore John or force those passages into their own position.
• Conversely, some prefer the John account over the Matthew, Mark, and Luke account, and likewise ignore the other or force it into their position.

• Knowing Yahshua would be crucified, He had His own private Passover early.
• Yahshua followed two different calendars - the Qumram and the official.
• There were too many lambs to be slaughtered, so the Pharisees celebrated the Passover on Nisan 13 while the Sadducees celebrated it on Nisan 14.
• Another suggestion was made that was so confusing it is not even worth trying to explain here.
• Once again, the "too many in town" idea fostered the opinion that the Galileans slew their lambs on Nisan 13, whereas the Judeans slew theirs on Nisan 14.
• Finally, there are different ways in reckoning a day. To quote Hoehner - "This is a puzzling problem that has set many pens in motion. It is beyond the scope of this chapter to go into a lengthy discussion of the reckoning of days."

As one can see, there have been many attempts, many pens have been in motion, to resolve this question concerning Passover and Yahshua’s crucifixion. And the answers to which men have arrived are as divided and diverse as is the body of Christ, the "house divided."

But, as offered in this writing, what if Yahweh is saying something to us through these as divinely intentional and meaningful differences? (Intentional and meaningful in that there is a common author in all of these accounts - the Holy Spirit - and He makes no mistakes in His writings.) What we have provided to us here is a scenario in which by these two differing accounts, Yahweh gives testimony to two Passovers, or in net affect He doubles Passover. This is the unique complexity of Yahweh. By these two differing accounts He seeks to tell us something of utmost importance concerning Passover. Thus, instead of wrestling with these two accounts, trying to combine them into something which is impossible, or ignoring one or the other, both accounts need to be accepted for their differences and what Yahweh is testifying through their differences. (And once again, this is not an isolated occurrence; but the Scriptures are filled with these contradiction riddles that Yahweh uses to speak to us.)

It is profoundly amazing how Yahweh has used the foolishness of contradictions within His Scriptures (using that which has the appearance of being errors) to communicate to us. Paul declared that Yahweh in fact chooses the foolish things for the purpose that He may "shame the wise" (1 Corinthians 1:27). While men throughout the centuries have attempted to harmonize these subject verses, as well as other passages, the fact is they are looking for truth and answers in the wrong way. The answers are not found in harmonizing, but rather in discerning the riddles Yahweh is providing in the foolishness of these contradictions. When one understands this most unique design of Yahweh, then His word unfolds in a most wonderful and profound way, glorifying Yahweh for the magnificence of His design!

At this point, we could proceed and explain what this riddle of the contradicting two Passovers means; but, in order to truly understand what Yahweh is doing and saying here, we must expand the scope of this writing to include more than just a brief digest of why Yahweh would give a two or double Passover testimony at the death of Yahshua. In order to justly deal with this matter, we must examine more closely the importance of this highly significant feast as it affects or relates to the church. Yes, we know that Yahshua was crucified as the Passover lamb; but because of this unusual contradiction, we should be stirred to delve further into what He is saying to us. To help us understand, we must go back and examine the role that Passover played in the course of the Israelites when Passover and other laws were first instituted. This will be no small task; so, one will need to take what we have discussed up to now and hold onto it. We will incorporate this information together with other related information. But for now, let is look at the church and its relationship to Passover, as well as to Pentecost and Tabernacles.