Passover Observance

It appears debating what day it is to be observed, not to mention the details in how the observance is to be conducted; has become part of the celebration of the Feasts of YHWH.  In the past twenty years, with the exception of the lunar Sabbath, I think I've tried most of the suggested calculations for determining the new moon and day of the Feasts.  This article is not so much a teaching, as simply a testimony of sharing what I'm doing presently, while continuing to seek further clarity.

Since the first chapter of Genesis indicates the day begins in the evening, I will be partaking of the Passover Seder after sundown following the daylight hours of the 13th day of Aviv.  Based upon my understanding, the first day of the Week of Matzo or Unleavened Bread is the 15th of Aviv not the same day as Passover; and will begin the following evening.  

Of course, we know, the barley must be nearly ripe before the first month can be declared.  Based upon the details of the plagues, the seventh plague was hail that destroyed the nearly ripe barley.  Locusts or grasshoppers followed and those swarms can utterly annihilate all signs of growing life in record little time.  The plague of darkness was three days, and the instructions for the passover lamb had to be given before the 10th day, so realistically, it's possible that the seventh, eighth, and ninth plague took place within a week.  And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.  Exodus 9:31

That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of YHWH's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when He smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.  Exodus 12:27

Without adding to Scripture, it only seems reasonable that moving over 600,000 men plus women and children with livestock would have certainly been an all day event.  I've found no indication that Passover would redefine the time the day begins and ends, along with the fact that the "passing over" at midnight is also referenced as the fourteenth.  Observing the feast at the end of the fourteenth would indicate the "passing over" occurred on the fifteenth, which isn't stated.
Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at His appointed season.  In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in His appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.  And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.  And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that YHWH commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.  Numbers 9:2-5

Since I'm not in Jerusalem,  I do stay home, and when I am blessed to share the Passover seder with guests, the guest rooms are prepared for overnight guests.

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto YHWH.  The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.  Numbers 9:10-11
This passage in Numbers has raised a question or two for me in my understanding.  Since I am not in Jerusalem, nor are we yet in the Messianic reign, I'm on a journey . . .  Here's where I must emphasize, I am not teaching a doctrine here, but merely sharing in relationship to what Messiah said, "in remembrance . . ."
Although I do observe the feast and the week of matzo in the month of Aviv, the fourteenth day of the second month after sundown, I have matzo with wine.  I've yet to find a law against this "second communion" as I continue to seek.
Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto YHWH thy G-d: for in the month of Abib YHWH thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night . . . But at the place which YHWH thy G-d shall choose to place His name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.  Deuteronomy 16:1, 6

I am not at a place of saying "passover" is an incorrect translation here.  I believe, as there are so many examples throughout Messiah's time on earth, the religious folks simply had it wrong.  For all practical purposes, I believe they were as it were, "a day late."
And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.  And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.  Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.  Matthew 26:18-20.

We know he was arrested in the garden in the middle of the night . . . the time of the original passover in Egypt?  And it came to pass, that at midnight YHWH smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.  Exodus 12:29

And about the ninth hour Y'hshuwah cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My G-d, my G-d, why hast thou forsaken me?  . . . And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;  Matthew 27:46, 51

He died when humanity was killing the Passover lambs . . . Is it possible, they were so caught up in their own idea of religion and tradition, they had actually missed what YHWH had commanded and done all those years before?  Just because everyone wasn't observing the feast until that evening, doesn't mean they were right.  When was the majority ever correct in Scripture?

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.  Luke 22:19 - unleavened bread, Messiah was without sin.

Now when I read this, I just shake my head, with the realization we won't all agree on one given day of the year, until Messiah returns . . .For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.  I Corinthians 11:26  And the beauty of this passage indicates, it's not about the day, the rest of the context reveals it's about the heart!

To say there are translation issues only serves to raise more doubt about the validity of the Bible, and that is not something I choose to do.  To assume the religious leaders of the day were observing Passover, correctly is ludicrous.  If the religious leaders were hearing YHWH, they'd have recognized His Son!  Man-made traditions abounded at the time Messiah walked this earth!   As I continue to seek YHWH in living a life pleasing unto Him, I will be observing Passover as Messiah demonstrated.  Between sunset and dark following the 13th day, I will observe the Feast of YHWH's Passover in remembrance of deliverance by the blood of the Lamb.  The daylight hours of the 14th, although not a Holy Day, will be spent in remembrance of the price paid and preparation for the first day of the Week of Matzo, which is a Holy Day.

Through the Passover Seder I go over the list of plagues, read Exodus 12, giving thanks for deliverance, and thoroughly enjoy reading John's account of that last Passover Seder Messiah shared with his disciples.  Even though the traditional Haggadah is not at the table, the Passover Seder lasts well into the night!