Why is Passover significant for the Jewish people and for Jesus?

Answer 1

On the night of Christ's betrayal and arrest, He and the disciples had not long before finished celebrating the Passover meal at which the sacrament of Holy Communion was instituted by Christ himself.

Answer 2

As a Jew, I will only address the first part of the question.

Pesach (Passover) is important to us since in it we relive the Exodus from Egypt and our birth as a nation, both of which were preparations for receiving the Torah from God.

The highlight of Passover is the Seder meal. This meal is of great importance in Judaism. It is a 3325-year old continuous tradition that began on the night of the Exodus from Egypt (see Exodus chapter 12), and is fully detailed in our ancient Oral Traditions (Talmud, chapter Arvei Pesachim).

The Seder meal is one of those occasions, like Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, that Jews all over the world, Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike, observe in common. During the Seder, we keep the essential mitzva and customs of handing Jewish traditions down to the next generation, with the traditional Seder foods and the ceremony of reading the Passover Haggadah which retells the events of the Exodus.

During the Seder meal, other traditional foods are eaten in addition to the matzah: bitter herbs, parsley, wine and haroset (a mixture of apples, cinnamon, wine and nuts). Salt water, a roasted egg, and a bit of roasted meat are also on the table.

During all the days of Passover, matzah (unleavened bread) is eaten; while leavened foods such as bread, cake, cookies, cereal and pasta are forbidden. Certain prayers are added in the synagogue services, and the Torah is read each day.

Answer:

Passover was significant for Jesus for all the reasons above. Jesus was an Israelite, and he lived and practiced as a Galilean Jew. He Ministered to the Jewish community first. Then he expanded his ministry to the rest of the world. Jewish history is Christian history up to the time of Jesus. Many Christians even participate in seder meals, as well as there abilities allow, in commemoration of the Exodus.