What Holy Days did Jesus Christ and His disciples keep? While most do not know what they are or observe them today, these days are packed with spiritual meaning.

Leviticus 23 outlines these observances, beginning with Passover and continuing with the Days of Unleavened Bread and Pentecost. God’s Holy Days are not just cultural customs—they are commanded directly in Scripture and remain relevant thousands of years later.

Jesus Christ kept the Passover with His disciples, transforming its symbols into a reminder of His sacrifice (Luke 22:15-20; Matt. 26:17-30; John 13:1-17). The New Testament records the early Church observing the Days of Unleavened Bread as a time of spiritual reflection and growth (Acts 12:3; I Cor. 5:8). Weeks after Jesus’ resurrection, His disciples received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41).

These three observances, known collectively as the Spring Holy Days, teach important lessons about redemption, renewal and spiritual transformation. They remind us of how God delivers His people, cleanses them from sin, empowers them through His Spirit and prepares them for His coming Kingdom. Later in the year, another series of observances called the Fall Holy Days further reveal additional aspects of how God works with mankind.

By taking a closer look at the Spring Holy Days, we learn about God’s incredible Plan—and have an opportunity to deepen our relationship with Him.

Passover

God first commanded Passover when He freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt: “This day shall be to you for a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations” (Ex. 12:14). Leviticus 23 explains when it was observed: “In the fourteenth day of the first month [the Hebrew month of Abib] at even is the Lord’s passover” (vs. 5).

The Israelites put lamb’s blood on their doorposts, and God protected them while He judged Egypt (Ex. 12:1-14). Israel continued observing Passover after entering the Promised Land (Josh. 5:10-12). The Bible highlights notable Passover observances during times of spiritual renewal, such as King Hezekiah’s reforms (II Chron. 30).

Jesus Christ’s final Passover meal with His disciples added new depth to the observance. As the Lamb of God (John 1:29), He transformed the symbols of bread and wine into representations of His body and blood (Luke 22:15-20; Matt. 26:17-30).

During the meal, Jesus introduced the practice of footwashing, demonstrating humility and service: “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15). This ceremony reminds Church members to approach God and others with a spirit of humility and love.

For Christians, Passover involves a unique church service that is a humbling experience bringing the true weight of sin into focus. Sin carries a cost (Rom. 6:23), a price that Jesus Christ paid. The symbols of bread and wine that Church members take during the service are not empty rituals. They represent the profound reality of His suffering and sacrifice.

Leading up to Passover, Christians go through a time of renewal, taking the opportunity to examine themselves, reflect on personal shortcomings, and recognize areas where spiritual growth is needed (I Cor. 11:28-29). It is a time to recommit to following Christ’s example by not only remembering His sacrifice but also striving to overcome sin.

When fully understood, Passover becomes a yearly milestone in a Christian’s spiritual journey—a time to assess their growth over the past year and set new spiritual goals. These could include strengthening their prayer life, deepening their study of God’s Word or repairing relationships in the spirit of love and forgiveness.

Passover lifts any burden of guilt and regret from those who partake. It provides the comforting reassurance that, through Christ’s sacrifice, God forgives them.

The Days of Unleavened Bread

Right after Passover, God commands His people to observe the Days of Unleavened Bread: “On the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to the Lord: seven days you must eat unleavened bread” (Lev. 23:6).

This week-long festival deepens the lessons of repentance and renewal.

The observance begins with a special evening meal known as the Night to Be Much Observed (Ex. 12:42), commemorating Israel’s exodus from Egypt. It is a joyful occasion, reminding modern Christians that just as God delivered ancient Israel from physical slavery, He delivers His people today from the bondage of sin. Church services are held on the first and last days of Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:7-8).

In the time leading up to this festival, God’s people carefully remove all leaven—baking soda, yeast and products that contain them—from their homes. This simple task carries a profound spiritual meaning.

Leaven symbolizes sin. Just as physical leaven spreads in dough (I Cor. 5:6-8), sin spreads and influences everything it touches. Leaven also causes bread to puff up. Pride does this to people spiritually (Col. 2:18). The process of searching for and removing physical leaven serves as a reminder to examine one’s life for spiritual sin that may have crept in unnoticed.

Just as Christians cleanse their homes of leaven, they must also cleanse their hearts and minds of wrong habits, attitudes and influences.

Unleavened Bread is a time of conscious effort—not just avoiding sin but actively replacing it with righteousness. The unleavened bread eaten for those seven days represents sincerity and truth (I Cor. 5:8). This practice serves as a reminder that overcoming sin requires deliberate action and humility.

For families, this process becomes a powerful teaching tool. Leading up to the festival, parents and children work together to remove leaven from their homes, illustrating the importance of following God’s commands.

Observing the Days of Unleavened Bread reinforces the truth that repentance is more than seeking forgiveness—it involves real, lasting change.

The Israelites’ hasty departure from Egypt symbolizes breaking free from the bondage of sin, but things did not end there. Their journey toward the Promised Land illustrates the process of spiritual growth.

Pentecost

Pentecost means “fifty.” It comes fifty days after the weekly Sabbath during Unleavened Bread. Also known as the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Firstfruits, it originally celebrated the early harvest and God’s provision: “You shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath…Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall you number fifty days; and you shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord” (Lev. 23:15-16).

In the New Testament, Pentecost’s significance expanded with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4)—and the building of the Church of God (Matt. 16:18).

The apostle Peter’s sermon on that day connected this event to Old Testament prophecy: “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh’” (Acts 2:16-17). His message moved thousands to repentance, and about 3,000 people were baptized that day (vs. 38-41).

Like the early Church, Christians today gather to hear God’s Word preached on Pentecost.

Pentecost emphasizes unity. When God gave His Holy Spirit, people from diverse backgrounds and languages heard the gospel in their own tongues (Acts 2:6-11).

The apostle Paul observed Pentecost during his travels (Acts 20:16), showing its continued importance.

Pentecost is an incredibly comforting day. It reminds God’s people that He does not expect them to rely on their own strength. He provides the Holy Spirit, a source of divine power to help them overcome weaknesses, resist temptation and grow in faith.

Consider Christ’s disciples before and after receiving the Holy Spirit. Before Pentecost, they were often fearful and uncertain. Afterward, they became bold, confident and unwavering in their mission.

God’s Spirit is still available today, giving strength beyond what we can do on our own.

Perhaps someone has struggled with a bad habit, a lack of faith or another area of character development. Pentecost reassures them that change is possible—not through human effort alone, but through God’s transformative power.

In today’s divided world, Pentecost reinforces the importance of working together, supporting one another and building strong relationships.

It is a time to reflect on how individual Christians can contribute to the unity of God’s Church and strengthen the bonds they share with others.

Proof These Days Are Not Done Away

Some people think that God’s Holy Days ended after Christ’s death and resurrection. Yet both the Old and New Testaments show their continued relevance.

Jesus declared: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17). His example shows that fulfilling the law means magnifying its meaning, not eliminating it.

Paul told the Corinthian church to observe these days: “Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (I Cor. 5:8).

He also emphasized the ongoing observance of Passover: “For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord’s death till He come” (11:26).

The book of Acts provides further evidence. The apostles continued to observe God’s appointed times. Acts 12:3 mentions the Days of Unleavened Bread. And Acts 2:1 states, “When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

These verses show that the early Church did not abandon God’s Holy Days. The Church of God continues to keep these days today.

Discover More

God’s Holy Days should not be viewed as obligations or rules to follow—they are gifts that bring joy, faith and a closer relationship with our Creator. They offer a kind of fulfillment that secular holidays and human traditions simply cannot provide.

Will you take the time to study these days for yourself? Will you challenge what you have always believed and search for the truth in God’s Word?

To explore further, we invite you to read {@543}God’s Holy Days or Pagan Holidays?{/@} This free resource explains much more of what the Bible says about these days, when they should be kept, and why God’s Holy Days matter today.