Passover is a Festival of Freedom. It is the festival in which we recall how the Almighty released our forefathers from slavery in Mitzrayim/Egypt and freed a people from bondage with an unprecedented and Mighty Hand. Passover is one of the three yearly Pilgrim Festivals. The month of Nisan, in which Passover occurs, also commences the religious calendar for all of Israel.
A person, family, or fellowship of like minded people, observe this God ordained time to remember the events and miracles that occurred while the children of Israel were enslaved in Egypt. This was a time when the God of Israel showed all of Egypt that He was greater than all of their gods combined. Egyptians watched as a group of insignificant slaves were Redeemed so that they could serve and worship the true and living God. This redemption came at a cost, which involved the shed blood (sacrifice) of a spotless lamb in every household that evening. This historical event foreshadowed the one true Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world (Yochanan/John 1:29) and would redeem us from the bondage of sin.
Pesach/Passover happens in the spring of the year, on the 14th day of the Hebrew month Nisan. It was the day that God delivered His people from Mitzrayim/Egypt. God's deliverance was so awesome, that the calendar was forever changed. The month of Nisan (known as Aviv/Abib before the Babylonian captivity) became the first month of the Hebrew religious calendar from then on, as ordered by God in Shemot/Exodus 12:2. Pesach is a one day feast that is immediately followed by the seven-day Hag HaMatzot/Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Readings for Pesach:
B'rit Chadashah - Matthew 26:1-27:61, Mark 5:24-34, Luke 8:42-48, Hebrews 13:4
The Almighty rescued His people after they spent over four hundred years in Mitzrayim/Egypt, several hundred of that in absolute bondage under the hand of Pharaoh. God brought several miraculous plagues upon the land of Mitzrayim. His messengers, Moshe/Moses and Aaron, entreated Pharaoh to "Let My people go" several times during these judgments. Pharaoh always resisted. A final terrible plague was to be brought upon Egypt by the God of Israel to trigger the deliverance of His people. The Lord required a ceremony to be performed, during this last plague upon Egypt. Those who followed the Lord's instructions would be preserved. The instructions centered around a lamb, but also included a requirement to partake of symbolic foods (as a remembrance throughout the generations).
A lamb, one "without blemish, a male of the first year (Shemot/Exodus 12:5)," was selected by the head of each household on the 10th of Nisan and kept for four days. On the 14th of Nisan the lamb was to be killed, and it's blood applied to the lintel and two sideposts of the home's main door. After the children of Israel had applied the blood of the lamb to their houses, the lamb was to be roasted with fire. This part of the ceremony was to portray the judgment that would befall the lamb instead of the firstborn. Matzah was also to be eaten with the meal, symbolizing the purity of the sacrifice (as leaven is often used as a symbol of sin). Finally, bitter herbs were eaten with the lamb as well, as a reminder of the suffering of the innocent lamb.
God instructed the people to eat the lamb (with the matzah and herbs) in haste and to be dressed and ready to leave Mitzrayim at midnight.
This would be the 15th day of Nisan (Shemot/Exodus 12:10-11). During this midnight hour was when the plague of the"Death Angel" or the "Destroyer" would pass through the land and take the life of all first born sons (old and young alike).
The children of Israel, along with their firstborn, were spared this terrible loss by following God's instructions - by putting the blood of a lamb upon the lintel and doorposts of their homes (Shemot/Exodus 12:3-7). In this amazing historical event, the Lord "passed over" (i.e. Pesach/Passover) the houses of the believers who had obeyed His command of applying the blood. God spared the lives of Israel's eldest sons, but He "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" as recorded in Shemot/Exodus 12:30. The "Death Angel," or the "Destroyer," was authorized to take away the lives of all who refused to obey the Lord's commandment to apply the lamb's blood. After this mighty plague had performed it's commission, the children of Israel along with a mixed multitude of people walked out of Egypt with great spoils and in great numbers (Shemot/Exodus 12:31-42).
God declared that Pesach be observed as a memorial forever (Shemot/Exodus 12:14) and it was to be kept as a service (Shemot/Exodus 12:25). The service included the lamb, matzah, and bitter herbs and to raise questions in the minds of children in order to rehearse the Exodus story in every generation (verse 26 & 27). The God of Israel also ordained many other observances to commemorate this moment in Exodus 12:43-13:16 (such as treating the first born as consecrated to Him).
Much later, a traditionalized Passover service began to emerge. This service was called the Seder from the Hebrew word meaning "order." In this ritual, a prescribed order of Scripture readings, prayers, songs, and foods are followed. The basic parts of this Seder have survived the past 2000 years, even though it has changed to varying levels. The modern passover service can be quite lengthy, with many interactive readings in the Haggadah.
Yeshua is seen as our Passover Lamb(1 Kefa/I Peter 1:19), and our Eternal Redemption. He was prophesied about, in this capacity, in Yesha'yahu/Isaiah 53. John the Baptist identified Yeshua as THE Lamb (Yochanan/John 1:29) who takes away the sin of the world, and takes our place just as the Passover lamb did. Rav Sha'ul/Paul lets us know how to become unleavened lives, through remembering that Yeshua was free of sin and sacrificed for us( 1 Corinthians 5:7). Once you've understood the Love and Gift we've been given, by Him who became sin for us,"who knew no sin" (2Corinthians 5:21)...it's very hard NOT to understand the taste of bitter herbs involved.
Historically, the Pesach in Mitzrayim can be seen in the fulfillment and representation of the Lamb of God. This Lamb, Yeshua HaMashiach/Jesus Christ also took part in the Passover services as a child (Luke 2:41&42). As an adult He expressed His desire to observe the Passover with His talmidim (Luke 22:15-16). Yeshua took part in a Passover with His disciples and compared Himself, and His approaching Redemptive Act, to the items in the Passover Seder. There are several accounts in the Gospels of Mattityahu/Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Yochanan/John to reflect this (see Luke 22:14-20 and also 1 Corinthians 11:22-29). See the Scriptures section on this page for more verses.
During the week of our Lord's Passover (with Yeshua/Jesus), a chain of events occurred that paralleled that of the Pesach ritual.
On
the 10th of Nisan they would select from their flock or purchase from the
priests their Pascal lamb. It would have been tied in a prominent place to
be examined for the coming service.
,
and keep it a "home thing." Others like to gather with a group of
like-minded people and observe the commandment within a group setting (with
their "family of God" around them). Shemot/Exodus 12:3-4 can lend
some guidance with your decision making here, along with prayer and further
study, and other considerations. 
hands (U'rechatz);
eat a vegetable dipped in salt water (Karpas); break the middle matzah
(Yachatz); narrate the Exodus story and drink the Deliverance cup (Maggid);
wash hands prior to the meal (Rachtzah); recite blessings over matzah (Matzah)
and bitter herbs (Maror); eat a sandwich of matzah and bitter herbs (Korech);
prepare the table and eat the festive meal (Shulchan Orech); eat the discovered
Afikomen(Tzafun) the bread of Yeshua/Jesus;
recite blessings after the meal(Barech); drink the Redemption cup which is the
cup of Yeshua/Jesus; sing the Hallel(Hallel);
drink the cup of Completion; and pray that God would accept our observance and
that Moshiach/Messiah come speedily!(Nirtzah)
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. Shemot (Exodus) 12:1-14
Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'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. And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. Shemot (Exodus) 12:21-28
And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD 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. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. Shemot (Exodus) 12:29&30
And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men. And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. (Shemot/Exodus 12:31-36) Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations. Shemot (Exodus) 12:40-42
And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover.... Shemot (Exodus) 12:43
All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. Shemot (Exodus) 12:47
One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies. Shemot (Exodus) 12:49-51
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover. Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:2,4-5
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Yochanan (John) 1:29
...For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us (1Corinthians 5:7)
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7)
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: I Kefa (I Peter) 1:18&19
And he (Yeshua/Jesus) sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. (Luke 22:8)
And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. (Luke 22:14-16)