Since the destroyer went through the land at midnight on the fourteenth day of the first month,  it was essential to put the token of blood upon the doorposts before MIDNIGHT. The lamb was slain immediately after sunset ending the thirteenth and beginning the fourteenth day or there would have been NO passing over.  With no blood upon the doorposts at midnight the firstborn of Israel would have been killed.  Further, the command to burn any part of the lamb left over in the morning, makes it obvious that it was intended that the PASSOVER be eaten before morning.  Of necessity, it would have been killed and roasted during the previous evening.

This was to be observed as a memorial forever Ex 12:14.  Some of the specifics however, were meant for that particular night only.  For they were commanded not to go out of their houses during the night Ex 12:22.  This was to keep them under the token of blood, lest being out in the streets and not under that sign, they be killed.  Our LORD, the very one who commanded these things went out after the Passover meal into the garden, showing that that command was no longer binding but was just meant for the dangers of that one night JOH 18:1.  Likewise THE NECESSITY OF PUTTING BLOOD UPON DOORPOSTS AND OF KILLING THE LAMB BEFORE MIDNIGHT NO LONGER EXISTS.  As long as the sacrifice took place on the fourteenth day of the first month, as a memorial, the timing was no longer important.  This is shown by the fact that our LORD was sacrificed on the afternoon of the fourteenth day.

NEVERTHELESS, the example of our LORD in taking the PASSOVER during the evening beginning the fourteenth day should be sufficient for us Mat 26:17-20.  It is clear that He had to observe this PASSOVER at this time, in view of His imminent arrest and murder.  Since the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed at the TEMPLE, it is also clear that these sacrifices were occurring through the whole day beginning at sunset starting the fourteenth day, in Judea at that time.  It is also interesting that none of the scripture writers comment that this timing was in any way unusual.

SYMBOLISM

Jesus Christ, our Passover sacrificed for us 1 Cor 5:7.  The LAMB slain from the foundation of the world Rev 13:8.  ALL SACRIFICES represent Jesus Christ, our maker giving Himself for His creation.  The PASSOVER lamb pictures Christ atoning for the sins of His called out ones.  As Israel was the called out of Egypt, the firstfruits have been called out of the spiritual Egypt of this society. As the blood of the lamb was put on the doorposts of Israel, so Christ's blood has been placed upon the doorposts of our hearts, shed for the remission of sin Mat 26:28.  For without shedding of blood there is no remission Heb 9:22.  Christ paying the penalty for our sins, we come under His protection.  AS Israel was called out, we are called out, one being a type of the other.

Christ did not change the symbols of PASSOVER, to unleavened bread and wine, for they  were always associated with PASSOVER and the law of sacrifice, being the MEAT offering (grain or meal) and the Drink offering. The unleavened bread represents the broken body of Christ, but it also represents Christ as the bread of life Mat 26:26 and Joh 6:48.  The wine represents the shed blood of our LORD.  Taking the bread and wine demonstrates that we should be taking Christ into ourselves, that we should become like Him.  Keeping the Father's commandments and allowing Christ to live within us.  Following His example and allowing His will and the Father's will to be performed in us, that we might be conformed into the image (a likeness, a replica) of the SON OF GOD Rom 8:28-29, so that Christ might have MANY BRETHREN and the Father might have MANY CHILDREN.  We must become LIKE HIM. HE KEPT HIS FATHER'S COMMANDMENTS Joh 15:10.  TO BE LIKE HIM, WE MUST ALSO KEEP THE FATHER'S COMMANDMENTS!

It should be noted here that the bread and wine taken at PASSOVER represent Christ, the true LAMB of God.  This is true not only of the PASSOVER service but of the entire seven days of unleavened bread.  This festival pictures not only the putting out of the leaven of sin, it also pictures the taking into ourselves the perfect nature of Jesus Christ. Therefore great care should be taken in ensuring that the bread and wine used are fitting symbols.  The commercially available kosher for Passover labelled white flour matzoth lacking nutritional value and devoid of salt Lev 2:13 and made without oil is DEFINITELY NOT a fitting symbol of the wholesomeness and purity and perfection that is Christ. 

Unleavened bread should be made with the best available stone ground whole wheat flour, seasoned with salt and made with extra virgin olive oil and the purest possible water.  One should avoid using regular table salt which is iodized and filled with anti caking agents,  use only pure salt.  You are the salt of the earth Mat 5:13.  It is because of your   REPENTANCE and the INDWELLING of CHRIST that you may be accounted righteous and enabled to keep God's commandments.  This makes you very special and your presence on the earth makes the earth worth saving.   The olive oil pictures the holy spirit, the water, the living waters and the whole wheat,  the wholesomeness and purity of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ knowing that He was come from God, arose and washed the feet of His disciples Joh 13:1-17.  He did this as an example of service Joh 13:16 and Luk 22:25-27.  ONLY those who become like Christ, who DO the Father's WILL may enter God's Kingdom!  Those who Love God and Man Mat 22:37-39 with ALL their hearts!  Christ and the Father hate the deeds of the NICOLATIANS REV 2:6 and Rev 2:15. There is NO place in the Father's Kingdom for POWER DRUNK, DOMINATING, TYRANTS who are so PETTY, SELFISH, CONTROLLING and SMALL MINDED that they feel justified in dictating everything a person does, even down to telling people when and how to cut their hair.  Such LITTLE men will NEVER be allowed to occupy positions of AUTHORITY or even be allowed to ENTER the GLORIOUS KINGDOM OF GOD!