Steward's Portion

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AS CHRISTIANS, we celebrate Communion and remember Christ’s sacrifice, but most of us know very little about the actual dinner during which Christ broke the bread and passed the wine.  To the 12 disciples sitting at that table what took place had a much richer meaning.  The Jews had been celebrating Passover, the feast of Unleavened Bread for 1500 years prior to that night in keeping with God’s commandment to Israel when He delivered them from Egypt. In Exodus 12:17 we read: “You shall keep the feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this day I brought your companies out of the land of Egypt.  You shall observe this day throughout the generations as a practice for all times.”  There are many wonderful pictures that all point to Christ that can be uncovered in the Seder (the actual dinner & ritual celebrated during the feast of Unleavened Bread).  The following is a brief summary of the customs and their meanings.

Bedikat Chametz – Removal of Leaven

In preparation for the feast, a Jewish household not only abstains from eating anything leavened, but also completely clears their home of leaven.  “Exo 12:19-20 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.”

The purposeful clearing out leaven is meant to be a picture of our cleansing ourselves from sin.  During the time of the Exodus, the Israelites left Egypt in such haste that they did not even have time to let their bread rise and it was baked unleavened.   Paul reminds believers in 1Co 5:7-8 that the leaven we are to abstain from is sin.   ” Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:  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.”

Kiddush – The First Cup – The Cup Of Blessing (Sanctification)

During the course of the Seder dinner participants will drink 4 cups of wine, each celebrating one of the promises that God gave the Israelites in Exodus 6:6-7:

1) Cup Of Blessing (Sanctification):   “…I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians”

2) Cup of Plagues (Judgment): “…and I will deliver you from slavery to them”

3) Cup of Redemption (Suffering): “…and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm”

4) Cup of Praise (Joy): “…and I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God

Jesus prayed for His Church in John 17 regarding our sanctification, saying: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth… And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”   Jesus has provided a way for us to be delivered from the bondage of sin (our old taskmaster no less fierce than the Egyptians), this is indeed a blessing and we are to be sanctified by this truth.

Urchatz – The Washing Of Hands (without blessing)

This is not a washing of the hands for sanitary reasons, but one to demonstrate that we approach God with clean hands.

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. ”  (Psalm 24:3-5, KJV)

Karpas – Dipping Of The Parsley

A sprig of fresh parsley is dipped into saltwater (or vinegar) and eaten.  To the Jews, the green herb symbolized newness of life and the blessing of the fruit of the vine that God gives mankind.  During the Passover God’s people were instructed in Exo 12:22 to “take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning” thereby the angel of death would pass over and spare the first born among Israel.  If the parsley is dipped into saltwater it serves as a further reminder that the Israelites shed many tears while under bondage, as well as reminding them of the Red Sea which God split for them to walk across on dry land.    On yet another level it also reminds the Jews that it was Joseph’s tunic being dipped into blood that led to the Israelites going down into Egypt in the first place.  To the Christian it also reminds us that as Jesus hung on the cross he was offered a bunch of hyssop that had been dipped in vinegar to ease His thirst, after which He said “it is finished” (John 19:29).

Yachatz- Breaking the Middle Matzah

On the Seder will be a napkin (or fancier silk bag sometimes called a matzah tosh) in which three matzah crackers are wrapped.  The middle one is removed and broken.  One half of the broken matzah is replaced, while the other half (now called an Afikomen) is wrapped in a white linen and hidden away until the end of the meal.  To the Jew, the matzah represents the unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, as well as the pascal lamb which was slain (symbolized by being broken) whose blood was then used to paint the door lintels so the angel of death would pass-over.

To the Christian the matzah has an even richer meaning.  The three matzah crackers represent the trinity of God,  separate yet one, God the Father, God the Son (the middle Matzah) and God the Holy Spirit.  God the Son came down from Heaven (symbolized by being removed from the napkin with the other two matzahs) and was broken for us.  His broken body was then hidden in the grace for 3 days.

It is worth pausing to reflect on the traditional matzah cracker which has been made in the same way since the beginning of this Feast.

It is unleavened, symbolizing that Jesus has no sin.  It is striped just as Jesus bore stripes while he was scourged.   It is also bruised (toasted) just as He was bruised.  And finally it is also pierced, just as Jesus was pierced by soldier after He died.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  (Isaiah 53:5, KJV)

But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:  But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.  (John 19:33-34, KJV)

Maggid/Makkot – The Story of Passover/ The Second Cup

During the Seder the story of Exodus is read aloud.    Through a mighty hand God poured out plagues on the Egyptians until Pharaoh let His people go.   The final plague, the death of the firstborn required that the Israelites slay a lamb whose blood would cause the angel of death to pass-over them.  As Christians we understand that Jesus has become the Lamb of God whose blood has taken away our sin.

The second cup of wine, the Cup Of  Plagues is drunk after the recounting of the passover story. Traditionally a drop of wine is spilled from the cup for each of the ten plagues. A  full cup is a symbol of joy and we do not rejoice even at the death of the Egyptians for we are all descendants of Adam and God does not rejoice that any should perish.

Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.  (Matthew 18:14, KJV)

Rachatz -The Washing Of The Hands

At this point in the Seder there is a second washing of the hands, this time with a blessing recited.   It was at this time that Jesus humbled Himself and washed His disciples feet during the Last Supper.

” He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.”  (John 13:4, KJV)

Maror -Eating Of The Bitter Herbs

A piece of matzah is now dipped into a mixture of Charoseth (apples, nuts, honey, cinnamon) which is sweet tasting but resembles the mortar the Israelites used with their bricks.  The matzah is then dipped into a dish of horseradish.   This is done to symbolize that even during times of bitterness, God is faithful to bring moments of sweetness.

The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.  (Proverbs 27:7, KJV)

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalms 119:103, KJV)

Shulchan Orech – The Passover Supper

3500 years ago the Israelites ate their roasted lamb with their shoes on their feet, their staffs in hand, ready to run out the door to freedom.  Traditionally since then the Passover supper is eaten reclining and at rest.   Upon the Seder plate placed in the middle of the table you will find several items:

• a lamb bone:  symbolizing the slain lamb by whose blood death passed-over the Israelites
• horseradish: the bitter herb as a reminder of the bitterness of slavery
• charoseth: the sweet apple mixture that looks like brick mortar
• parsley: the green herb, reminiscent of the hyssop used to apply the lambs blood
• a roasted egg: a symbol of mourning for the destruction of the temple
• matzah: symbolizing the slain lamb

 

Tzaphun – Eating the Afikomen   &  Ha-geulah -The Third Cup    (COMMUNION)

The Afikomen is retrieved and everyone at the table partakes of a piece of the matzah cracker.  Then the third cup is blessed and enjoyed by all of the guests.  This is the part in the meal where Jesus instituted the communion remembrance.

He took the Afikomen, which represented His broken body which would lie in the grave for 3 days, broke it and had each of the disciples eat.  He then took the third cup, the Cup of Redemption/Suffering and stated that this was His blood, the blood with which He would make a new covenant, and had each of them drink.  He commanded that from that point forward the re-enactment of the bread/wine were to be done in remembrance of Him.  Also of special significance is the custom of proposing marriage in the Jewish culture.  A man would lift a cup of wine, bless it, drink from it, and offer it to his beloved, if she chose to drink from the same cup, they were legally betrothed to one another and nothing but a divorce would legally divide the two.  The wedding would take place usually about a year later after the bridegroom had departed to go prepare a place for his new wife to dwell with him.  Jesus, as our Bridegroom God, proposed to his Bride, The Church, by offering her the cup of suffering.  If we chose to drink of the cup which He offers us, we are His!  We can be certain that He will return for us, He even promised to go prepare a place for us in Heaven.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.  (Matthew 26:26-29 , KJV)

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  (John 14:2-3, KJV)

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.  (Revelation 5:13, KJV)

Looking for Elijah

Since the days of the prophet Malachi, traditionally a place is set at the Seder table for the prophet Elijah.  It was understood by the Jews that the Messiah would not come  before Elijah had come back.   A cup of wine would be poured and a child sent to the door to see if Elijah had come to the feast.  We know that John the Baptist came in the Spirit of Elijah before Jesus’ arrival, and that the Spirit of Elijah (and perhaps Elijah Himself if you hold to the understanding that He is one of the two witnesses mentioned in Revelation) will again be poured out in advance of Jesus’ second coming.

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:  (Malachi 4:5, KJV)

And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.  (Mark 9:11-13, KJV)

Hallel – The Fourth Cup

The Seder dinner concludes with the Fourth Cup, the Cup of Praise.    The last cup speaks of the time when God will gather all Israel unto Himself.   “Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad” (Psalm 14:7, KJV).   To the Christian we are to understand that one day both believing Jew & Gentiles will be gathered together as the Bride of Christ at the marriage feast of the Lamb.

The night of the Last Supper, Jesus did not drink the fourth cup, instead saying that He would wait and drink it with His Bride in Heaven.

But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.  (Matthew 26:29, KJV)

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. …Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb….”  (Revelation 19:7-9, KJV)

In Conclusion

Jesus humbled Himself to the point of washing the feet of His disciples and willingly became our perfect sinless Passover Lamb.  H shed His blood to cover our sins  just as the Israelites could not have escaped death without shedding lamb’s blood during their Exodus from Egypt.  Jesus’ blood is also the blood by which the new covenant was sealed, the very wine of Redemption and Suffering from which He drank He now offers us as we consent to become His Bride.  He broke the Afikomen  (the matzah cracker that represented His own body). The Afikomen which represented that God literally come down from heaven, a matzah cracker that was bruised, striped and pierced just as He was about to become.   Jesus abstained from drinking the cup of Praise during the Last Supper, instead chosing to wait until we all drink it together in His Kingdom.   From the bitterness of the horseradish, to the sweetness of the charoseth, each element in the Seder dinner speaks of the Exodus of the Israelites and our own Salvation which was accomplished in full by Jesus.