Seder (Say-der) Dinner Participants Notes Read Exodus 12:1-31 and/or watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFU5NrPgutA&t=27s Feast of Passover Also Known as Pesach “to pass over” Observed 14 Nisan (March or April) (in Exodus 12 God established the order of the months which dictates the timing of the feasts they were to observe) Passover is a one-day celebration followed by a seven-day festival called unleavened bread (Matzah) Jesus’ parents traveled to Jerusalem yearly to celebrate Passover. At age 12, Jesus went with them. In many Passover seders, Israel’s past deliverance is emphasized. However, in Messianic Passover seders, we emphasize that God accomplished our past redemption in order to give hope for the future, specifically as it pertains to the Messiah and His deliverance. Celebrate the deliverance from bondage in Egypt and its personal application to us today. Remembrance of the Lords passing over the houses of the Israelites while destroying the first born in all of Egypt. Feast of Unleavened Bread (Matzah) This 7-day feast is to start on the 15th day of Nisan, the same month as Passover, at twilight. The first and last days are to be Sabbaths. These Sabbaths differ from the weekly Sabbath (Saturday) and may occur on any day of the week. No unleavened bread eaten during this time. All yeast goods are removed as we remember all that yeast represents in the scriptures. 1 Feast of First fruits-Reishit (Re-Sheet) Takes place during the feast of Passover. Was a picture of the resurrection of the Messiah. 1 Corinthians 15:20 Messiah is the first fruits of the dead. We look at the death burial and resurrection of our messiah. In Passover his death as lamb of God. In unleavened bread the removing of sin in that the lamb of God takes away the sins of the world. In first fruits the resurrection of the Messiah who has fulfilled the law, became sin for us, died in our place, and was raised to life so that we might live in Him. (move to the table to begin the Seder Dinner) 2 Reasons for Unleavened Bread (Matzah) 1. Historical-The first Passover command to be ready Deut. 16:3 the bread of haste. (didn’t have the luxury to wait for the bread to rise) (had to be ready to move on Gods command) 2. Leaven is a picture of sin, pride, and unbelief. Leviticus 2:11 1 Corinthians 8:1 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 1 John 1:9 Elijah Tradition: Herald of the Lord (seating) Empty chair for Elijah who through tradition he will come at Passover and be the herald of the Lords coming. Malachi 3-4 (Elijah) John 1:29 (John the Baptist would be the herald who fulfilled this tradition) The Haggadah (Ha-Ga-dah) means the telling and refers to the book used to explain the Seder service. IF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE FULL SEDER DINNER, THERE IS A COMPLETE HAGGADAH BEGINNING ON PAGE 9 OF THIS DOCUMENT. Four Cups (4 blessings taken from Exodus 6:6-7) (Make sure everyone has a “cup of the vine”) The Seder Plate (meal plate) Each item is a reminder of the bitterness of bondage as well as redemption from bondage. 2 Passover Bitter herbs (Maror) Roasted, hard-boiled Egg (Betzah) Shank bone (Zeroah) Charoset Greens, like parsley (Karpas) Bitter herbs, like horseradish (Maror) SEDER PLATE 3 4 5 1. The Cup of Sanctification remembers, “I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” (Bless the cup) Parsley (karpas) Each person dips his sprig of parsley into salt water and after the traditional Hebrew prayer is chanted, it is eaten together. The green parsley, by its color, illustrates our lives, and the salt water our tears. In bondage our lives ere drenched in grief and tears. Messiah came to bear our sorrows from sin, and just as God delivered the Jewish people through the salty Red Sea, He also wipes away every bitter tear. “Isaiah 53:3-4 He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Afikomen (Ah-fee-KO-men) (that which comes after) The highlight during the first cup section is the removal of what is called the Afikomen (Ah-fee-KO- men). On the Passover table there is a matzah bag containing three slices of matzah. This bag is also called the Echad, or unity. In a traditional Jewish Seder dinner, there are many explanations around why 3. 1. Unity bread represents the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As the second or middle Patriarch, Isaac, alone was taken out in Genesis 22 to be sacrificed, so also the middle slice of matzah alone was taken out at this time. 2. Unity bread represented the people of Israel, the priesthood, and the Lord. As the middle section alone, the priesthood made sacrifices to reconcile God and man, so also the middle slice of matzah alone was taken out and broken. At this point in the seder, the head of the house removes the middle piece of matzah, breaks it in half, wraps one half in a white linen cloth and hides it. This hidden piece of matzah becomes the Afikomen, which stays hidden until a child finds it during the third cup section. The child redeems this back to the head of the house and receives a prize. 3. From a messianic perspective we can clearly see the unity bread represents the triune God revealed in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The picture of the Afikomen clearly becomes Christ, who was broken and hidden away in a tomb for three days and brings redemption and salvation to all who search for Him. The tradition of removal and hiding of the middle piece or afikomen. There are many different historical interpretations for this tradition. For a messianic Jew it has a very clear purpose. When this loaf was broken at the start of the dinner, it symbolized the breaking of the body of the son of God who is our high priest (psalm 110). When the loaf was wrapped in linen, it spoke prophetically of the wrapping of the body of Christ in linen after the crucifixion. When the broken and wrapped bread was put under the pillow, it symbolized his burial in the sepulcher of Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57-60). Now after the meal is over, the pillow is removed, reminding us of the stone that was removed by the angel (matt 28:1-2). 6 Then the wrapped loaf is taken out and unwrapped. It signifies the resurrection. The bread is broken into small pieces and every member of the family talks one and eats it. This signifies the believers feeding upon the bread of life, the Lord Jesus Christ (john 6:35). And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to them saying this is my body which is given for you. End first cup. 2. The Cup of Plagues remembers, “I will deliver you from their bondage.” (bless the cup) The matzah is passed around and each person breaks off a piece and together we recited: “Blessed are you O Lord our God King of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the ground.” Next there is a second partaking of the bitter herbs. This time the horseradish or maror in Hebrew. The host takes a piece of matzah and dips it into the maror making sure he puts enough on to bring a tear to his eye when he eats. He then passes it around the table so each person can put maror on a piece of matzah. (Exodus 12:8) It is possible that this is the point where Jesus indicated the impending betrayal by one of His own disciples, “Behold the hand of him that betrays me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goes as it was determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed.” (Luke 22:21-22) This was the fulfillment of David’s prophesy from Psalm 41:9, “even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.” Close this portion out with the enjoyment of the meal. This meal is a time of celebration and rejoicing. At the end of the meal the kids are instructed to go search for the hidden Afikomen (Ah-fee-KO-men) which means that which comes after or dessert. The child who finds it gets a reward. The hosts takes the bread out of the clothe. This now pictures the last sacrifice for redemption. Break off a small piece and hand everyone a piece. Along with a piece of matzah we will partake of the third cup. 3. The Cup of Redemption remembers, “I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgements.” (bless the cup) Luke 22:19-20 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me. He was clearly showing them that He is the sacrificial lamb. ”Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. This was even more shocking statement than the other. He was clearly showing them that He was the Messiah and instituting the new covenant. 7 4.