Passover Meal 2012

On Sunday evening we had the pleasure of celebrating a Passover Meal. Last Easter we had our first Passover Meal as a family at home. It is something we plan to continue and it was made even more special as my mum was here to share it with us.

This Jewish festival is also called The Feast of the Unleavened Bread, referring to the fact that the Jews had no time to let their dough rise before fleeing Egypt. It is also called Pesach in Hebrew. The feast serves to commemorate the liberation of the children of Israel, as commanded by God.

In the northern hemisphere, the festival coincides with the arrival of spring, and families clean their homes in preparation for this special feast. As a symbol of open heartedness and hospitality, a place is set at the table for Elijah, the prophet who is expected to announce the coming of the Messiah.

We followed the example of Jesus, gathering with His disciples, the night before He died at the last supper.He celebrated the Passover feast, commemorating how God helped the Jews pass from slavery into freedom, in the exodus from Egypt. As Christians we remember how He has delivered us from sin and death by dying on the cross and passing over into risen life, which we now share with Him.

At the beginning of the celebration, leaven bread was burned ....
symbolising the removal of leaven bread from the home.
 After washing of hands , the mothers at the tables lit the candles on each table while praying a blessing.
Then the pouring of wine, the first cup, being blessed by the fathers at each table as the telling of the Passover began.

The sedar plate contained the bitter herbs, parsley dipped in salt water.....
reminding us of the tears shed by the Jews in Egypt and commemorating the crossing of the Red Sea.

The matzah was uncovered by the fathers, broken and shared.
 The matzah, symbolising the bread of affliction eaten in the land of Egypt.

The second cup of wine was poured before the narration of the deliverance from Egypt.
The youngest child present then asked the questions regarding this special night,
and why it was different to other nights?
 The father answered, explaining that we eat these bitter herbs to remind us of the hardships of the children of Israel in Egypt and in the desert.
 The eggs remind us of the new life in the promised land.
 The haroseth (chopped apples, nuts, honey and cinnamon), being symbolic of the clay and straw used by the Israelites in Egypt for building.
He explained the meaning of Pesach, the Passover Lamb,
sacrificed to God in memory of the night when the angel of death passed over the houses in Egypt.

We then ate, listening to a reading from Exodus. After sharing of matzah, the third cup of wine was poured as the blessing was said over the meal that followed.

What a delicious meal...lamb, potatoes and veg...followed by ice cream and chocolate sauce. 

After which the last of the matzah was unwrapped and distributed and the fourth cup of wine poured.
It was after He had eaten that Jesus took bread, gave thanks and
 broke it, giving it to His disciples, saying,
 "This is my body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of me,"
and the cup which He offered, giving thanks, saying,
 "This cup is God's new covenant sealed with my blood, which is poured out for you."

As believers, we know He is the unblemished Passover Lamb whose body was broken for us and whose blood was shed for us.
We are in awe of His grace and mercy extended to us, as He reigns forever in our hearts,
 cleansing us from unrighteousness and giving us new life.

What a special evening.