There are two Jewish festivals this season. The first one, the Passover, begins this evening. The second one, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, will begin by tomorrow at sunset and will last seven days.
The feast of Passover is a meal of remembrance. God commanded Israel to observe the Passover as a memorial day to remember how He saved them from slavery in Egypt through His acts of judgment.
This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. - Exodus 12:14
FULFILMENT: As Christians, we celebrate God’s salvation. We were not slaves in Egypt. We were slaves to sin, striving to live according to the desires of the world and our sinful nature. But God sent Jesus to save us. Today, we remember how Jesus, the Lamb of God, died in our place to save us. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of His Son Jesus Christ. We will be saved from condemnation.
God commanded Israel to observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days after the Passover. The Israelites cleansed their houses of all leaven (yeast).
Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day, you shall remove leaven out of your houses … and you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. - Exodus 2:15, 17.
FULFILMENT: As Christians, we consider Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who was sacrificed once for all for the sins of the world. We do not have to perform any animal sacrifice. But we need to remove the “leaven” of sin from our lives.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church:
Don’t you know that a little leavening leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old leavening, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. – 1 Cor. 5:6-8
A Christian’s life must be free from sin throughout his time on earth, not just for seven days—as in the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Therefore, we must observe the Lord’s Table after a thorough introspection.
There are four cups of wine in this meal. That is, we fill our cups four times.
These four cups are to remind us of the four-fold promises God gave to Israelites who were slaves in Egypt.
The Order
Shulchan Orech - Serve the main meal
Let’s begin.
Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?”
He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. - Matt. 26:17-19
Pour first cup of wine
LEADER: And Jesus took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. – Luke 22:17-18
“Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, Melekh ha’olam, bo’re p’ri hagefen.”
Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine. We give thanks this day to you, God of creation. For you have redeemed us from the oppressive powers of death and freed us from slavery to sin. You have provided the greatest Exodus through the blood of the Passover lamb, Ye’shua.
ALL: Amen in the name of Ye’shua!
LEADER: Blessed are you, King of creation, who has sanctified us through your living word. Who has appointed times of remembrance and celebration. Be with us as we join you in celebrating your redemptive love through the Passover Seder as we recall the time in ancient Egypt where the Israelites were slaves, but also as we recall our own exodus from slavery to sin.
ALL: Amen, in the name of Ye’shua!
(The whole meal is thus set apart as holy or sanctified unto God.)
Drink from the first cup of wine
The Washing of the Hands.1
LEADER: This is a time for introspection and confession of sins. The apostle Paul warned the early Church,
“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.2
LEADER: In order to partake of this meal in a worthy manner, it is good to remind ourselves of these things.
ALL: “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in His holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.” (Psalm 24:3-4)
LEADER: A Prayer of Repentance
LEADER: The parsley on our plates symbolizes the hyssop used to place the blood of the Passover lamb upon the doorposts and lintels of the homes of the children of Israel during the tenth and most terrible plague that the Lord visited upon Egypt—the slaying of the firstborn. The salt water represents the tears of the children of Israel in their slavery.
All participants take a small piece of celery or parsley and dip it into the salt water bowl, but don’t eat it yet.
LEADER: FULFILMENT: As we dip a sprig of parsley in salt water and eat it, we are reminded that we too were slaves to sin, living in fear, guilt, and sorrow.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the earth. (Hebrew: “Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech haOlam, bohray pri haadamah.”)
ALL: Amen, in the name of Ye’shua!
All participants eat a sprig of celery or parsley.
The leader takes the three special pieces of matzah set aside at the beginning of the seder. Remove the middle piece of matzah and hold it up. Break the piece in half. Take the larger of the two broken pieces, wrap it in a napkin and set it aside. This piece will now be known as the Afikomen, a Greek word meaning ‘something special and joyous.’
LEADER: Just like Ye’shua was broken, wrapped, and buried, we take this special piece of matzah that was broken, wrap it up, and hide it away.
Every participant lifts a piece of Matzah
LEADER: This is the bread of affliction (Deut. 16:3) that the Israelites ate when they left Egypt. This is a bread that is absent of leavening representing the absence of Egypt in our lives. Let all who are hungry come and eat! Let all who are needy come and celebrate God’s redemption! We are no longer slaves but free.
Set the matzah down
All participants pour the second cup of wine.
Youngest child:
The youngest child that is able to read should ask these questions:
LEADER: Well, I am glad you asked. Tonight is special because we remember the power of God’s redemption. We will now retell the story of the Exodus (Exodus 12:24-28). The Israelites were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt. Task masters were set over them and they were forced to do heavy work and were oppressed daily. They cried out to God and He answered! God sent ten mighty plagues against Egypt, defeating the evil Pharaoh and the oppressive rulers of Egypt.
Remove a drop of wine from your cup using your finger and let it drop on a piece of matzah every time a plague is mentioned
LEADER: These are the ten plagues God sent:
LEADER: Before the final plague, God told the Israelites to do something very important. They were to sacrifice a lamb, place its blood on the doorposts of their home, and eat the flesh of the lamb. The Bible tells us (Exodus 12:23) that Yahweh passed over the homes when He saw the blood, protecting them from the angel of death that came upon the firstborns of Egypt. It was through the blood of the lamb that the Israelites were redeemed from a life of slavery and the plague of death.
ALL: After the ten plagues, The Israelites fled Egypt. They came to a huge sea, but the Lord split the Red Sea in half, which allowed the Israelites to cross on dry land, entering a new life of liberty. They were given the Torah at Mt. Sinai, representing a new way of living as God’s people.
LEADER: This was the first Exodus, but not the last. Jeremiah predicted about a coming King whom God would raise up, a “new Moses” who would conquer oppressive powers governing God’s people.5 The resulting exodus was to be a greater Exodus that would reconcile mankind with God, ending man’s exile from God’s presence.
As Christians, we know that this King is Ye’shua, the Son of God. Ye’shua taught us what it means to truly follow God with our hearts. He proclaimed the birth of God’s Kingdom on earth, performed miracles, and birthed the promises of God that were prophesied by Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Malachi.
When Passover came and the lamb was to be slain to remind us of God’s redemption, it was Ye’shua that died, birthing a new type of Passover, a greater Passover just as Jeremiah 23:7 says.
The story of Ye’shua does not end there. After Ye’shua was crucified for the sins of the world, He was taken off the cross and buried. But three days later Ye’shua walked out of His grace. He conquered death. This is what Passover means to Christians. It means celebrating the power of our God and the life-giving presence of Ye’shua!
ALL: Passover is a festival of freedom—freedom from sin, death, and the oppressive powers of this present evil age.
When God redeemed Israel from Egypt, they left in haste. Their bread was not made of fermented dought.6 Because of this, God commanded His people to remove all leavened bread from their lives during Passover and the week of Unleavened Bread.7
Everyone holds up a piece of Matzah
LEADER: Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
Hebrew: Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam hamotzi lechem min.
Set the matzah down
Raise bitter herbs
LEADER: The bitter herbs (horseradish or garlic paste) remind us of the bitterness of slavery as well as the oppressive powers of sin in our own lives. God commanded His people to eat the bitter herbs every year at Passover along with the matzah and Passover lamb.8 We must never forget our past slavery to sin. We must never forget that our sins were forgiven through Ye’shua. We are no longer slaves to sin.9.
You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt. – Exodus 13:8
Eat the Matzah with the bitter herbs. Place a generous amount of horse radish or lettuce on the matzah and eat
LEADER: Place the bitter herbs on one piece of matzah and place some charoset (sweet fruit and nut mixture) on another. Combine them together to make a sandwich and enjoy! You may eat the bitter herbs and charoset freely from this time forward in the Seder.
LEADER: The roasted egg on the Seder plate brings to mind the daily Temple sacrifice that no longer can be offered because the Temple no longer stands. It was once and for all destroyed according to Messiah Ye’shua’s prophecy. This is a reminder that there is no sacrifice – other than the cross of Ye’shua – to bring righteousness before God.
Dip the roasted egg in salt water and eat it
Lift second cup of wine
ALL: We give honour, praise, gratitude, and blessing to our King Ye’shua who is above all names. We give glory to the one who not only performed the miracles for our forefathers in Egypt but also saved us. Let it be known that our God keeps His promises and is the Saviour of all!
LEADER: Blessed are you, O Lord, our God, King of the universe, who has created the fruit of the vine. Blessed are you, Lord our God, who has commanded us to eat the bitter herbs. (Hebrew: Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, borei p’ri hagafen.)
ALL: Amen, in the name of Ye’shua!
Drink the second cup
LEADER: Father, we thank you for this time together as your family. We thank you for the opportunity to reflect on your redemptive love, and we thank you for the food we have here before us. Allow your spirit of peace, love, and joy to overtake our hearts as we remember the true Passover, Ye’shua (Jesus) the Messiah.
ALL: Amen in the name of Ye’shua!
Serve and eat the main course.10 Return when everyone is finished eating
Pour the third cup of wine
Take the Afikomen you wrapped in the napkin at the beginning of the Seder and unwrap it.
Leader lifts up the Afikomen
LEADER: “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Cor. 11:23-26)
Circulate the Afikomen. Each member can break off a piece of the Afikomen. But please wait. Do not eat it now.
Hold up a piece of the Afikomen and the cup
LEADER: At the Last Supper, Ye’shua held up the bread and broke it. He held up the cup of wine and asked his disciples to drink from it. “This is my body, broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me. This is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for many. Do this in remembrance of me.”11
Eat a piece of matzah and drink of the third cup
Everyone fills the fourth cup of wine
LEADER: We rejoice, knowing that the Jewish people were delivered from Egyptian bondage. More than that, we rejoice that both Jewish and Gentile followers of the Messiah were redeemed from the bondage of sin and death. As a proper response to God’s redemption, let us lift up the Cup of Praise and praise God by reading Psalms 113 to 118.
Read Psalms 113 to 118 responsively
Psalm 113
1Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord!
2Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore!
3From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!
4The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!
5Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high,
6who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
7He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.
9He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 114
1When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
2Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
3The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back.
4The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.
5What ails you, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back?
6O mountains, that you skip like rams? O hills, like lambs?
7Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.
Psalm 115
1Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
2Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
3Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
5They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.
6They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.
7They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.
9O Israel, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.
10O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.
11You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.
12The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron;
13he will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great.
14May the Lord give you increase, you and your children!
15May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
16The heavens are the Lord’s heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.
17The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence.
18But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 116
1I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.
2Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.
4Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”
5Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.
6The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.
7Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
8For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;
9I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
10I believed, even when I spoke: “I am greatly afflicted”;
11I said in my alarm, “All mankind are liars.”
12What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?
13I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord,
14I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
15Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
16O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds.
17I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.
18I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,
19in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 117
1Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!
2For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 118
1Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
2Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
3Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
4Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
5Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.
6The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
7The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
9It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
10All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
11They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
12They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
13I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me.
14The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
15Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,
16the right hand of the Lord exalts, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”
17I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.
18The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
19Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
20This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.
21I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
22The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
23This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!
26Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27The Lord is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!
28You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.
29Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
(English Standard Version, Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles.)
LEADER: Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
ALL: Amen in the name of Ye’shua!
Drink of the fourth cup of wine
LEADER: Tonight, we remembered the salvation of our God. We broke bread and drank wine. With four cups of wine we remembered the fulfilment of God’s promises:
Let us remember that we are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”12
ALL: Amen!
Traditionally, two children carry a pitcher, a basin, and a towel and go around the table pouring a little water on the guests’ hands, starting with the leader of the Seder. (John 13:1–11)↩︎
That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 1 Cor 11:27-32↩︎
1 Cor 11:21-22,33-34↩︎
1 Cor 10:21 ESV↩︎
Jeremiah 23:5-8↩︎
Exodus 12:33-34↩︎
Lev 23:6↩︎
Numbers 9:11↩︎
Romans 6:17-18↩︎
Enjoy the fellowship with your family and friends. Traditional Passover Seder meals include matzah ball soup, beef brisket, and chicken. Remember, no food should contain leavening in this entire meal.↩︎
1 Cor. 11:24,25; Mark 14:22-24↩︎
1 Cor 6:20↩︎
