PASSOVER

CELEBRATING OUR FREEDOM

1 Cor 5:7-8  NIV

Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.  Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

EXODUS 12 (NIV)

12:1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt,

v.2 "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.

v.3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.

v.8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs,

and bread made without yeast.

v.12 "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn

--both men and animalsÑ

and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt.

I am the LORD.

v.13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are;

and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.

No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

v.14 "This is a day you are to commemorate;

for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD

--a lasting ordinance.

READER 1:

            1 Cor 14:40   Let all things be done decently and in order.     NKJV

Rom 5:6-7  When we were utterly helpless, with no way of escape, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners who had no use for him.    TLB

READER 2:

 There was only one historic Passover. The aim of the Passover Seder is to bring the story of the Exodus out of the past and into the present.

It is the Lord's will that each one of us would "take a lamb for a house" and apply the blood of this spotless lamb to the doorposts of our habitation. The lamb is the Lord Jesus whose blood has been freely given for each individual to receive and apply their hearts for the remission of sin and deliverance from its power. 

Past, present, and future are all present in the celebration of Passover for the Kingdom of God is now and His salvation is never-ending, that is, eternal.

LEADER:

Two times just before Passover the Messiah entered into the Temple and drove out the leaven of moneychangers, greed and sin from "His Father's House".

Matt 21:12-13  Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'"      NIV

John 2:13-15  When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables. NIV

This was a demonstration of the purging of leaven before Passover

THE SEDER BEGINS

THE BLESSING OF THE FESTIVE CANDLES:

WOMAN:

 (LIGHTS TWO SHABBAT CANDLES AND SAYS THE FOLLOWING BLESSING)

 "Blessed art thou, O Lord, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us by the Messiah and has allowed us to kindle these festive lights."

THE CUP OF SANCTIFICATION

(EVERYONE FILLS THEIR CUP)

LEADER:

This cup represents the first of four 'I wills" in Exodus 6:6,7.  " I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians."

READER 6:  

Ex 6:6-7  'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.  I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.  NIV

(ALL CUPS ARE FULL, DRINK AFTER THE PRAYER)

LEADER:

 "Baruch attah Ah-doh-noy Elo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam,Boh-ray pree he-gaw-fen"

Blessed art thou, Oh Lord, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.  Set us apart now Lord as we enter into the intimacy of this Sabbath, this

habitation and expression of your Name that you have prepared for us.  Amen.

(ALL DRINK )

THE URCHATZ  (your-katz) WASHING OF THE HANDS

READER 7:

 Ps 24:3-6   Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?

Who may stand in his holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.    He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.      Selah  NIV

LEADER:

 With this simple ceremony, we recognize the efficacy and reality of your washing O Lord, and we cooperate with the washing of the water of your word.

 READER 8:

 Eph 5:25-27   Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. NIV

(ALL WASH HANDS OVER BASIN AS DIRECTED HAVING WATER POURED BY A DESIGNATED "SERVER")

(ALL RETURN TO SEATS FOR THE NEXT PART OF THE MEAL)

THE KARPAS (car-pahs) THE DIPPING OF THE PARSLEY

(EVERYONE TAKES SOME PARSLEY AND DIPS IT IN THE SALT WATER  - DO NOT EAT YET)

READER 9:

 As wine (or grape juice) is red and represents the blood of the lamb, the greens represent the hyssop, which was used to place the blood upon the door.  Hyssop is a low growing and very common plant found in many parts of the world.  It is with the humility available to everyone who wills that the blood is applied to our hearts.

READER 10:

The salt water represents tears shed by all that have experienced bondage.  We ate our food with tears and bitterness while we were in Egypt and we bring this to our remembrance now.

LEADER:

" Baruch attah Ah-do-noy Elo-he-nu Me-lech  Ha-olam Boh-ray pree ha-adamah"

Blessed art thou, O God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruits of the earth.

(ALL EAT KARPAS)

THE YACHUTZ (yah-kutz)- THE BREAKING OF THE MIDDLE MATZA

(THE MIDDLE MATZA FROM THE MATZA TOSH OR UNITY BAG IS BROKEN IN TWO.  HALF IS PLACED BACK IN THE BAG)

(THE BROKEN PIECE, CALLED THE AFIKOMEN, IS WRAPPED IN CLOTH AND SET ASIDE)

READER 11: 

There are three pieces of matza in one bag called the matza tosh or unity bag.  They demonstrate the three-in-one God of the Bible; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  The Son was broken for the sake of our sin, His body wrapped and put away in a tomb, but not to stay.

READER 12:

The middle piece is called the "Afikomen" (ah-fee-ko-men) which is a Greek word meaning "that which comes after."  Interesting that one Greek word is found in a traditional Orthodox Jewish tradition. Among the Orthodox today, the Afikomen takes the place of the Paschal Lamb and is endowed with much importance.

LEADER:

 Indeed, this piece does represent the Lamb of God, which came to take away the sins of the world.  He came, was broken for our iniquities, was buried (hidden), and rose from the dead. Just the same this piece of matza will re-appear at the end of our Seder, if we search diligently at the right time.

THE MAGGID- THE BLESSING OVER THE MATZA

(LIFT UP MATZA BAG FOR ALL TO SEE)

LEADER:

This is the bread of affliction, which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt; let those who are hungry, enter and eat thereof, and all who are in distress come and celebrate the Passover.

(ALL POUR THE SECOND CUP OF THE FRUIT OF THE VINE)

(DO NOT DRINK)

READER 1:

All are welcome to partake of the Passover, no one is to be excluded, only that a foreigner is circumcised before he participates.

 Gen 17:11-12  You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.   NIV

READER 2:

 Col 2:11-12  In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.      NIV

THE FOUR QUESTIONS

Traditional - asked of a child.

CHILD: Why is this night different from all other nights?  Why is it on this night we eat only unleavened bread?

PARENT: The people left in a hurry from Egypt and their bread did not have time to rise.

CHILD: Why is it on this night we eat only bitter herbs?

PARENT: Life for the people was bitter (Exodus 1:14)

CHILD: Why is it on this night we dip vegetables twice? 

(The karpas in salt water and the maror with the charoset)

PARENT: The karpas represent the hyssop. Salt water represents the tears of the people.  The maror with the charoset represents the bitterness of slavery sweetened by the hope of freedom.

CHILD: Why on this night do we all recline? (In the first century and before the Passover meal was taken while reclining on the floor.)

PARENT: In ancient times, reclining was a sign of a free man at ease.  This night all distinction between free man and slave was destroyed.

All are invited to come and eat.

READER 3:

 Matt 11:28-29  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. NKJV

THE TEN PLAGUES

LEADER:

His faithfulness has stood by our father and us. For it has not been only one man who rose up against us to destroy us. In every generation, men rise up against us to destroy us: but the Holy One, blessed be He, delivers us from them all. 

(AS EACH PLAGUE IS MENTIONED, EACH PERSON SHOULD DIP A FINGER AND DROP A DROP OF THE JUICE ON THEIR PLATE TO SHOW THE FINGER OF GOD IN HIS JUDGEMENT)

READER 3:

BLOOD - The Nile River was worshipped in Egypt as the source of life. The Egyptians drew blood from the Israelites as they whipped them and they built their empire. Now God gave them blood to drink and their source of life became death.

READER 4:

FROGS - The frogs represent the fertility goddess, Isis, that was supposed to help women in childbirth.  This symbol of life was now raked into heaps of rotting putrid death.

READER 5:

 LICE -Coming out if the dust of the earth, the lice represent the Egyptian god of the earth, Seth. Tiny in themselves, they are a tremendous torment in the hand of God.

READER 6:

FLIES- Disease carrying flies ruined the land. Beelzebub, the prince of the power of the air is called the lord of the flies. This plague did not affect the Israelites as they were separated as a holy people.

READER 7:

 PESTILENCE -Many Egyptian cattle died of disease. The bull was sacred in Egypt and identified with their god, Apis. The pestilence had no effect on the livestock of the Hebrews

READER 8:

 BOILS -the death of their cattle did not convince them, so God sent a plague that destroyed their own bodies. None of their medicines or incantations had any affect, while the Hebrews remained untouched.

READER 9:

HAIL -God in His mercy gave warning to the Egyptians so they could seek shelter if they believed.  Those who took no shelter were killed by hail of ice and fire such as was never seen before. Again, the Hebrew territory received no plague.

READER 10:

 LOCUSTS -Now Pharaoh was alone at resisting God as the locust devoured whatever was left after the hail. Even his false repentance was enough for God to relent and show mercy as He drove the locusts into the Red Sea.

READER 11:

 DARKNESS -This was a darkness so dark that they could not see one another even with lamps or fires.  Such carnal tools had no affect on a darkness that was like hell manifest on earth. In utter isolation, each Egyptian pondered the things that God had done to display His power over everything.

READER 12:

DEATH OF FIRSTBORN -God claimed for His own the first born of all the flocks and herds of the Hebrews, even their own children, though they were to be redeemed at birth.  He Himself gave His own Son over to death for the sake of all that sinned.  The firstborn  of the Egyptian died and were gone, but His Son died and rose again, the Son having authority over death itself.

LEADER:

 Deut 32:3-4.  I will proclaim the greatness of the Lord.

How glorious he is!  He is the Rock. His work is perfect.

Everything he does is just and fair. TLB

THE ORIGINAL ELEMENTS OF PASSOVER

LEADER:

According to the Mishnah (oral tradition of the Jewish people), whoever has not explained these three things has not fulfilled his Passover obligation.

1.  THE PASSOVER LAMB

"Take a lamb for a house'

READER 1:

Every firstborn in Egypt was under the judgment of God. Wherever the blood of the lamb was not applied, the firstborn died.  We are all born dead in Adam and until we each appropriate the blood of the "Lamb of God", given to take away the sin of the world, John 1:29, we remain under the judgment of death.

READER 2:

The Hebrews say, "If God did not come down to Egypt to save us, we would still be there." Romans 5:6-8 says" You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." NIV

READER 3:

"So Messiah was once offered to bear the sins of many." (Heb. 9:28) "For Messiah, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed"(1 Cor. 5:7). There is no need for more blood, or additional sacrifice.  That is why we have at our table only a dry bone to show the sacrifice of the lamb.

(HOLD UP BONE FOR ALL TO SEE)

2. THE UNLEAVENED BREAD

"You are to eat bread made without yeast"

(HOLD UP MATZA BAG)

READER 4:

Leaven in the Bible speaks of evil, error, and polluting mixture.  Having redeemed, or purchased the nation of Israel from the Egyptians, they were to put away their former manner of living and live a holy life unto the Lord. (Lev 20:26) " You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own."    NIV

READER 5:

1 Cor 5:6-8  Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?  Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast-as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. NIV

3. THE BITTER HERBS

"Eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs."

(HOLD UP BITTER HERBS)

READER 6: The bitter herbs remind us of the bitterness of slavery.

Exodus 1:14  "They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor the Egyptians used them ruthlessly."

 Serving the Lord is not difficult.  "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."

THE CUP OF REJOICING

(FILL AND RAISE CUP)

This cup represents the second of four "I wills" in Exodus 6:6,7. "I WILL RID YOU OF THEIR BONDAGE."

READER:

We therefore are privileged to thank, praise, adore, glorify, extol, honor, bless, exalt, and reverence him, who wrought all the miracles for our ancestors and us: for he brought us forth from bondage to freedom, from sorrow to joy, from mourning into holy days, from darkness into great light, and from servitude to redemption: and therefore let us sing unto him a new song.  Hallelujah! (Pesahim 10:5)

LEADER: Baruch attah Ah-doh-noy Elo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam Boh-ray pree ha-gaw-fen.

            Blessed art thuo, O God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine

(ALL DRINK OF THE CUP TOGETHER)

(SONG "WHEN I REMEMBER ")

(other praise songs and perhaps dancing)

EATING THE MATZA

MAROR - bitter herbs

(THE LEADER HOLDS UP THE MATZA TOSH AND SAYS THE FOLLOWING BLESSING)

LEADER:

" Baruch attah Ah-doh-noy Elo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam ha-mo-tzee le-chen min ha-aw-retz."

            Blessed art thou, O God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

(EACH PERSON BREAKS A PIECE OF MATZA AND DIPS IT INTO THE BITTER HERBS - horseradish)

LEADER:

 As the bitter herbs bring tears to our eyes, so did the great affliction bring tears to the Jewish people in slavery.

(ALL EAT MAROR AND MATZA)

(EACH PERSON TAKES TWO PIECES OF MATZA AND PUTS BITTER HERBS WITH CHAROSET BETWEEN AS A SANDWICH)

LEADER:

The color and texture of charoset reminds us of the mortar the Hebrews made to hold bricks in place.  The sweetness speaks of the sweetness of liberty and freedom that the Lord gave them after years of bondage.

(ALL EAT OF MATZA, CHAROSET, AND BITTER HERBS)

This concludes the first portion of the Seder.

We will now enjoy the dinner meal.

TZAPHUN - THE SEARCH FOR THE AFIKOMEN

LEADER:

Now is the time for the children to seek the Afikomen - the hidden portion of matza so we can continue our Seder.  Remember that there is a reward for the one who finds it. Among the Jewish people, the Afikomen is a symbol for the Passover lamb.  They eat it in memory of that Passover lamb.

READER 1:

 Heb 11:6 - for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.       NKJV

Luke 11:9-10  So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.  NIV

(WHEN THE AFIKOMEN IS FOUND, THE CHILD "REDEEMS" HIS TREASURE FOR HIS REWARD)

LEADER:

Matt 13:44-46  the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.  NKJV

READER 2:

Notice that the matza is stripped , and that the matza is pierced. Notice also that it is the middle matza that was broken, wrapped in a cloth and hidden for a short time.

READER 3:

 Luke 15:8-10 what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?  And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece, which I lost!'  Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."  NKJV

LEADER:

The joy of the Afikomen is two-fold. First it is the joy of us finding the Kingdom of God and secondly, it is the joy of the King receiving us into His Kingdom.

Luke 10:21 Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure NIV

Let us now share this joy as we eat of He who "comes after."

(ALL EAT  MATZA).

THE CUP OF REDEMPTION OR GRACE

(ALL FILL CUPS FOR THE THIRD TIME)

LEADER:

This cup represents the third of the four "I wills" in Exodus 6.  "I will redeem you with an outstretched arm"

READER 4:

The ancient Jewish commentaries say that this cup represents the blood of the Passover lamb. It is this cup that Jesus raised in Luke 22:20. -  after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." NIV

(ALL RAISE THEIR CUPS AS THE BLESSING IS SAID)

LEADER:

 " Baruch attah Ah-doh-noy Elo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam Boh-ray pree ha-gaw-fen"

            Blessed art thou, O God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

(ALL DRINK)

ELIJAH'S PLACE

(ELIJAH'S CUP IS FILLED)

READER 5:

 Isa 11:1-2

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,

And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him,

The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

The Spirit of counsel and might,

The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. NKJ

Isa 11:6

"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,

The leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;

And a little child shall lead them. NKJV

(LEADER SENDS A CHILD TO THE DOOR TO SEE IF ELIJAH IS COMING)

READER 6:

 According to Jewish tradition, Messiah would come at Passover, or on the Day of Atonement, and Elijah the prophet would announce his coming.

READER  7:

Matt 17:11-13  Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."  Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.  NIV

READER 8:

Elijah and John the Baptist were both forerunners speaking the prophetic word that prepares the way for the manifestation of the Kingdom of God.

Rev 19:10-16 says

 For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.   His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.  The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.  Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.  On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.   NIV

THE CUP OF PRAISE OR THANKSGIVING

(FILL CUPS FOR THE FOURTH TIME)

LEADER:

This cup represents the fourth of the four "I wills" in Exodus 6. "I will take you to me for a people."

READER 9:

This is serious biblical wedding talk!

Hos 1:10-2:1 "Yet the time will come when Israel shall prosper and become a great nation; in that day her people will be too numerous to count-like sand along a seashore! Then, instead of saying to them, 'You are not my people,' I will tell them, 'You are my sons, children of the Living God.'  Then the people of Judah and Israel will unite and have one leader; they will return from exile together; what a day that will be-the day when God will sow his people in the fertile soil of their own land again.   TLB

READER 10:

1 Peter 2:9-10 you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.  NIV

READER 11:

We are the people, we are the branches and He is the vine, we bear out and produce the fruit of God's own love in action and thought. This fruit is forgiveness, forbearance, correction, healing and provision of every need of the widows, weak, poor, and even those outside the covenants of God.

READER 12:

 Amos 9:13-15

 "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD,

"When the plowman shall overtake the reaper,

And the treader of grapes him who sows seed;

The mountains shall drip with sweet wine,

And all the hills shall flow with it.

 I will bring back the captives of My people Israel;

They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them;

They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them;

They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them.

 I will plant them in their land,

And no longer shall they be pulled up

From the land I have given them,"

Says the LORD your God              NKJV

LEADER:

           " Baruch atah Ah-doh-noy Elo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam Boh ray pree ha-gaw-fen."

            Blessed art thou O God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

We recognize and celebrate that the Agape Love produced in and through our lives comes directly from the hand of God, it has no other source.

(ALL DRINK FOURTH CUP)

LEADER:

 So let us go out from this place in full confidence knowing that we are delivered from the yoke of sin, it has no more power over us, we are bought with a price freely paid, and we are accepted as the Lord's very own people.

2 Cor 5:19-21

This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others.  We are Christ's ambassadors. God is using us to speak to you: we beg you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, receive the love he offers you-be reconciled to God. For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. then, in exchange, he poured God's goodness into us!  TLB

(THIS CONCLUDES OUR SEDER)

Gal 4:6-7

God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, so now we can rightly speak of God as our dear Father.  Now we are no longer slaves but God's own sons. And since we are his sons, everything he has belongs to us, for that is the way God planned.

TLB

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