The Passover

Exodus 12:1-11

We have spoken a “lot” about passover, but I wanted to do a simple one and point out why the differences of Communion, Passover, Eucharist etc. (Now, the word Eucharist comes from the greek - thanksgiving, eucharistēsas, which is a proper term of use in the act of Communion The word "communion" comes from the Latin word "communio," which means "sharing" or "fellowship.") because Jesus gave thanks (eucharistes). We can even call the act of communion by this term. But before we begin another side argument, lets finish our first)

I would note, the supper that Jesus and the disciples took part of was not a seder. Whether you think was Passover meal or Last supper then Jesus was slain for Passover, that's another argument.

The Jewish Seder (Hebrew - order, procedure) led from an Haggadah (Jewish step by step guide to leading a seder) was eventually created when the temple was destroyed in 70, and a normal Pesach (Passover) was not able to be done because they couldn't sacrifice the lambs.

So the seder as many do it today, is not what the “last supper” that Jesus and the disciples took part in. There are regional haggadahs, cultural varieties, and all have changed over time.

I would also note that I don’t think Jesus would be anti-Seder, because He took part in the Festival of Purim (Purim a celebration created by the elders of Israel). (John 5:1-9 is where Jesus healed the man the pool Bethesda thus helping others and giving gifts ;-)

To answer a question one had, can we take part in Passover? No. Could you take part in a seder? Yes, but be respectful.

Exodus 12:1–2  “ Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.”

Now, the month was called abib. But in Southern Israel being taken captive to Babylon, the Levites and leaders took the month-names of the land of Babylon.

I don’t think the matter is what you call the month. Abib, Nissan or April. It’s the event itself. It’s the when and what in which God commanded a remembrance. It matches when Israel was set free from Egypt by the Living God. This is the picture of communion Christ gives, which we will discuss later.

Are we required to practice Passover? No, technically no one can (no altar/temple). but you can if you wish. Again, Jesus is our Passover.

Exodus 12:3–5 NKJV

Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats.

There. All the congregation. Israel is Gods congregation. Just as the Lord would build His Church, he first built Israel.

It made sense that the sacrifice would be male, they are the most commonly sold off as meat stock, you only need one male to get all the females producing babies.

The word used is lamb or goat. Was used for both. Most think lamb was the intention, but in a pinch. Or

They take care of one another. The congregation takes part together in all this.

It was to be perfect, without defect, spotless. And if sin is a defect, our Passover would have to be sinless.

Exodus 12:6–7 NKJV

Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.

4 days after Sunday? They would technically (according to lunar time) be eating or partaking on the 15th.

But on the 14th, they slaughtered and prepared the Lamb removing nothing. Leaving head, legs even the entrails, only saving the blood for the command given. Some of is italicized, so poss not suggested. Would be be bloody, bloody doors.

There would be no guessing, no wondering where they stood. Circumcision, their food, the everything was tied now, to the blood on the doors.

Exodus 12:8–11 NKJV

Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Now of course, they would have water or wine or the beer they drank in Egypt. Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire—its head with its legs and its entrails. You shall let none of it remain until morning, and what remains of it until morning you shall burn with fire. And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.

In stark contrast the parts of the modern seder are: The Karpas – parsley, which symbolizes the hyssop used to place the blood of the sacrificed lamb on the doorposts and lintels on the Israelite homes .

The Maror – bitter herbs, traditionally horseradish, which remind us of the bitterness of our slavery under Pharaoh.

The Charoset – a tasty combination of apples, nuts, spices (often cinnamon) and a little wine or grape juice. When mixed, it is meant to have a consistency that reminds us of the mortar that the children of Israel used to make the bricks as they labored for Pharaoh. Charoset is easy to make in a food processor or blender.

The Z’roah – (lamb shankbone) a symbol of the sacrifice, which can no longer be made because the Temple no longer stands.

The Beitzah – a brown, roasted (or hardboiled) egg. It too represents sacrifice-as a symbol of the daily Temple sacrifice, or the life that sacrifice brings to us through reconciliation with God.

There are just a few other elements that make the Passover table complete:

The Matzah – three pieces of unleavened bread are wrapped separately in a special, three-part pouch called a Matzah Tash.

Salt water – which reminds us of the tears of suffering that our ancestors shed in bondage. The parsley is dipped into the salt water at the appropriate moment.

A laver or bowl of water for the ritual handwashing.

Red wine or grape juice – enough for the Four Cups of Passover.

Why was this done?

Exodus 12:12–13 “ ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”

None escape judgement, here the death is only the firstborn (so much in there but leaving it) As Jesus is our Passover lamb, it is His blood that covers and takes away our sins. Keeps us from death and gives life.

also a reminder we need to be under that covering. That when judgement comes, only the blood is seen.

Exodus 12:14 “ ‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.” Exodus 12:25–28 “ It will come to pass when you come to the land which the LORD will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service. 26 And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 that you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.’ ” So the people bowed their heads and worshiped. 28 Then the children of Israel went away and did so; just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.”

The problem now, is they cant. With the destruction of the temple in 70 they cannot sacrifice the lamb because they have the command - Deuteronomy 16:1–8 “ “Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night. 2 Therefore you shall sacrifice the Passover to the LORD your God, from the flock and the herd, in the place where the LORD chooses to put His name. 3 You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it, that is, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), that you may remember the day in which you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life. 4 And no leaven shall be seen among you in all your territory for seven days, nor shall any of the meat which you sacrifice the first day at twilight remain overnight until morning. 5 “You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of your gates which the LORD your God gives you; (you cant just sacrifice anywhere) 6 but at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide, there you shall sacrifice the Passover at twilight, at the going down of the sun, at the time you came out of Egypt. (only the temple, only the altar of sacrifice) 7 And you shall roast and eat it in the place which the LORD your God chooses, and in the morning you shall turn and go to your tents. 8 Six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a sacred assembly to the LORD your God. You shall do no work on it.”

Communion

Communion, what Jesus established at His final supper, was narrative changing for everything that was going on. God was not out to just save one person (He never had been) but the whole world.

Like the Passover, communion is not literal flesh of the original and is symbolic - when Jesus said eat flesh, drink blood, none of the disciples blinked (they got the symbolism i.e. Lamb of God. Blood of covenant, etc. Peter when told to rise/kill/eat in a vision from God (so he would go to Corneilius) look at when he thought he would have to:

Acts 10:13–16  “And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.”

IF Peter would put his foot in mouth over other stuff, surely he would kick against Jesus saying to actually eat/drink Flesh blood. Just as Passover was a reminder, Communion is for us. Real lamb, real bitter herbs. Real bread, real wine. The body, the blood. Our Jesus in our hands.

Paul reminds them (and us):

1 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

Paul doesn’t denote that Passover is defunct, (though there are some issues which we’ll look at) he does distinctly say, that he is ours. To get this, is why we needed to go look at the origin story as it were.

So, if Christ is our Passover, perhaps we should see the Passover. Here are some things I don’t want to do ever again. The “Passover” or even the seder is not an Christian event. It is something you can respectfully take part in, but don’t do the Jews for Jesus thing with it.

It is a picture of what Christ would do, which I think is why Paul said, Christ, OUR Passover. Please highlight the text of 1Co 5:7 and then embolden or underline Christ Our Passover.