Passover

Read the passover story

The search for leaven (Chametz)

“Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments, and instructed us concerning the removal of leaven.”

Exodus 12:15 ESV

Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.

Exodus 12:19 ESV

For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land.

We just read the exodus account. They were commanded not to eat any bread with leaven in it. Why?

So they are ready to go when God called them. God likewise calls us to live lives without leaven, without sin and to be ready to go when He calls us wherever He wants us.

What is leaven?

What does it represent?

1 Corinthians 5:7–8 ESV

Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Candle Lighting (Le’hadlik Ner)

Search for the leaven.

Someone please read

John 1:3–5 ESV

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 8:12 ESV

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Psalm 119:105 ESV

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Your heart is your home and you are commanded to remove all sin but we know we cannot do that. So we are asking for God by His word, by the Holy spirit to look through our hearts and cast out any remaining sin in our loves so that we are presentable as a living sacrifice.

Psalm 139:23–24 ESV

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

(Toasting of the first cup)

Serving of the Matzah

QUESTION #1 Why do we eat unleavened bread?

1 Corinthians 5:6–8 ESV

Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

(Break the matzah in half)

(In Unison) : “Because He was broken for us.”

Serving of Maror (the bitter herbs)

QUESTION #2 Why do we eat bitter herbs?

Psalm 22:1 ESV

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?

Psalm 22:7–8 ESV

All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

Psalm 22:16–18 ESV

For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

Serving of the Karpas (parsley greens dipped in salt water)

QUESTION #3 “Why tonight do we dip our herbs twice?”

Colossians 2:19 ESV

and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

“Our fathers dipped hyssop branches into the blood of the Passover lamb and marked their doorposts.”

(Dip a parsley sprig into the salt water)

Serving of Elijah's Cup (the single goblet of wine in the center of table)

QUESTION #4 (Child or next youngest person): “Why are we eating this meal reclining?”