As many of you know, for seven days we do not eat bread (products with leaven/yeast in them) and our homes are emptied of leaven products. "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. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses." Exodus 12:14-15 

During the Passover Seder (literally: order) the seder plate is the centerpiece of every table. We sit together and read the Haggadah (the recounting of the exodus from Egypt). Throughout the night, we sing traditional songs, recite blessings for food and drink, read appropriate psalms and the youngest child asks the traditional four questions: Why do we eat unleavened bread, why do we eat bitter herbs, why do we dip our food, why do we eat in a reclining position?  These questions are answered as the Seder progresses and is explained. 

Together with the matza and wine, the Seder plate contains specific items to cause us to remember the first Passover:

This year Pesach coincides with Resurrection weekend. At this time of the year 2000 years ago, Yeshua celebrated the Passover with his disciples in Jerusalem. This week, Christians from around the world joined local Believers in celebrating Palm Sunday; the day on which Jesus entered Jerusalem and the crowds cried "Hosanna."  Within less than a week, even those closest to Him betrayed Him and just before the Passover Holiday was to begin, the Romans nailed Him to the cross. The good news is that after the Holiday Sabbath, when those few who remained faithful came to the tomb to anoint His body for burial, they were surprised to find that He was not there. He had risen and fulfilled the role of the Sacrificial Lamb for all who would put their faith in Him.

For us as followers of the Messiah, we celebrate this holiday with complete joy: that the Lord took us out of Egypt and into freedom and that through the death and resurrection of the Messiah, we have been brought out of the bondage of slavery to sin and into the Kingdom of His wonderful light ( 1 Peter 2:9).

Throughout the Passover ceremony, there are hints of Yeshua. The Afikomen (the middle of three matzah pieces) is broken, wrapped in a linen cloth and hidden. Similarly, Yeshua was broken for His people Israel and for the whole world, His body wrapped in linen and laid hidden in the grave for three days. During the Seder, we drink four cups of wine. The first is called Kiddush, meaning sanctification, the second is called the cup of plagues. The third cup is known as either the cup of blessing or redemption. The fourth is called either Hallel (praise), acceptance, or call it the cup of Elijah. At the Passover meal before His death, Yeshua called the third cup "the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22:20). Today when we celebrate Pesach, we have this great hope; the redemption of Israel! Not only do we celebrate the miracle of the Exodus from Egypt but also, the return of the Jewish people from the nations to the Land as is promised in Jeremiah 16. This generation is truly a generation that can say "As the Lord lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries where He had banished them" (Jeremiah 16:15) - Amen!

 "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever...who made the great lights- His love endures forever, the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever, the moon and stars to govern the night...to Him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, His love endures forever, and brought Israel out from among them, His love endures forever, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, His love endures forever!" (Psalm 136:1,7-12)

May you and your family be blessed this Passover and Easter season!