- God instituted the Passover festival. It began at sunset on either the 14th or 15th of Nisan (March or April for us) (What Is the Significance of Jesus Observing the Passover?).
- Passover was the oldest festival observed by the Jewish people (What Is the Significance of Jesus Observing the Passover?).
- The Passover, with the Seder meal, was instituted in Exodus 12. They celebrated it the night before their exodus from Egypt. The Israelites are also commanded to observe the meal in Numbers 9 and Deuteronomy 16 (What Is the Significance of Jesus Observing the Passover?).
- There is a specific order to the meal. There is a blessing spoken over the wine. Then hands are washed (What Is the Significance of Jesus Observing the Passover?).
- Eating begins with a vegetable dipped in salt water to represent the humble beginnings of the people. There are three different loaves of bread (or matzah). At this point, the first loaf is broken (What Is the Significance of Jesus Observing the Passover?).
- The Exodus story is recounted with promptings from the youngest person. More wine. More hand washing (What Is the Significance of Jesus Observing the Passover?).
- I thought it is interesting that a blessing for grain products is given. It isn’t that the grain products are bad and should be avoided. It is just that there is a time and place for everything (What Is the Significance of Jesus Observing the Passover?).
- Then another blessing is given and more matzah is eaten. More vegetables are eaten, but these are bitter. It is no fun being a slave to something (What Is the Significance of Jesus Observing the Passover?).
- The next step is eating the sandwich. The bread and the meat from the offering is made into a sandwich. However, the sacrifice, known as the Pascal Lamb, isn’t given anymore so there wouldn’t be meat available here (What Is the Significance of Jesus Observing the Passover?).
- For the Passover meal, the Israelites were to eat the whole lamb. That explains what our attitude as a disciple should be – all committed to Jesus. We shouldn’t be a nominal disciple (What Is the Lord’s Supper?).
- Then comes the main course. A piece of matzah is saved for dessert (What Is the Significance of Jesus Observing the Passover?).
- More wine. But instead of more washing, grace is given after the meal (What Is the Significance of Jesus Observing the Passover?).
- More wine, but it isn’t drunk. It is set aside for Elijah, who is supposed announce the Messiah. The door is opened to show that things are not done in secret. Praises are sung while the last cup of wine is drunk (What Is the Significance of Jesus Observing the Passover?).
- The Passover meal ends with a “same bat-time” but a different “bat-channel.” It was always their hope that they would be celebrating Passover next year in Jerusalem. This is significant because that would mean the Messiah had come (What Is the Significance of Jesus Observing the Passover?).
- The Passover meal consists of a simple bread (What Is the Significance of Jesus Observing the Passover?).
- The Passover meal is supposed to be a family meal. Because Christ died on the cross, believers are now members of the family of God. God is our Father, and Jesus is our Brother (What Is the Significance of Jesus Observing the Passover?).
- Passover preceded the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which commemorated Israel’s escape from their bondage in Egypt. This festival was very significant for the Israelites (What Is the Significance of Jesus Observing the Passover?; What Is the Lord’s Supper?).
- Occurring right after Passover, the feast lasted for seven days (What Can We Learn from the Road Trip to Emmaus?).
- Aliens could be included in Passover and offer sacrifices (Num. 9: 14; Lev. 17: 8) (Disciples’ Duty to the Poor).
- Jesus and His disciples, being good Jewish men, also observed it (What Is the Lord’s Supper?).
- The first Lord’s Supper was part of the Passover meal (What Is the Lord’s Supper?).
- Remember, the Lord’s Supper was after they ate the Passover meal. Lamb, known as the Pascal Lamb, was part of the meal. The lamb was considered a sacrifice for the meal. It was to symbolize the coming Messiah (What Is the Lord’s Supper?).
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