The Lord Jesus And The Passover Table
Christ is our Passover. As part of Passover, we partake of what is called a Passover Seder, just like the one the Lord Jesus shared with His disciples the night He was betrayed. It is in the table that is prepared for each Passover we see a beautiful picture of our Lord's power to save. Celebrate Passover this year!
By Chris McDonald
We want to take this opportunity to wish all of our Jewish brethren in the Lord a blessed and Happy Passover season. Many will take part this week of what is known as a Passover Seder. Both Messianic and Traditional Jews will partake of a custom that has its roots in Egypt. The lamb embodied the holiday, and without it, the holiday was meaningless. In spiritual terms, without the LAMB of God – ALL things are meaningless!!
In all, God required three symbolic foods to be eaten that Passover night –
The lamb
The Matzah (unleavened bread)
Bitter herbs.
Exod 12:8 - And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
The sacrifice was to be young lamb, depicting innocence. It was to be roasted with fire portraying the judgment that would befall it instead of the firstborn. Matzo (unleavened bread) was to be eaten symbolizing the purity of the sacrifice since leaven, with its souring characteristic, was often a symbol of sin. Bitter herbs were to be eaten as a reminder of the suffering of the lamb. There was only ONE Passover when the Lord passed through the land in judgment. Every observance since then has been a memorial commemorating that occasion.
Exodus 13:3 - And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
Passover holds great distinction among the religious feasts of the world. Passover is the oldest continuously observed feast in existence today, celebrated for some 3,500 years.
This journal deals mainly with the Passover seder itself and how each element of the Passover table points to Christ.
There are 15 elements of the Passover table which all point to Christ and the Jewish experience. Very few people understand that the "last supper" as recorded in scripture was a Passover seder Christ shared with the disciples. Jesus was Jewish and observed all the Jewish traditions. He never condemned those traditions in themselves. What He condemned was the religious leaders of Israel's hypocrisy in using those traditions to keep people from a living, loving and one-on-one personal relationship with God through JESUS CHRIST - their Messiah and Saviour.
Jesus kept the feasts. He observed the Sabbath. Even though He was accused of not observing the Sabbath, He probably observed it better than any other citizen in the entirety of Judea. He WAS the Sabbath. So, the Passover celebration is still a very vital part of the life in every Jewish person's life - Messianic or traditional. Let’s look at each of the elements of a normal Passover Seder and how each one relates to Messiah Jesus - Yeshuah:
The Pillow
The first element of the Passover seder is a pillow which is placed near the left arm of the leader on which to recline during the Seder. The custom of reclining while eating is of ancient Persian origin. It symbolizes freedom, since slaves were never permitted to recline in leisure at a meal. Jesus Christ came to set men free. Religion puts us in bondage but true Christianity sets us free and allows us to REST. Jesus is the REST and the REFRESHING!
Matt 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."(NIV)
I mentioned the Sabbath. The Sabbath speaks of REST. Jesus said that He was the LORD OF THE SABBATH. He spoke this to religious people who were arguing on what was lawful and what was not in relation to what people did on the Sabbath. He was telling them that if they believed on HIM, then they would no longer have to WORK thinking they were doing God a favor and service. HE WAS THE REST they needed from their religious activity and work. AND HE IS THE REST or pillow, FOR US TODAY! He is rest for the troubled soul! He is rest for a divided home! He is rest for the drug addict whose addiction rages inside them. He is rest for the worried, the afflicted, the oppressed and the depressed. He says, "COME UNTO ME," and I will give you rest! I can hear the grand old song -
"Come unto me, I will give you rest
Take my yoke upon you, Hear me and be blessed,
I am meek and lowly, come, oh come and trust my might
For my yoke is easy, and my burden's light!"
Paul speaks of a "rest" in Hebrews wherein the believer places TOTAL trust in Jesus. This is not the same type faith that we had when we repented and were born-again. This is a place of intimacy and communion where we do not allow any external circumstance to shake us from our love for the Lord and the revelation of His love for us. Satan will try very hard to do that. He will use everything and everyone he can to draw us away from the simplicity of Christ - the LORD OF THE REST!
Hebrews 4:1 - Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
The apostle admonishes us to make sure we don't come short of it! Rest is where you just let the Holy Spirit do it! We are so arrogantly smug in the church when we boast of "our" accomplishments.. Only what the Holy Spirit produces will last for eternity. The Holy Spirit's work is to glorify CHRIST and all things done to glorify JESUS will stand the test at the Judgment Seat of Christ. All other works are wood, hay and stubble and will be burned. Passover speaks of this rest. The pillow you rest on speaks of Jesus as the Lord of the Sabbath!The Salt Water
The second element of the Passover seder is a cup of salt water which symbolizes the Jewish tears shed during Egyptian bondage and God’s miraculous parting of the Red Sea. It speaks to us today of the horrible pain sin causes and the glorious redemption and liberation that Jesus gave us at Calvary.
Sin my friend will cause one to shed bitter tears. The Israelites labored for 430 years in what the Bible called "hard bondage." And that's the way Satan operates. He may get us to thinking what we’re doing doesn't carry a price. It may look good, feel good, taste good and smell good. But in the end - we will wind up in the brick pits of Egypt.
Sin has a controlling power to it that no counseling session can cure. No psychologist can diagnosis. No AA meeting can stop. Man doesn't have a problem with being dysfunctional - man has a problem with being a sinner.
The only cure for sin is the Blood of Jesus. What can wash away my sin - NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS! What can make me WHOLE AGAIN? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! We can't play around with sin and get by. It hardens one’s heart. It makes us untouched by the pangs in our conscience that keep many awake at night wandering how we slipped off into the state sin causes us all to fall into sometimes. That's why Paul warned us in Hebrews not to be carried away with its deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:7-8 - Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, [8] Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Hebrews 3:11-13 - So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) [12] Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. [13] But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
That warning is to believers! Israel came out of Egypt and DIED in the wilderness after God had delivered them! If we fail to continue placing our faith in the LAMB, we will suffer the same fate even if we say we’re born again!
The Haggadah - The Telling
The third element is the Haggadah – which means in the Hebrew, “the telling.” It’s so named from the Lord’s command to “tell your son”. (Ex. 13:8). It is the book which relates the Passover story through readings, songs, and prayers in the traditional prescribed order. When you come to Jesus, you want to tell others about HIM. Glory to God. We are commanded to take this message to ALL THE WORLD!
There is not a "formula" for witnessing. There is not a "seminar" you can go to and make you a witness for Jesus. The one thing one needs to be a witness for Jesus is an enduement of power from on HIGH - THE HOLY GHOST! And believe me - if Jesus Christ has TRULY set us free from our sins - we will have no choice but to tell others WHAT HE'S DONE FOR US! That's WITNESSING! Faith is contagious! Jesus will make us such if we will simply just share with others what He’s done for us all through the Cross!
When those at the Passover Seder begin to "tell their sons" about the deliverance from Egypt, it speaks to us today of our great responsibility to tell the world that Jesus loved us enough to die on a Cross for our sins and He has done the same for ALL – including those we speak to!
Witnessing is not bragging about being Baptist, Pentecostal or Charismatic. The world doesn't need a new set of do’s and don’ts! What the world needs is JESUS CHRIST!
The Kippa or Yarmulke
The fourth element is the Kippa – or Yarmulke is the small head covering worn by Jewish males to show reverence for God. There is no command for such a practice in scripture, but it arose by tradition in post-Biblical times. It speaks of man's inability to save himself or cover his own sin. Jesus is our covering, not man!
The root of this covering of the head goes back to the days of Leviticus when the leper was forbidden to wear a covering on his head for seven days symbolizing he was under the judgment of God. The Jewish nation developed traditions that included the wearing of hats to signify they were covered from the judgment the leper was under. That covering was a type of Christ Who would come and shed His blood and save us from the wrath of God upon all sinners. God is angry with the sinner every day!
God does not wink at sin and say 'it's ok." Sin is horrible and dark and ugly in the site of God and He will one day JUDGE the world in righteousness for its rebellion against Him.
All of humanity has sinned and come short of the glory of God. We all stand condemned by the Law of God - without hope or covering unless we’ve COVERED by the Lord Jesus Christ!
Many denominations put a great deal of emphasis on submission and obeying their creeds and doctrines, etc. Many of them use the term "covering" to indicate that if you or your ministry is placed under their "covering" then they will stand with you - AS LONG AS YOU OBEY THEM. We do need accountability among fellow believers but we need something far greater! We need the covering of the LORD JESUS CHRIST and HIS BLOOD that covers ALL of our sins and is WHO we are ultimately accountable to.
The Haroset
The fifth element is the Haroset, a sweet mixture of finely chopped apple, nuts, cinnamon, and wine made to resemble the red-brown clay and mortar used by Israel in making the bricks of Pharaoh’s pyramids. Its sweetness is a reminder of the sweetness of God’s redemption of slavery. Oh how sweet release and redemption are when Jesus comes into a life. To the degree sin steals, kills and destroys, Jesus restores and refreshes a million times over. Praise the Lord.
Israel labored for 430 years in the pits but walked out of Egypt with the spoils of the same nation who brutalized them for those centuries. GOD WILL RESTORE what the cankerworm has eaten backslider! You just need to come back to the place of repentance where you left God in the beginning.
Ps 34:8-9 - Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 9 Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.
David proclaimed it, "Oh Taste and see that the Lord is good!" Praise God. His name is like "ointment poured forth," Solomon wrote in his love song.
Song 1:3 - Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume (ointment) poured out. No wonder the maidens love you!
The sweetness of Jesus cannot be described in words. Living for Him is never a chore, it's always a blessing and honor. It's not a path that requires anything but faith and obedience. And whatever He demands, He always provides the GRACE (POWER) to accomplish it IN HIM!
Wherever He leads us - His grace has already paved the way. Whenever He needs us for a task - His grace and Spirit has gone before us! Sin will always leave a bitter, ugly taste in our mouth. BUT JESUS, is the SWEETEST name I know. And He's just the same, As His Lovely Name! That's the reason WHY I love Him so! For...Jesus is the sweetest name I know."
The way of the transgressor is HARD. What the world thinks tastes good and feels good NOW will only leave one bitter, hurt and dying in the end. Jesus Christ is the HAROSET among life's bitterness and ugliness. He's the sweetness among the rancor and the putridness of sin and this world's wicked system.
Mankind sinks into a pit of racism, hatred, murder, rape, abortion, drugs, immorality and greed. But in the midst of the Passover Seder table - the Haroset represents the sweetness of Jesus that we partake of through His name!
I just heard a beautiful song the other day - "Jesus, you're the sweetest name of all; Jesus you always hear me when I call; Jesus, you lift me up each time I fall; You're the sweetest, sweetest name of all." You Lord Jesus always HEAR us when we call. You pick us up each time we fall - You're the sweetest name of all!”
We are Partakers Of His Divine Nature!
2 Peter 1:4 - Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Peter proclaims we are PARTAKERS of His nature, not imitators. When we use His name we "partake" of Him and this sweetness.
That's why we as Christians need to examine our motives, deeds, attitudes and actions toward our fellow man. We cannot boast and say we love God and hate our brother. We cannot say we are of Jesus and act like the Devil and hold grudges, sue people at the drop of a hat and not forgive. His sweetness must become part of us. We must embrace or partake of His nature! If we are truly born again - then we will!
Hebrews 3:14 - For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
The Passover Platter - The Foods
The sixth element is the Seder Tray, which is a tray or platter that usually has six circular indentations so that the symbolic Passover foods may be individualized and displayed. It is the central item on the modern Passover table. The Passover seder tray contains several different type foods including:
The Karpas is usually parsley, bitter lettuce, or watercress, is considered a bitter herb. Its green color is a reminder of springtime during which Passover occurs and also of the hyssops plant used to apply the blood to the doorposts. Hyssop was an aromatic shrub under one meter (three feet) tall with clusters of yellow flowers. It grew in rocky crevices and was cultivated on terraced walls <1 Kin. 4:33>. Bunches of hyssop were used to sprinkle blood on the doorposts in Egypt <Ex. 12:22>, and in purification ceremonies <Lev. 14:4,6, 51-52>. David mentioned it as an instrument of inner cleansing <Ps. 51:7>. It was used at the crucifixion to deaden Jesus' senses and relieve Jesus' thirst <John 19:29>.
This speaks of us cleansing ourselves of all impurity and sin. Hyssop was used to sprinkle the doorpost with blood and we must sprinkle the doorpost of our hearts in the same manner. This is not a one-time event at Salvation but a daily walk of cleansing and repenting. So many want to do what the soldiers did to Jesus - deaden His senses. We can't deaden our senses to our need for cleansing. Christian HEAR THIS! You need to be washed every day in the same blood that saved you! You need to be washed every day with the washing and watering of the WORD. If we say we are not in need of that - we are deceived!
1 John 1:7-9 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. [8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The Maror or the bitter herbs is usually ground horseradish, is a mandatory item for Passover. It is a reminder of the bitterness that the Israelites suffered as slaves in Egypt. We've already discussed it but again it reminds us of the bitterness and disappointment of life and how we must never forget where the Lord brought us from so we can have mercy and compassion on others in our same state.
Another item, the Hazeret is a whole bitter herb, horseradish or onion. It is in addition to the Maror hence the biblical command in Numbers 9 to eat the meal with bitter herbs (Plural)
The Shankbone of a lamb is a stark reminder of the Passover lamb sacrificed each year in the days of the Temple. The sacrificial system ceased with the Roman destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70. Our next journal entry will deal with the Lamb entirely but we will state here that Jesus is the LAMB of God slain from the foundation of the WORLD for the sins of man. John said He came to take away the sin of the world! That word "sin" is singular, not plural, meaning He didn't come to just deal with symptoms - He came to take away the very nature of man that was killing man to begin with! GLORY TO GOD!
John 1:29-30 - The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. [30] This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
A Roasted Egg is also included on a Passover Tray. In some traditions the egg represents the required peace offering in the Temple for the second day of Passover. It speaks of Jesus as the Prince of Peace and the one who is OUR PEACE today. Glory. No matter how much life is raging around us- HE IS OUR PEACE!
Ephes. 2:14-15 - For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; [15] Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; Jesus has made peace between man and God and between man and man. In Christ, we are all one. All races have equality and justice with God. None are superior. None are inferior. We are all alike. In the Old Covenant there were three types of peace offerings:
1. Thanksgiving offerings (Leviticus 7:11-15)
2. Vow offerings (Leviticus 7:16-21)
3. Voluntary offerings (Leviticus 7:16-21)
The peace offerings were one of the "sweet savoir offerings" and was comprised of three main things:
(1) Cattle, male or female (Leviticus 3:1-6)
(2) Lambs (Leviticus 3:7-11)
(3) Goats (Leviticus 3:12-17)
This sacrificial offering was also called a heave offering and a wave offering. This was a bloody offering presented to God. Part of the offering was eaten by the priest (representing God's acceptance) and part was eaten by the worshiper and his guests (non-officiating priests or Levites and the poor, <Deut. 12:18; 16:11>). Thus, God hosted the meal, communing with the worshiper and other participants. This sacrifice celebrated covering of sin, forgiveness by God, and the restoration of a right and meaningful relationship with God and with life itself <Judg. 20:26; 21:4>.
There were three kinds of peace offerings: (1) thank offerings in response to an unsolicited special divine blessing; (2) votive (vowed) offerings in pursuit of making a request or pledge to God; and (3) freewill offerings spontaneously presented in worship and praise. Jesus was our peace offering to restore our fellowship to God that had been broken by sin.
The Candles Of Passover And the Matzahs
Other elements are numerous Candles which are lit at sunset and a prayer pronounced over them by the mother of the house to begin the Passover service. The candles, with their bright, warm glow, symbolized the solemnity of the occasion and set Passover apart as a special day. It speaks of Christ as the light of the world and His word as the LAMP that lights our path and keeps us from darkness.
The eighth element of the Seder table are Three Matzahs – (unleavened bread) are placed on the Passover table with one in each pocket of the embroidered matzah tash (linen bag). Some rabbinic authorities suggest that the three matzahs represent the three groups of Jewish people; the priests, the Levites, and the Israelites. However, there is no biblical basis for this explanation. It could also mean the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Whatever the meaning it represents Christ, the Bread of Life, which came down from heaven and satisfies the hunger of hurting humanity.
Man’s soul is so big and huge that NOTHING can fill it up except God. When Jesus proclaimed He was the Bread of Life, He basically said to those listening that if they came to Him they would not HUNGER or THIRST ever again. He wasn't talking about physical hunger - He was talking about spiritual hunger. The three matzahs we partake of at Passover represent this beautiful symbol of Christ's life being our sustenance.
The Wine, The Four Cups, The Washing Of The Hands
Wine is a symbol of joy of harvest and an intricate part of the Passover Seder. It is the springboard from where the entire service basically begins. Rabbinic law commands that four cups of wine be taken during the Seder to symbolize the four-fold expressions of the Lord’s promised and joyous deliverance.
The First Cup
In Exodus 6:6-7 - The Lord used four expressions to describe His promised deliverance from Egypt:
I will bring you out
I will rescue you from their bondage
I will redeem you
I will take you as My people
According to rabbinic law, the wine must be red, which speaks again of redemption by BLOOD. To begin the service, the father pours the first cup of wine and asks everyone to rise from the table. The father then lifts his cup toward heaven and recites the Kiddush or “prayer of sanctification” to set the day apart to God:
Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who created the fruit of the vine.
Blessed Art Thou, O Lord our God, Who hast chosen us for Thy service from among the nations…
Blessed art Thou, our God, King of the universe, Who hast kept us in life, Who hast preserved us, and hast enabled us to reach this season.
It was the Messiah, as the leader of the Seder service observed in the Upper Room, who said the Kiddush.
“Then He took the cup, and gave thanks.” (Luke 22:17)
The Washing of the Hands
The second ceremony of the Seder is known as the “washing of the hands.” One of the family members brings a pitcher of water, bowl, and towel to each person at the table to wash his hands.
The ceremony is a symbolic act of purification as they prepare to handle the food. It was probably this ceremony in the Seder that the Messiah used to teach His disciples an object lesson:
John 13:4-5 - He rises from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he pours water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
His object lesson demonstrated that He was about to become the suffering servant of the Lord, and as such, He would be the One to cleanse them.
The Four Questions
At this point the youngest child is called on to recite his diligently rehearsed part. The child asks the traditional Passover questions to fulfill Exodus 12:26:
Exodus 12:26-27 - And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, what mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, it is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
Why is this night different from all other nights?
On all other nights, we eat either leavened or unleavened, but on this night, only unleavened bread?
On all other nights, we eat all kinds of herbs, but on this night, only bitter herbs?
On all other nights, we do not dip even once, but on this night we dip twice?
On all other nights, we eat either sitting or reclining, but on this night, we eat reclining?
Often the youngest will recline upon the leader. This was the context of the apostle John reclining upon Jesus at their Passover supper. John recorded:
John 13:23 - Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
This would indicate that John sat to the right of the Savior and was the youngest at the meal, a position consistent with early Church tradition that John was the youngest apostle. John would have had the honor of asking the questions that night.
And it was John who asked the Lord Jesus, “Who is it that will betray you?”
The Second Cup
Next, the second cup of wine is poured and in response to the four questions, a lengthy narrative recounting the Passover story begins. The story relates the whole panorama of the beginnings of the nation: the calling of Abraham in Ur; God’s promises to the patriarchs; the story of Joseph and his brothers; the enslavement of the Jewish nation; the deliverance brought at the hand of Moses; and the giving of the Law at Sinai.
As the ten plagues are described, a tiny bit of wine is poured out for each plague. This expresses sorrows felt for the suffering of the Egyptians. As the Passover story unfolds, the Seder tray and its symbolic elements are carefully explained and woven into the telling of the Passover story.
Before the second cup of wine is taken, the first half of the praise psalms, known in Judaism as the Hallel (Psalms 113-118), is recited responsively. Hallel is a Hebrew word for praise.
This word has made its way into many languages in the form of halleluyah, meaning, “Praise Jehovah.” According to the Talmud, which records the ancient rabbinic commentary on Jewish practice, the Levites would chant this group of psalms while the Passover lambs for each family were being sacrificed.
The Third Cup
Next in the ceremony, the third cup of wine, called The Cup of Redemption, is poured and sipped. It was here in the Passover Seder that the Messiah instituted the Lord’s Table.
Luke reveals that it was the “cup after supper” the third cup or Cup of Redemption that Jesus chose to be a reminder of His work on the cross.
Passover is closely associated with the fervent hope for the coming of the Messiah. After the third cup, a child is sent to the front door to hopefully welcome in the prophet Elijah.
It is hoped that the prophet will step through the doorway, drink his cup of wine, and announce the coming of the Messiah. This tradition is rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures, for Malachi prophesied, “I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” (Mal. 4:5)
Many believe Elijah will be one of the two messianic witnesses mentioned in Revelation 11 since one of them will perform miracles of Elijah. Although the scriptures teach that Elijah will return in the future, it does not name the two witnesses.
The Fourth Cup
The fourth cup of wine, called the Cup of Acceptance, or Praise, is poured and taken. It was this cup that the Messiah said He would not drink until He drank it with the disciples in the Kingdom. He knew that the hour of His acceptance by His Jewish nation was yet future, and therefore His joy would be full until then
.
Matt 26:29 - But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
At the conclusion of the service, a hymn is usually sung or recited. This was also the tradition in the day of Jesus. Matthew states, “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out.” (Matthew 26:30). Perhaps since Matthew was writing to a Jewish audience, he knew that they would now the name of the hymn since by tradition, every Seder ends with the latter half of the Hallel (Ps. 115-118).
How ironic that just hours before Jesus was betrayed and went to the cross, He sang the prophetic words of Psalm 118:
Ps 118:22-26 - The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
The Messiah sang these words just hours before He fulfilled them in becoming the stone that was rejected by the religious leaders.
How tragic is it that the Jewish nation did not realize that the truth of this Psalm stood before them in the form of Jesus Christ.
The Messiah would first be rejected and suffer before He will one day reign on David’s throne. How doubly tragic, sine Psalm 118 was generally viewed as messianic and was even sung to Jesus proclaiming Him the Messiah at His so-called triumphal entry. Matthew recorded words of similar content in chapter 21 of his book:
Matt 21:9 - And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
Elijah's Cup
The ninth element is Elijah’s Cup which is the extra cup of wine poured in hopes that the prophet Elijah might come and announce the arrival of the Messiah.
Rabbinic tradition holds that the Messiah will come during Passover, the season of redemption, to bring about the final redemption from dispersion.
However, according to Malachi 4:5, Elijah must appear first.
The cup is placed on the corner of the table in front of an empty chair in hopes "Elijah" will join the fellow Seder partakers.
Elijah's Cup speaks to us in the church today of corporate, personal and world-wide
INTERCESSION:
Malachi 4:5-6 - Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: [6] And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. The Spirit of the Lord wants to keep a curse from coming upon our children. They are exposed, ready to be taken by the enemy. Prayer is the first step toward protection. The families must gather at the breach. ELIJAH HAS COME!
The time we live in now is in preparation for MESSIAH JESUS to return.
We must cover our churches, our schools, our businesses, our families our loved ones and ourselves in PRAYER! Jesus is coming! Jesus is Coming!
Passover speaks of redemption and our redemption is drawing nigh!
Closing
The next time you attend a Passover Seder and see the table before you - you are looking at Jesus! He came to fulfill the Passover feast. We are to keep the FEAST in remembrance of what He did at Calvary and until He comes for the church He has paid for with His blood. Do you know the Lamb of God today? Have you been washed in the blood of the Lamb?
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