Passover has finally arrived! It seems so late this year, and it is. (If you missed my last blog about how the dates for Easter and Passover are calculated, you can catch up here!). There are many symbolic acts included in the Passover celebration. Food represents many of the symbols. Passover is the telling of the exodus story that we are commanded to re-tell each year.
A Passover Seder (meal) has several parts. Each part is significant and not just a ritual The first part is the washing of hands. Washing symbolizes cleansing from defilement or sin. Jesus washed his disciples' feet not only to indicate servanthood, but also indicate the need for cleansing in order to have a relationship with God.
Next is a blessing of the candles and thanking God for his sanctification through Messiah Jesus. This is followed by the four “I will” statements that are represented by four cups of wine. God said, “I will bring you out from bondage, I will free you from slavery, I will redeem you, I will take you as my own people and be your God”.
Next is the dipping of karpas or parsley into a cup of salted water. This represents the tears that were shed while in slavery. The parsley represents the hyssop that was used to splatter the blood of the perfect lamb on the doorposts. This act was a sign that foretold of the blood that would be shed by the Lamb as the final sacrifice for all sin.
The breaking of the matzo, unleavened bread, is symbolic of the breaking of Messiah’s body and then it is hidden by the host just as Messiah’s body was hidden in the tomb.
The haroset, apple-nut mixture mixed with honey, is symbolic of the clay that the Israelites used to make bricks for Pharoah The bitter herbs, a radish or horseradish, called maror are eaten together with a piece of matzo as a reminder of the suffering.
Unleavened bread, matzo, is eaten as a symbol of the haste in which the Israelites had to leave Egypt. They did not have time to add the yeast and then bake the bread before leaving!
Then songs of praise, from the Hillel portion of the Psalms are sung and read. And finally the meal!
After the meal the broken matzo, which was wrapped in a napkin, has been recovered and redeemed. Each person at the table takes a piece of the matzo as it is passed around the table. It is the last food eaten. It is at this point that Jesus said to his disciples, “take and eat. This is my body which is being given for you” (Luke 22:19).
The third cup of wine lifted, and we are reminded that God placed our sins upon Jesus in order to redeem us. Jesus received the judgement that we all deserve. Jesus did not drink of the fourth cup as he said he would drink it in the New Jerusalem! We drink the fourth cup in anticipation that he will come again soon!
A hymn is sung and another reading of a Psalm and the Seder is complete. Everyone joyously proclaims ‘NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM!”
Passover is an eight-day festival. The day after Passover is the Feast of Unleavened Bread. On this day a sheaf of barley was designated to be tied up in a bundle and left standing in the field. The second day after Passover, the marked sheaf was cut and prepared for an offering. This is also a foreshadowing of what Messiah Jesus would do.
The third day after Passover is the Feast of Firstfruits. On this day, Chapter the sheaf of barley was presented to the Lord as an offering of dedication. Firstfruits is a picture of Jesus’ resurrection. See the symbolism of three days?
Remember that numbers are significant in the Bible and not random! What other numbers? Here are a few examples: Moses spent 40 years in the desert herding sheep (great training for what was to come!); the Israelites spent 40 years wandering in the desert; Jesus spent 40 days fasting and praying; Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after his resurrection.
Do you see the pattern? Of course! Then 10 days after Jesus ascended into heaven the disciples were all gathered in the Upper Room and the Holy Spirit came upon them! Acts chapter 1 tells this part of the story.
In the seasons of the church year, we find that Advent has 40 days, Lent has 40 days and the counting of the Omer has 50 days, or 7 weeks. (An ‘omer’ is a unit of dry measure – a little less than 4 quarts). These periods of time help us in our journey of faith as we seek to follow Christ and deepen our understanding of his word.
The period of Lent, that culminated on Resurrection Sunday, was a time for introspection, lament, spiritual disciplines that are characterized by prayer, fasting and almsgiving (charity). Lent often feels heavy, sad, even depressing. But what great joy it leads to in our observance and celebration of Resurrection! New life! Christ has overcome! His resurrection is the fulfillment of prophecy! Christ is the firstfruits that God spoke to Moses about in Leviticus. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we all can have eternal life with him! (1Cor 15:20 ff).
This next season of 50 days until Pentecost is also a time of rejoicing and expectation. Rejoicing still in the resurrection and anticipating what the Holy Spirit will do next in our lives!
So what do we do during these 50 days besides ‘count the Omer’? “Anticipate great things from God and attempt great things for God”! This quote was the motto of the school I taught at for a long time. It was engraved on the beams of the chapel where my classes were held. May each of us anticipate that God will continue to show himself to us and use us to bring others to a saving knowledge of him.
This year, the days of counting the Omer begin on April 22 and ends with Shavuot on June 11. Pentecost is counted forty days from Resurrection Sunday, and this year that will be May 19. During this season of Eastertide and counting the Omer there is extra time to deepen my expectation and anticipation of what God will grow in me and how he will enable me to trust him more fully each day. How about you?
Shalom!
Comments