SEDER SUPPER / CHRIST IN THE PASSOVER

“THOU ART WORTHY…”

Seder means—the order of things.

Moses was ordered to ensure that the people remembered and celebrated the night when the LORD delivered Israel out of bondage in Egypt. They were to do it without fail every year in the month of Abib to remind themselves of their divine deliverance from Egyptian oppression by the mighty and miraculous hand of God. This night came to be known as “The Passover.” This was because the blood of a lamb would be used to mark the mantle of the houses of all the Israelites, so that when the death angel came to destroy the Egyptians, he would pass over the Israelites’ houses. It was on this night of Passover Celebration that Jesus gathered with His disciples to celebrate His last time of this observation and celebration on earth with them. It was also on this night that He was betrayed by Judas into the hand of sinners, which marked the beginning of His final journey to the shedding of His Blood for us on the Cross for our Salvation.

As Christians we are welcome to share in this perpetual ordinance as those who are ingrafted into Israel through faith in Christ Jesus. For He became the fulfillment of the foreshadowing of the sacrificial lamb. He would ultimately deliver us from the oppression of sin and worldly living. His Blood would become the final atonement for sin for those who put their faith in Him and in His finished work on the Cross… including His resurrection, ascension, glorification, and eternal hope of His coming again to judge the living and the dead.
The ingredients on the Seder Plate represent the different experiences of hardship and bitterness of life in Egypt, which would eventually turn into Salvation, Redemption, Deliverance, and Praise. As they were delivered from their oppression and slavery in Egypt, so those who accept Jesus as our Sacrificial Lamb, are delivered from our lives of enslavement to sin through the shedding of His Blood once and for all.

FOLLOWING THE PASSOVER SUPPER, JESUS INSTITUTED THE “LORD’S SUPPER,” Holy Communion, as the New Covenant in His own Blood. No more animal blood was necessary, as in the Old Covenant.
We will attempt to show how, Jesus was foreshadowed in the Passover and then became a reality and fulfillment by shedding of His Blood for the atonement of our sin and for our deliverance from the realm of satanic captivity and oppression. These texts repeat God’s instructions to Moses for the people to obey: (Exodus 13:3-5) –Exodus 23:14-15)—(Deuteronomy 16:1-7)

THE TRANSITION from the Old to the New Covenant is reported in the New Testament in the following texts: (1st Corinthians 11: 23-26), (Mark 14: 22-25), (Luke 22:14-23), Matthew 26:26-29.)

THE FOLLOWING SERVICE MAY BE USED ON MAUNDY THURSDAY TO EXEMPLIFY HOW JESUS WAS PREFIGURED IN THE PASSOVER SUPPER AND FULFILLED IN THE NEW COVENANT—THE EUCHARIST OR HOLY COMMUNION:

Seder means—the order of things.

Leader:
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.

Participant:
Lamb of God have mercy on us for we have sinned in thought in Word, and in deed; by things we have done and by things we have left undone. We are sorry and we humbly repent. (Pause for a moment of silence)

Leader:
Have mercy upon us, O God, and grant us Thy peace we pray.

Participants:
According to Your loving kindness and tender mercies, we beseech You O LORD, blot out our transgressions we pray.

All:
AMEN!

Leader:
LISTEN TO THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON

” John 3:16-17: For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life; for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “

Leader:
***RECEIVE GOD’S MERCY, PARDON, AND FORGIVENESS.

Saying:

“The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

Participants say:

“And also with you.”

Response:

…ALL: *** IN CHRIST WE ARE FORGIVEN

EXPLANATION OF THE SEDER—ORDER OF THINGS, AND MEANING OF THE INGREDIENTS AS THEY ARE BELIEVED TO RELATE TO THE FORESHADOWING OF CHRIST JESUS IN THE OLD COVENANT PASSOVER.

Have all these items on your prepared space:

— BIBLE, CROSS, WHITE VOTIVE CANDLE, GLASS OR CUP FOR THE 4 CUPS OF LIBATION, OLIVE OIL-(opened) – WATER & PAPER TOWEL FOR SYMBOLIC WASHING OF FEET.

— MATZA, PARSLEY, SALT WATER, HORSE RADDISH, HARD BOILED EGG, CHAROSET, GRAPE JUICE, CHICKEN DRUMSTICK –(representing the shank-bone of lamb) and some Lettuce.   (PLACE THE INGREDIENTS ON YOUR PLATE.) 

Instructions:

*1*   Let a female in the home light the candle—This is because it was foretold that the Savior would come into the world as the Light of the world.  Jesus would come through a woman—Mary. (Genesis 3:15)

*2*   Prepare a charitable offering as an act of faith to be donated following the service.  (Scripture tells us that we should not come before the LORD empty-handed.  (Deuteronomy 16:16b)

*3*   Take a sheet of Matza. Break it in 3 pieces.  Wrap one piece in a napkin and symbolically hide it—to be retrieved later…(The Afikomen—consider the napkin that as folded and left in the tomb when Jesus arose from the dead, and relate His resurrection in the retrieving of the hidden piece of Matza when He came back to life.)

==BLESS THE MEAL

*4*   Dip a piece of parsley in the salt water and place it on a piece of Matza –representing the bitter life and tears in Egypt/ EAT.

Place some Horse Raddish and lettuce on a piece of Matza. – This represents the simple meals of vegetable in Egypt and our life of sin without Christ.

5*   MATZA IS BREAD WITHOUT YEAST -representing the sinlessness of Christ. Some believe the holes in it represent the 39 stripes with which He was scourged and wounded for our transgressions, bruised for iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we were healed. (Isa. 53:5)

==The Charoset = symbol of mortar when the Israelites were required to make bricks without straw.  —The impossible made possible, and the hardship turned into goodness by God’s miraculous hand.  This is made with grated apple, crushed Hazelnuts, Cinnamon, and Honey, mixed together. — EAT!

==The egg is symbolic of wholeness.  EAT!

==EAT MATZA WITH LETTUCE AND DRUMSTICK, EGG, CHAROSET…

***Some families may have a regular family meal afterwards, while for others this may be enough for the night.  (No special rule apply)

Blessed are You, O Eternal God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit and vine of the earth.

==WATER FOR THE SYMBOLIC FOOT WASHING indicating Jesus’s example of servant leadership in humility and love. (Read: John 13:3-5) – Do this where possible. 

1. THE CUP OF REDEMPTION: Drink and pray: “Blessed are You O King of the universe who redeemed us and our ancestors out of (our) Egypt and brought us into the joy of this night.”
2. THE CUP OF SANCTIFICATION: Drink and pray: “Blessed are You, our God, King of the universe who has sanctified us by giving us Your Commandments.”
3. THE CUP OF DELIVERANCE: Drink and pray: “May the Eternal God give strength to His people and bless us with peace.  Blessed are You Eternal God, King of the universe who creates fruit and vine for Your people and blesses us with peace.”
4. THE CUP OF PRAISE: Drink and pray: “Praise the Eternal God of all nations. Praise Him all you peoples, for His mercy prevails over us and His truth endures forever.  HALLELUJAH!  We give thanks unto the LORD for His goodness and mercy endure forever.”
5. ==Find and unwrap the hidden piece of Matza

NOW SAY 4X: “Eternal One, bless us now we beseech You.”

1. God will assign an angel to protect us and lead us to our miracles.
2.God will be an enemy to our enemies.
3.The LORD will prosper us.
4.God will take sickness away from us.
5.We will not die prematurely.
6.-Increase and inheritance will be ours.
7.What the enemy has stolen from us will be restored.

• Twelve are the tribes of Israel. –
• Eleven are the stars of Joseph’s dream.
• Ten are the Commandments.
• Nine are the months of childbirth.
• Eight are the days before circumcision.
• Seven are the days of the week.
• Six are the sections of the Mishnah or teachings from the first part of the Talmud.
• Five are the books of the Torah.
• Four are the Matriarchs.
• Three are the Patriarchs.
• Two are the tablets of the covenant.
• One is our God in heaven and in earth.

***This suggests that God is a God of order and there is significance and meaning to everything in His creation and universe. 

***TRANSITION TO THE NEW COVENANT IN THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST JESUS:

COMMUNION IS INSTITUTED AND SHARED:

AFTER THE CELEBRATION OF THE LAST PASSOVER SUPPER WITH HIS DISCIPLES, CHRIST INSTITUTED the New Covenant/ Holy Communion in His blood.

–An ordained minister leads the liturgy of Holy Communion:

–The Blessing of the elements

Song: “Let us Break Bread Together”

The Institution: On the same night Jesus was betrayed…etc.

Read: (1^st Corinth. 11: 23-26)

COMMUNION IS SERVED: 

Say/Read: Psalm 103:1-5

CONSECRATION OF THE OIL FOR THE BLESSING OF HOMES AND FAMILIES:  Apply the oil on doors, windows, self, others, and around the home –with the sign of the Cross for protection from sickness and disease, from poverty and lack, from strife, oppression, enslavement…etc. In the name of the crucified Christ, may this oil be as the Blood of the Lamb that caused the death angel to pass over the Israelites and deliver them out of bondage. O LORD, may you let the same be done for us, our homes, lives, families, finances, health, and general well-being. May this consecrated oil cause the blessings of God to come and rest upon us, and abide with us and our children for generations to come– now, always, and forever.  May its proper use cause all that is evil and destructive to depart from us, our dwellings, our loved ones, families, and from all who is and what is near and dear to us, we pray.

We pray for the spirit of gladness, favor, success, peace for ourselves and for our loved ones, for our communities, church, nation, world, and for the salvation of lost souls to enhance the Kingdom of God– especially for those people who are close to us.  We also pray that lost souls be saved and delivered from oppression and enslavement to sin.  LORD, please hear our prayers and in Your steadfast love and mercy, answer us speedily we ask through Christ Jesus.  AMEN.

THANK YOU ABBA/FATHER FOR ALL THESE BLESSINGS IN THE NAME OF CHRIST JESUS…HALLELUJAH…AMEN!

Song: “Thank You Jesus…Amen!”  (#2081 from “Sing The Faith Hymnal)*** 

—CLOSING PRAYER:  THE LORD’S PRAYER, AND BENEDICTION

A BLESSED HOPE FOR THE FUTURE:  By the grace of God, we trust that we shall meet again next year to celebrate the blessings, the victories, and the mighty acts of Jehovah our God in Trinity.  HALLELUJAH…AMEN!