If you never read anything else on my blog, please take 15 minutes to read this. It's worth it. I promise.
So this past Sunday, I attended a Seder Dinner at church, and I learned SO MUCH. There's so much incredible symbolism in the passover meal, symbolism for Jews and Christians alike--and the sad part, is that both parties tend to miss the signs. These are just a few of the notes I took on my copy of the 'Haggadah', or the order of the meal and prayers:
[Note: 'Seder' itself means 'Order']
[I sincerely apologize for the disorganization of this post, but I tried my best. There are just too many connections and interweaving of things that it is difficult to turn into a linear framework of discussion.]
*"Quotations in italics" denote words or prayers spoken as part of the Seder. Other random italics are just for emphasis.
The Seder opens with the lighting of a white candle on a white tablecloth, both representing purity, cleanliness, holiness (as opposed to sinfulness). The wife or mother of the household lights the candle, and says a prayer that begins with "Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast sanctified us by This commandments, and commanded us kindle the festival lights...". This invocation to prayer ("Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe") is said over and over again throughout the meal. What's cool about this lighting of candles, is that we do the same at Christmas--we light a larger, also white candle, representing Christ coming into the world. In this ceremony, a woman lights the candle....2000 years ago, a woman, named Mary, brought Christ into the world...
You get the parallels.
The second part is called the "Four Cups", which is where the leader (father) of the household explains what each of the four remaining parts of the dinner represent. The "Four Cups" are the four cups of wine (grape juice) drunk during the ceremony, and are named for the cups of Sanctification, Judgment, Redemption, and Praise. This process mirrors the process in historic Jewish culture for a man and woman's betrothal. (*cough*cough* Ahem. See where this is going...??)
The Cup of Sanctification ("I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians") is about remembering the enslavement of Abraham's people in Egypt. It begins with a hand washing, also representing cleansing of sin, aligned with the purity laws of the Old Testament covenants. Parsley is dipped in salt water, called 'karpas', representing the hisop (sp?) branch that was dipped in lamb's blood and used as a brush to paint the Israelites' doors before the Angel of Death came through Egypt. The salt water also represents the Red Sea, and tears, both the tears of bondage in Egypt, but also the tears of bondage in sin. The parsley is dipped twice--once for the Israelites going into the Red Sea, and coming back out--and again, for the Egyptians who went in, but who were swallowed upon trying to return (the parsley is literally swallowed).
Next is the breaking of the middle matzoh. It's important to explain that the matzoh is split and placed in a contained with 3 compartments. Jewish leaders over time have surmised different representations for the three containers--some have suggested the three most important tribes of Israel; some have said they represent Abraham, Isaac, Jacob; the list continues. But looking as a Christian at the three containers, it seems they represent Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Hang tight while I tell you about what happens to the matzoh during the ceremony and you might see why:
"This is the bread of affliction which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt...." Bread symbolizes affliction in that it holds yeast, which represents sin. Jews bake unleavened bread, the same unleavened bread the Israelites baked the night before leaving Egypt, because it is symbolic of getting rid of sin in the house.
"Let all who are hungry come and eat...." This sounds familiar, doesn't it? Jesus used similar words in John 7:37--"Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink"
"May it be God's will to redeem us from all evil and from all servitude." Direct connection between bondage in Egypt and bondage in sin.
A child then asks four questions, four questions that will then be answered the the leader (father): "Why do we eat only matzoh tonight? When Pharaoh let the children of Israel go from Egypt they were forced to flee in haste, they had no time to bake their bread and could not wait for the yeast to rise. The sun which beat down on the dough as they carried it along baked it into bread called matzoh."
"Why do we eat bitter herbs tonight? Because our forefathers were slaves and their lives were very bitter."
[At this point, everyone eats the bitter herbs (read: horseradish, which was not my favorite thing ever, I might add)] The bitter herbs is also a symbol for sin. It tastes good in the moment, but it leaves a horrible, stinging and bitter aftertaste behind.
"Why do we dip the herbs twice tonight? We dip the parsley in salt water because it reminds us of green springtime. We dip the bitter herbs in sweet Charoses to remind us that our fathers were able to withstand bitter slavery, because it was sweetened by the hope of freedom." [Everyone eats matzoh dipped in horseradish with apples and cinnamon ('Charoses') on top. (Side note: the 'Charoses' is very yummy :)]
The apples actually look a lot like mortar which the Israelites built with as slaves in Egypt. Cool, huh?
"Why do we recline at the table? The first Passover was celebrated by an enslaved people. The children of Israel were instructed to eat in haste, standing, packed and ready to leave the bondage of Egypt..." I'm not going to even say anything here, just drop you a line from Matthew: "Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore, you must also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Matthew 24:42-44).
The really cool thing here, is that Jesus is talking about his return using the metaphor for what happens when a bride and groom are betrothed. In Jewish culture of the time, and historically, the groom would go first to his father, tell his father who he wanted to marry, and his father would tell him a price he thought appropriate to pay for her. Now, hold your horses before you start freaking out (I did, so I understand if you are). What's going on here, is that the guy's father is essentially saying, "What are you willing to give up for her? 'Cause she's worth a hell of a lot." He is not advocating buying her like buying a slave. No no no no no. It's a representation of her value (and the need for sacrifice within the marriage). Afterwards, the son would go to the father of the girl, get his permission to ask her. He would go to the daughter, and ask if she agreed to marry him (girl can still say NO, mind you). If she agreed, the groom would pay the sum (or goats or cattle or whatever) he owed, and--this is where it's going to get crazy--it would be PUBLICLY POSTED what he paid for her, and it would say "Paid in Full." The groom and bride would then both drink from a cup of sanctification, and afterwards, the girl would have special purity requirements for being extra-covered in her clothes as a sign that she was no longer on the market. The groom would leave to make marriage celebration preparations, and he wouldn't tell her when he was returning. Instead, the girl would have to have oil ready in her lamps and her things packed at all times, so that she would be ready when he would come back like a thief in the night to steal her away. AHEM, sounding familiar??
The leader (father) then recounts the story of God's people, beginning with the covenant of Abraham.
The Cup of Judgment ("I will free you from bondage") begins with a shouting of all the ten plagues of Egypt, and with each one, you dip your finger into your cup of wine (grape juice--yum!) and stick a drop onto your plate. They are supposed to represent each of the plagues, but I see them as also representing drops of blood spilt in a world ravaged by sin. They are a declaration of God's judgment on his enemies. But they are also supposed to be be a demonstration of Jewish compassion for their enemies, because they are supposed to be sympathizing with the suffering of the Egyptians, rather than demonizing them.
The next part is the Paschal Lamb, where the father tells about the slaying of the lamb and brushing of its blood on the doorposts of the Israelites in Egypt.
"Since the temple in Jerusalem no longer stands, lamb is not eaten at Passover", but it would have been at the time of Jesus, because the temple had not yet been destroyed.
Here's where it gets crazy weird-cool:
In the time of Jesus, Jews had begun making pilgrimages to Jerusalem for Passover, and families would bring with them the lambs that they would sacrifice and eat in their Passover Seder meal. The people of Jerusalem would be shouting and greeting them and cheering them as they entered the city to take their lambs to the temple (they would be labeled with the family's name), where anyone could examine them to ensure they met the purity standards, as an extension of the practice that the lamb chosen by the High Priest would be tied outside the temple for anyone to examine. This mirrors the betrothal practice of posting publicly the bride-price a bridegroom pays, where anyone can object and say it's not enough. These lambs tethered outside the temple are the bride-prices.
Here's the super-freaky part: So when Jesus came into Jerusalem to shouts of "Hosanna! Hosanna!", what was really happening was that he was part of that annual procession of people coming on pilgrimage into Jerusalem with their lambs. Except that God put it in the hearts of children to hail him not as a friend and fellow Jew, but as the 'Son of David', a title given only to the Messiah. And, even more symbolically, Jesus didn't bring a lamb with him like the other families. He didn't bring a lamb to the temple to await sacrifice-- because he was the lamb that would be sacrificed.
Scary.
'Cup of Judgment' denotes the cup that Jesus had to drink, the one he asked God to "let pass from me". It was the bitterness and terror of death.
--The Passover Supper is served--
The Afikomin comes next, which is the "dessert", but really, it's more matzoh (unleavened bread. Like a cracker.) This is the part where the father hides a bit away, and the child goes to look for it, and then it is ransomed.
The Cup of Redemption ("I will free you from bondage.")
"This is the Cup of Redemption, symbolizing the blood of the Passover Lamb" Guess who, folks. No, it isn't an animal anymore...(hint: "This is the covenant, sealed in my blood...Do this in remembrance of me."
Everyone says: "I will redeem you with an outstretched arm."
Immediately, I'm reminded of Jesus' arms on the cross. But here are a few other images of outstretched arms from the Bible that you might consider:
"Oh sing to the Lord a new song, / for he has done marvelous things! / His right hand and his holy arm / have worked salvation for him." -Psalm 98:1
"It is I who by my great power and outstretched arm have made the earth" -Jeremiah 27:5
"'As I live', declares the Lord, 'Surely with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out I shall be king over you.'" -Ezekiel 20:33
"And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders." -Deuteronomy 26:8
"with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever." -Psalm 136:12
"but you shall fear the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm" -2 Kings 17:36
What's fascinating about this phrase is that it occurs A LOT. But nearly all of the images of it occur in the Old Testament, and are in reference to God's sovereignty and power--not his mercy. But then we have this image of Christ's outstretched arms that almost contradicts it. Like God's power is not just in his ability to strike down enemies. It is in his ability to strike down death itself.
Note: This is the most incredible discovery I had during this dinner: We translate the Greek of what Jesus spoke in his last moments on the cross as "It is finished." But the Greek itself actually corresponds to "Paid in Full."
What.
The Cup of Redemption symbolizes the payment of the "bride price" in old Jewish custom, but to us today it represents God's payment of His bride price for us.
At this point, the leader talks about Elijah, and sends a child to go look for Elijah at the door, in the hopes of finding the coming Messiah. The child returns, of course, saying that he is not there.
The Cup of Praise ("I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.") is also called the 'Hallel', which comes from the same root as 'Hallelujah'.
"Let us fill our cups for the last time and give thanks to God, our great Redeemer. Praise the Lord all ye nations!"
At the end, the leader says "Our Passover Seder is now complete, just as our redemption is forever complete. Let us now conclude with the traditional wish that we may celebrate Passover next year in Jerusalem."
Everyone: "Next Year in Jerusalem!"
Hearing these words as a Christian, they symbolize not pilgrimage, but the New Jerusalem of Revelation, the world returned to complete relationship with the Lord. As the Jews proclaim their anxiousness for the return of Elijah and the coming of the Messiah in Jerusalem in the next year, so we proclaim our anxiousness for the return of Christ, and his rebuilding of Jerusalem.
It is also very important to note that throughout the ceremony, prayers begin with "Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine". I do not think it is pure coincidence that the Passover prayers repeat and thereby emphasize this connection between the wine drunk throughout the dinner, and its creator. For a Christian, it has even larger significance: "I am the vine, and you are the branches..."
[Note: 'Seder' itself means 'Order']
[I sincerely apologize for the disorganization of this post, but I tried my best. There are just too many connections and interweaving of things that it is difficult to turn into a linear framework of discussion.]
*"Quotations in italics" denote words or prayers spoken as part of the Seder. Other random italics are just for emphasis.
The Seder opens with the lighting of a white candle on a white tablecloth, both representing purity, cleanliness, holiness (as opposed to sinfulness). The wife or mother of the household lights the candle, and says a prayer that begins with "Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast sanctified us by This commandments, and commanded us kindle the festival lights...". This invocation to prayer ("Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe") is said over and over again throughout the meal. What's cool about this lighting of candles, is that we do the same at Christmas--we light a larger, also white candle, representing Christ coming into the world. In this ceremony, a woman lights the candle....2000 years ago, a woman, named Mary, brought Christ into the world...
You get the parallels.
The second part is called the "Four Cups", which is where the leader (father) of the household explains what each of the four remaining parts of the dinner represent. The "Four Cups" are the four cups of wine (grape juice) drunk during the ceremony, and are named for the cups of Sanctification, Judgment, Redemption, and Praise. This process mirrors the process in historic Jewish culture for a man and woman's betrothal. (*cough*cough* Ahem. See where this is going...??)
The Cup of Sanctification ("I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians") is about remembering the enslavement of Abraham's people in Egypt. It begins with a hand washing, also representing cleansing of sin, aligned with the purity laws of the Old Testament covenants. Parsley is dipped in salt water, called 'karpas', representing the hisop (sp?) branch that was dipped in lamb's blood and used as a brush to paint the Israelites' doors before the Angel of Death came through Egypt. The salt water also represents the Red Sea, and tears, both the tears of bondage in Egypt, but also the tears of bondage in sin. The parsley is dipped twice--once for the Israelites going into the Red Sea, and coming back out--and again, for the Egyptians who went in, but who were swallowed upon trying to return (the parsley is literally swallowed).
Next is the breaking of the middle matzoh. It's important to explain that the matzoh is split and placed in a contained with 3 compartments. Jewish leaders over time have surmised different representations for the three containers--some have suggested the three most important tribes of Israel; some have said they represent Abraham, Isaac, Jacob; the list continues. But looking as a Christian at the three containers, it seems they represent Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Hang tight while I tell you about what happens to the matzoh during the ceremony and you might see why:
- So, before the ceremony, the father sends the children to search for crumbs of bread around the house. This is symbolic of searching for anything with yeast, or sin, and casting it out of the house.
- The matzoh itself is interesting, because it has stripes ("But he was wounded for our transgressions; / he was crushed for our iniquities; / upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, / and with his stripes we are healed.") Christ had stripes. Across his back. When he was whipped and beaten, before hanging on a cross.
- The matzoh also, because it cannot rise without any yeast, gets bubbles of air in it, and so before it is baked, it must be pierced with holes. Holes like the holes in Jesus' hands where he was nailed to a piece of wood.
- And afterwards, Christ died, and he was baked in the Lord's wrath, as the matzoh is baked.
- Then the father wraps a piece of the matzoh in white linen cloths and hides it away somewhere in the house, and later during the ceremony sends a child to look for it. Hmmm. Who else do we know was wrapped in linen and hidden away...in a tomb...
- When it is brought back to the table, the father gives the child a coin in exchange for it, literally buying it back.
- Bethlehem actually literally means "House of Bread", as Nazareth means "Branches of Wheat".
- Historically, Jesus was buried at the beginning of what would have been the time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He was resurrected at the beginning of the Feast of the First Fruits.
- Crazy cool bread symbolism going on here.
"This is the bread of affliction which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt...." Bread symbolizes affliction in that it holds yeast, which represents sin. Jews bake unleavened bread, the same unleavened bread the Israelites baked the night before leaving Egypt, because it is symbolic of getting rid of sin in the house.
"Let all who are hungry come and eat...." This sounds familiar, doesn't it? Jesus used similar words in John 7:37--"Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink"
"May it be God's will to redeem us from all evil and from all servitude." Direct connection between bondage in Egypt and bondage in sin.
A child then asks four questions, four questions that will then be answered the the leader (father): "Why do we eat only matzoh tonight? When Pharaoh let the children of Israel go from Egypt they were forced to flee in haste, they had no time to bake their bread and could not wait for the yeast to rise. The sun which beat down on the dough as they carried it along baked it into bread called matzoh."
"Why do we eat bitter herbs tonight? Because our forefathers were slaves and their lives were very bitter."
[At this point, everyone eats the bitter herbs (read: horseradish, which was not my favorite thing ever, I might add)] The bitter herbs is also a symbol for sin. It tastes good in the moment, but it leaves a horrible, stinging and bitter aftertaste behind.
"Why do we dip the herbs twice tonight? We dip the parsley in salt water because it reminds us of green springtime. We dip the bitter herbs in sweet Charoses to remind us that our fathers were able to withstand bitter slavery, because it was sweetened by the hope of freedom." [Everyone eats matzoh dipped in horseradish with apples and cinnamon ('Charoses') on top. (Side note: the 'Charoses' is very yummy :)]
The apples actually look a lot like mortar which the Israelites built with as slaves in Egypt. Cool, huh?
"Why do we recline at the table? The first Passover was celebrated by an enslaved people. The children of Israel were instructed to eat in haste, standing, packed and ready to leave the bondage of Egypt..." I'm not going to even say anything here, just drop you a line from Matthew: "Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore, you must also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Matthew 24:42-44).
The really cool thing here, is that Jesus is talking about his return using the metaphor for what happens when a bride and groom are betrothed. In Jewish culture of the time, and historically, the groom would go first to his father, tell his father who he wanted to marry, and his father would tell him a price he thought appropriate to pay for her. Now, hold your horses before you start freaking out (I did, so I understand if you are). What's going on here, is that the guy's father is essentially saying, "What are you willing to give up for her? 'Cause she's worth a hell of a lot." He is not advocating buying her like buying a slave. No no no no no. It's a representation of her value (and the need for sacrifice within the marriage). Afterwards, the son would go to the father of the girl, get his permission to ask her. He would go to the daughter, and ask if she agreed to marry him (girl can still say NO, mind you). If she agreed, the groom would pay the sum (or goats or cattle or whatever) he owed, and--this is where it's going to get crazy--it would be PUBLICLY POSTED what he paid for her, and it would say "Paid in Full." The groom and bride would then both drink from a cup of sanctification, and afterwards, the girl would have special purity requirements for being extra-covered in her clothes as a sign that she was no longer on the market. The groom would leave to make marriage celebration preparations, and he wouldn't tell her when he was returning. Instead, the girl would have to have oil ready in her lamps and her things packed at all times, so that she would be ready when he would come back like a thief in the night to steal her away. AHEM, sounding familiar??
The leader (father) then recounts the story of God's people, beginning with the covenant of Abraham.
The Cup of Judgment ("I will free you from bondage") begins with a shouting of all the ten plagues of Egypt, and with each one, you dip your finger into your cup of wine (grape juice--yum!) and stick a drop onto your plate. They are supposed to represent each of the plagues, but I see them as also representing drops of blood spilt in a world ravaged by sin. They are a declaration of God's judgment on his enemies. But they are also supposed to be be a demonstration of Jewish compassion for their enemies, because they are supposed to be sympathizing with the suffering of the Egyptians, rather than demonizing them.
The next part is the Paschal Lamb, where the father tells about the slaying of the lamb and brushing of its blood on the doorposts of the Israelites in Egypt.
"Since the temple in Jerusalem no longer stands, lamb is not eaten at Passover", but it would have been at the time of Jesus, because the temple had not yet been destroyed.
Here's where it gets crazy weird-cool:
In the time of Jesus, Jews had begun making pilgrimages to Jerusalem for Passover, and families would bring with them the lambs that they would sacrifice and eat in their Passover Seder meal. The people of Jerusalem would be shouting and greeting them and cheering them as they entered the city to take their lambs to the temple (they would be labeled with the family's name), where anyone could examine them to ensure they met the purity standards, as an extension of the practice that the lamb chosen by the High Priest would be tied outside the temple for anyone to examine. This mirrors the betrothal practice of posting publicly the bride-price a bridegroom pays, where anyone can object and say it's not enough. These lambs tethered outside the temple are the bride-prices.
Here's the super-freaky part: So when Jesus came into Jerusalem to shouts of "Hosanna! Hosanna!", what was really happening was that he was part of that annual procession of people coming on pilgrimage into Jerusalem with their lambs. Except that God put it in the hearts of children to hail him not as a friend and fellow Jew, but as the 'Son of David', a title given only to the Messiah. And, even more symbolically, Jesus didn't bring a lamb with him like the other families. He didn't bring a lamb to the temple to await sacrifice-- because he was the lamb that would be sacrificed.
Scary.
'Cup of Judgment' denotes the cup that Jesus had to drink, the one he asked God to "let pass from me". It was the bitterness and terror of death.
--The Passover Supper is served--
The Afikomin comes next, which is the "dessert", but really, it's more matzoh (unleavened bread. Like a cracker.) This is the part where the father hides a bit away, and the child goes to look for it, and then it is ransomed.
The Cup of Redemption ("I will free you from bondage.")
"This is the Cup of Redemption, symbolizing the blood of the Passover Lamb" Guess who, folks. No, it isn't an animal anymore...(hint: "This is the covenant, sealed in my blood...Do this in remembrance of me."
Everyone says: "I will redeem you with an outstretched arm."
Immediately, I'm reminded of Jesus' arms on the cross. But here are a few other images of outstretched arms from the Bible that you might consider:
"Oh sing to the Lord a new song, / for he has done marvelous things! / His right hand and his holy arm / have worked salvation for him." -Psalm 98:1
"It is I who by my great power and outstretched arm have made the earth" -Jeremiah 27:5
"'As I live', declares the Lord, 'Surely with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out I shall be king over you.'" -Ezekiel 20:33
"And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders." -Deuteronomy 26:8
"with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever." -Psalm 136:12
"but you shall fear the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm" -2 Kings 17:36
What's fascinating about this phrase is that it occurs A LOT. But nearly all of the images of it occur in the Old Testament, and are in reference to God's sovereignty and power--not his mercy. But then we have this image of Christ's outstretched arms that almost contradicts it. Like God's power is not just in his ability to strike down enemies. It is in his ability to strike down death itself.
Note: This is the most incredible discovery I had during this dinner: We translate the Greek of what Jesus spoke in his last moments on the cross as "It is finished." But the Greek itself actually corresponds to "Paid in Full."
What.
The Cup of Redemption symbolizes the payment of the "bride price" in old Jewish custom, but to us today it represents God's payment of His bride price for us.
At this point, the leader talks about Elijah, and sends a child to go look for Elijah at the door, in the hopes of finding the coming Messiah. The child returns, of course, saying that he is not there.
The Cup of Praise ("I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.") is also called the 'Hallel', which comes from the same root as 'Hallelujah'.
"Let us fill our cups for the last time and give thanks to God, our great Redeemer. Praise the Lord all ye nations!"
At the end, the leader says "Our Passover Seder is now complete, just as our redemption is forever complete. Let us now conclude with the traditional wish that we may celebrate Passover next year in Jerusalem."
Everyone: "Next Year in Jerusalem!"
Hearing these words as a Christian, they symbolize not pilgrimage, but the New Jerusalem of Revelation, the world returned to complete relationship with the Lord. As the Jews proclaim their anxiousness for the return of Elijah and the coming of the Messiah in Jerusalem in the next year, so we proclaim our anxiousness for the return of Christ, and his rebuilding of Jerusalem.
It is also very important to note that throughout the ceremony, prayers begin with "Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine". I do not think it is pure coincidence that the Passover prayers repeat and thereby emphasize this connection between the wine drunk throughout the dinner, and its creator. For a Christian, it has even larger significance: "I am the vine, and you are the branches..."
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