The prophetic Passover
Many Christians celebrated Easter a few weeks ago. Today, however, begins Passover. Passover is a Jewish tradition commemorating how God led the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery. Christians often overlook Passover, not understanding that it is most Holy and prophetic. The Israelites painted the blood of an unblemished, sacrificial lamb on their doorposts for the plague of death of the firstborn to Passover them. This is the picture of Christ, the unblemished lamb, who died on the cross for our sins. Our church family and friends celebrate the beginning of Passover with a traditional Passover Seder, a feast retelling the story of the Exodus from Egypt and foretelling the Messiah’s sacrifice, return, and reign.
What Christians call the Lord’s Supper, is actually a Passover Seder. Jesus said in Luke 22:15-16, “I have desired to eat this Passover with your before I suffer: For I way unto you, I will not anymore eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” The Seder Plate is comprised of salt water, parsley, a lamb shank bone, chopped apples and nuts, horseradish root, bitter herb and a roasted egg-each element symbolizing a part of the redemption story of being delivered from Egyptian bondage. There are four symbolic cups of wine from which participants drink. The first is the cup of Sanctification, the second is the cup of the Plagues, the third is the cup of Redemption, and the fourth is the cup of Praise.
The Seder uses matzah, unleavened bread pierced with holes, in three pieces shared during the Seder. One piece is broken and then wrapped in cloth and hidden until the end and then is revealed and shared in communion. As Christ said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” The cup of Redemption symbolizes the blood of the Passover lamb. It was the cup taken after the meal. When Jesus took the cup of Redemption, he said in Matthew 26:27-29, “Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 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.”
As you can see, the Passover has several layers. God brought the Israelites out of Egypt by demonstrating to them that the blood of the Lamb saves them. He instituted a service (Passover Seder), that the Israelites were to keep forever. Exodus 12:27 says, “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.” Through the Passover, God delivered the Israelites from bondage, foretold of the suffering Messiah, the redemption of sins, and the kingdom to come. When we, as Christ followers take part in Passover, we are participating in the prophetic redemption and return of Christ.
