As we pick up learning about a traditional Seder…we reach the point in the night where the children’s questions are answered…Why do we eat unleavened bread on this night? Why do we eat bitter herbs tonight? Why do we dip our vegetables twice? Why do we eat reclining on this night?
And the story is told.
The story of Passover.
Exodus 12:3-49
The story of the Israelites and the passover lamb that was sacrificed…blood painted over their door frames would be a sign to God to pass over that house and not take the life of the first-born son living there. Yet…most Jews today who celebrate Seder don’t know Jesus as their Savior and miss the beautiful symbolism here. Jeses was God’s first-born Son. He was the sacrificial Lamb of God on our behalf. And When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming, indeed he said, “Behold! The Lamb of God.” Indeed, this was a very powerful thing for him to say.
Jesus had the Passover Seder like this one the night before His death. And you can see Him everywhere in it today. The Matzah is striped and pierced just like Jesus was striped and pierced for us. The center Matzah (the Afikoman) is broken–wrapped in cloth and hidden away…just as Jesus was broken, wrapped in linen and buried in the tomb. The ENTIRE passover ritual was simply a foreshadowing of Christ…as is Genesis, Exodus…Psalms…Hosea…Isaiah…Ruth…our Redeemer is everywhere in the same Old Testament the Jewish people read today.
Isaiah 53
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no majesty to attract us too him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised,
and we esteemed him not.
Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him,
and afflicted.
Be he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will fo the LORD will prosper in his hand.
After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give hiim a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
And at our Seder…it is time for the 2nd cup…the Cup of Judgement…Jesus did not want to drink of this Cup of Judgement but He did because He wanted the will of His Father. And He knew what it would mean for us. Praise Him that He drank from this cup so we will not have to!
The father now walks through the meaning of the elements and leads the family in eating the Matzah, the bitter herbs and delishous Haroset.
The children hunt for the Afikomen wrapped in cloth…and the child who finds it gets a ransom…a reward. The large meal is served…family time is shared…and a sweet dessert enjoyed. And then we return to our Seder ceremony.
Tomorrow we will drink from the final two cups.
Thank you for joining me on this journey to know our Savior and His heritage…the tradition of the Passover and to meet with Him in a new way. I pray His people will one day join us at the table…and know Jesus for who He really is. The signs are everywhere…but only the Lord can soften hearts like He did Pharaoh’s to help them believe. Let us not give up praying and believing for the sheep not yet in His fold. He longs for them to be there…give us Your heart—to long for them to. And like you Jesus…to not give up…to take our cups and follow You.
Daily Scripture Reading {Joshua 19,20,21 & 1 Chr.6:54-81}
This Holy Week I have SO much to say! I seriously doubt anyone is STILL with me this far in a post?! Anyone? Anyone? Anyone still reading??? I opted to not wrote on our Daily Scripture Reading today being Holy Week as today’s reading was again more historical. BUT I did want to share just ONE MORE THING! We are still doing our Lent Tree with our children…
{If you look to the bottom left you can see Lazarus is one of our train pieces…a construction worker or policeman maybe?…wrapped in linen…you do what cha gotta do;)}
It has been an amazing journey for our 5 and 4 year old! Our 1 year old isn’t quite old enough…but our older ones LOVE this time together! We snuggle on the couch…read scripture about each ornament (you can go to crafts to see our guide) and then we excitingly reveal that night’s ornament. The kids take turns hanging the ornament—and I love watching their faces as each story is told.
Tonight…Laney could NOT believe how Jesus was anointed! Remember the story? They are having a dinner to honor Jesus after Lazarus was resurrected. Mary and Martha are the hostesses and Mary pulls out a pint of lard…precious perfume…A MONTH’S WAGES…and just pours it out on the floor onto Jesus’s holy feet!
As I explained how precious this perfume was—and how this perfume was intended to make the dead smell better…and how this precious perfume in some ways was the smell of death and what was to come…Laney still just couldn’t believe that Mary poured out precious perfume. She held the bottled ornament and just stared at it…and to explain that it was MUCH larger and so special—I just saw wonder in her eyes. Last night they learned Lazarus was raised from the dead…and tonight—another miracle. Mary followed the Holy Spirit’s nudge to honor Jesus. Judas scoffed. The others shook their heads. But Jesus smiled.
Do not worry about the world…how they look at you when the Lord calls you to do something. Trust and follow…pour your perfume out and bring glory and honor to His name.
Thankful to be on this journey of knowing God deeper and enjoying Him with you. May you be blessed today as you follow Him.
…along with the most fun basket ever full of goodies. Aren’t you so thankful for the people the Lord puts into your life to do life with and love on you?! 
by admin
We have been doing the eggs as our devotions each night with the kids. We have it timed so the last egg is on Easter. The kids love it.
I also shared the Easter Story cookies with everyone on my blog today. You should do them with your kiddos the night before Easter. It is such a great hands on activity that Biblically shows the story.
Have a great day!!!
Blessings,
Amy
Resurrection eggs are my favorite! 🙂
I love that He is our Redeemer. Even when we don’t want Him to be, He is. He pursues us, patiently waits for us to come around. I am SO thankful that of His grace :))