A Passover Seder

Easter is almost upon us. Today is Maundy-Thursday. On this day we remember four separate events that happened to Jesus: the washing of the disciples feet, the institution of the Last Supper, the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the betrayal by Judas. This was certainly an important day, yet much of the Christian Church doesn’t remember it.

We had a Passover Seder here at the church last year. I had a friend from a previous church (raised Jewish) who came in and led us, and he did a great job. During that service he said something that I will probably never forget. When we celebrate communion in our churches, we look to Jesus and we remember the words, “as often as you do this, do this in remembrance of me.” We recite it as if He was talking about just the bread and the cup. But remembering the context of his doing this – the Passover Seder – could He be indicating that as often as we celebrate the Passover, celebrate it in remembrance of Him? Could it be He was directing us to continue the Passover?

The Christian Church, for the most part, doesn’t celebrate the Passover. I wonder if we should be? We are having a Passover Seder at our church again this year – this evening. We aren’t doing the entire meal - we’re having a dish-to-pass (we’re very good at dish-to-pass dinners) – but we are remembering the Seder meal.

There is a point in the Seder when there is some ritualistic washing – could this be when he washed His disciples feet?

There is a point in the Seder just before they drink of the final cup – the Cup of Praise – that they sing a song called the Hallel. Could it be that the song that they sang in Mark 14:26, just before leaving to go to the Mount of Olives, was the Hallel? Could it be that they skipped the fourth cup, the cup of praise? We know that He wrestled in prayer about the cup of suffering He was about to drink from – the arrest, the torture, the crucifixion. Could it be he skipped the Cup of Praise?

We know how the story ends! We know of His victory over death. We can praise. But we can also remember. If you an opportunity to join in on a Passover Seder, I encourage you to do so. There is so much symbolism in the Seder that points to Jesus as the Messiah it is remarkable. What better way can we remember Jesus than honoring this …