Rabbi Schneider - Passover, The Seder Connection
Rabbi Schneider: The Passover has begun. And during the course of the Seder, we will drink from our cups and replenish them a total of four times. Let's all raise together the first cup. "With this cup, we commit our observance to the Lord, and pray for His blessing upon the rest of the service to follow". It is concerning this first cup that Messiah declared... "Take this, and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God shall come". When did Jesus make that statement? Anybody know?
Man: The Last Supper.
Rabbi Schneider: Yes! When He was celebrating Passover with His disciples. He lifted up the Passover wine, and He said "I'm not gonna be able to drink this with you again until the kingdom of God has come". He knew He was going to the Father, and that He wouldn't be able to be with His people again in the form that He was with us on Earth until He returned again when we'd be able to touch Him once again. And so what an awesome thing to realize that Passover and Jesus, they're not two separate things! Yeshua is the fulfillment of Passover! You know Paul told us that Christ has become our Passover. Now lemme ask you this question, Brondon. When John the Baptist identified Jesus as the Lamb of God, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world," what do you think was in John's mind when he pointed at Jesus and said, "Behold the Lamb"?
Pastor Brondon: The Passover.
Rabbi Schneider: The Passover! But don't most Christians miss that completely?
All Together: Yeah.
Rabbi Schneider: From the very beginning, John identified Him as the Lamb of God. And in the book of Revelation, Pastor Anita, we find that no one was able to open the scroll. John was seeing the scroll being opened in the book of Revelation, and John began to weep, because no one was able to open the scroll. But finally somebody came forward to open the scroll. Who was that person that came to open the scroll?
Pastor Anita: The Lamb of God.
Rabbi Schneider: The Lamb of God! I mean beloved this is like Jewish roots, this is Jewish Roots 101! It really is. We need to identify Jesus with where He comes from. This is why the first chapter of the New Testament, Matthew 1:1 begins by tracing Jesus' genealogy back to David and back to Abraham. Matthew begins by saying "This is the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David and the Son of Abraham". That's what we're doing today. We'll now say the prayer over the matzah. Baruch Ata Adonai Elohaynu Melech Ha-olam, hamotzi lehem min ha'aretz.
All Together: Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
Rabbi Schneider: The story of Passover is a story of deliverance from bondage, and all of the elements of the Passover meal are part of the portrait of redemption. The karpas represent Israel that was young and green. And in the springtime of their nation, they were just about to be delivered out of Egypt and be born. So the Lord delivered them out of Egypt by all the plagues He poured out upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians. And when they got to the Red Sea, as the Egyptians were still trying to kill them, pursuing them, what did God do? He did a miracle. He parted the Red Sea, right? And the Israelites were able to walk through to the other side. But what happened in response to that? Egypt tried to follow them, still pursuing them. Unfortunately for the Egyptians, when Israel got to the other side, the sea closed in and drowned Egypt in the sea. So what we do is we look at the dipping of the parsley, which represented Israel, into the salt water that represented the Red Sea. And we say Israel was young and green in the springtime of their nation. They went into the Red Sea, once we dip. But what happened? Egypt tried to follow. Egypt also went into the Red Sea. But what happened when Egypt went into the Red Sea? Bam, hatch, God swallowed them up, down the throat. Let's take and eat. The horseradish, the bitter herbs, of course, for Israel in the ancient times, 3,500 years ago, represented the bitter bondage that they were in under Pharaoh and under the Egyptians. But during this part of the Seder, what we do is we think about where would we have been and what would our lives would have been like if Father wouldn't have come to us and revealed Himself to us through the person of His Son? So what we're gonna do right now is we're gonna distribute the horseradish and we're going to put it on a piece of matzah and we're gonna remember a point in our life where we were lost, afraid, anxious, whatever it looked like before we know Jesus and we're gonna express thanks to Him in our heart for where we are today because of Him. It might not be easy right now, but I'll tell you what, we're a lot better off than we used to be. Let's take, beloved, of the maror, the bitter herb.
Pastor Leo: Thank you, Jesus.
All Together: But what is the meaning of the haroset, and why is it sweet to the taste?
Men: The haroset is a reminder of the mortar with which the Israelites made bricks for Pharaoh.
All Together: But why should such a sweet mixture represent such bitter toil?
Men: Even the most bitter labor is sweetened by the promise of redemption.
Rabbi Schneider: Let's once again take a piece of matzah and dip it in the haroset, and realize that even though we've had bad times in our life, Father God has used our bad times even for good, because He causes all things to work together for good to those that love Him and are called according to His purpose in Messiah Jesus. And in fact often times the hard times in our life are the foundation for all the good things that come. So Father God we bless You that You use even the difficult times in our life for Your glory and Your good purposes.
All Together: Amen. And what is the meaning of the egg, the hagigah? And why is it brown?
Rabbi Schneider: The symbolism and meaning that I like most concerning the hagigah or hard-boiled egg is the fact that it represents the sacrifices that were offered during Passover when the temple was standing. Let me ask you this question. How many times does a chicken lay an egg? Anybody?
Pastor Josh: At least once a day.
Rabbi Schneider: Once a day! Everyday. And how many times do we sin?
Pastor Josh: Every day.
Rabbi Schneider: Every day. So how many times do we need a sacrifice?
All Together: Every day.
Rabbi Schneider: Every day. And so the hagigah becomes the symbol of the sacrifices. But King Yeshua offered Himself once and for all. And because of that the book of Hebrews says, "No other sacrifices are forever needed". Thank you Father God, thank you King Jesus for becoming our all-sufficient sacrifice. Pastor Leo: Amen.
All Together: And what is the meaning of the zeroah, the shank of bone of the lamb?
Rabbi Schneider: Since 70 A.D. when the temple was destroyed, no Passover sacrifices have been offered. So since we can't offer a Passover lamb as a sacrifice, because we have no temple, we have no priesthood, and as a result no sacrifices can be offered, again going back all the way to 70 A.D., in lieu of that we have a symbol of it, we have the bone of the lamb that represents the Passover lambs that were offered while the temple was standing.
All Together: But without sacrifices, how can we atone for our sins, for the law declares, "It is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul". Does this mean that atonement and redemption are no longer possible?
Rabbi Schneider: May it never be! The fact is that when Messiah Yeshua died on the cross, the veil that separated in the temple the Holy of Holies from the holy place was broken asunder. We even have the breaking of the veil recorded in the Talmud. Why was it torn asunder, this place that separated man from God's presence? Because God was showing us that now access has been made once and for all through the one sacrifice of Messiah Yeshua, as a result of this one eternal sacrifice, all the other sacrifices are no longer needed. They were simply types and shadows. Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, who offers redemption and atonement for our sins.
All Together: Amen.
Rabbi Schneider: Behold the bread of affliction, which our ancestors ate in Egypt, let all who are hungry come.
All Together: But what is the meaning of this unleavened bread?
Men: Throughout the Bible, leaven is frequently employed as a symbol of sin.
Rabbi Schneider: We are released from the generations of the sin of our first forefather Adam, and as the leaven in his bread caused the dough to rise so that sin came into all humanity, and became puffed up, so too the leaven in bread causes the whole bread to become puffed up. And unleavened bread, which is the symbol of Messiah Jesus, is without leaven because Jesus had no pride and no sin in Him.
All Together: Purge out therefore the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Messiah, our Passover, is sacrificed for us.
Michael Hardy: During the time of Joseph in the Bible, there was a great famine. So all the sons of Israel moved to Egypt. There, Israel flourished and became a mighty people. However, Pharaoh feared the house of Israel, so he enslaved the Israelites, forcing them into cruel physical labor. He also ordered the execution of every Hebrew infant son by drowning them in the Nile River. But God was faithful to His covenant, and He protected the infant Moses. Moses became the leader of the Israelites and was sent to the courts of Pharaoh to deliver the message of the Lord, let my people go. Pharaoh refused and so Moses pronounced God's judgment on the land of Egypt with severe plagues. The final plague was the death of every firstborn male. To protect the children of Israel, God made a way for the angel of death to pass over their houses. They were to sacrifice a spotless lamb and apply its blood to the doorway of the household.
All Together: And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt.
Rabbi Schneider: Pharaoh defied the Lord and placed his will above the will of God. As a result, he brought destruction upon his house and land. How often do we, like Pharaoh, choose our desires over God's direction? And how often do we, like Pharaoh, bring harm upon ourselves and upon those closest to us? Because we share with Pharaoh the sin of disobedience, and because we regard all people as God's creation, we do not rejoice over the destruction visited upon the Egyptians. If everyone now please lift their glass with me. The point of this part of the liturgy is that we have sin in us just like Egypt had sin in them. And even though we're so thankful that Father God chose us and delivered us, we don't glee in the fact that other people get judged because of their sin. And so at this part of the Seder we're gonna be dipping our finger in the cup of wine, which represents judgment. But it's also called the cup of salvation because it was through these judgments that Israel was finally delivered. And then each time we dip our finger in and throw it into our plate, what it reflects is that our joy has been diminished because someone else had to suffer. Recounting now the plagues that fell upon Egypt that will also fall upon the world during the great tribulation. The first judgment that fell upon Egypt was that their rivers turned to blood, the plague of dam (Blood). The second plague that fell upon Egypt was the plague of frogs or tsz'far'dea. Thirdly, the plague of lice or kinim covered the land of ancient Egypt. The fourth plague, the plague of wild beasts (arov). The fifth plague, the plague of dever (the cattle plague), how the cattle died in ancient Egypt. The sixth plague, the plague of boils (sh'cyhin). The seventh plague, the plague of hail. Giant hailstorms fell upon Egypt. The eighth plague, the plague of Ar'beh (locusts) that invaded Egypt. The ninth plague, the plague of khoshech or darkness, covered the earth. And finally the tenth plague, the plague of makat B'chorot, the slaying of the firstborn. Now we're gonna lift our cups together in commemoration of God's judgment and act of salvation, as we say, Baruch Ata Adonai Elohaynu Melech Ha-olam borei pri hagafen as we partake now of the second cup of wine, or juice, fruit of the vine. It was at this point in the Seder that Yeshua revealed himself by saying, "This is my body broken for you, take and eat". Remember the matzah. It's pierced, just like Yeshua's pierced. It has stripes on it, just like Yeshua had stripes because of the lashes for our sin. And it's unleavened because he's sinless. He took that Passover matzah. Remember, John the Baptist said, "Behold the Lamb of God," in his baptism. Jesus is bringing it to fulfillment now with crystal clarity before he goes to the cross, celebrating this last Passover meal with his disciples, saying, "As often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me, because this is all about me. It all points to me and is fulfilled in me". So He took that piece of matzah, beloved ones, He broke it, He said, "Take and eat. This is my body broken for you".
Man: Thank you, Jesus.
Rabbi Schneider: Remember I said earlier in the Seder that we're gonna drink four cups of juice. And the four cups of juice represent the four expressions of what God does for us as His people. It's taken from the book of Exodus 6:6 and 7. Let's read it once again. God is speaking to Moses. He said, "Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, 'I am the Lord and I will bring you out...'" That was the first cup that we drank earlier in the Seder tonight. It's the cup of sanctification. God brought us out of the world to Himself. "I will take you out from under the burden of the Egyptians and I will deliver you". That was the second cup we drank, the cup of deliverance or the cup of judgment because God delivered Israel by pouring out judgments upon the Egyptians. Now we come to the third cup, the cup of redemption. "I will also," the Lord said, "redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments". So it was during this point in the Seder we believe that Yeshua lifted up the third cup of juice. He said something like, "Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha'olam, borei pri hagafe. Blessed art thou, Father, Lord of the earth, who brings forth the fruit of the vine, the Passover wine". And He said, "This is my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Take and drink all of it, for I will not drink it with you again until the coming of the kingdom". Beloved, every time we celebrate Passover, we do it in honor of King Jesus, realizing that Passover is all about Him. He is the Passover lamb that takes away the sin of the world, and He's coming back, beloved, to be revealed as the reigning king of the Bible. Take a drink. Thank you for redemption, Father. Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.
All Together: For His mercy endures forever.
Rabbi Schneider: And now it's time to drink from the fourth cup, the cup of praise. Baruch Ata Adonai Elohaynu Melech Ha-olam, borei pri hagafen. Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth the fruit of the vine. Now you'll notice we have a seating at the table where no one is placed. Who is that empty seat for? It's for Elijah. Again, beloved ones, all over the world when we celebrate Passover, we have an empty spot set for Elijah. Why? So as Jewish people celebrate Passover, they don't just remember how God delivered them in the past through Moses 3,500 years ago, but they're looking forward with anticipation to Messiah's coming. But why Elijah? Because the Bible tells us in the book of Malachi that before Messiah comes, Elijah will come first and announce His coming. We know the Messiah has come. The Jewish community is still looking for him to come, whereas we know that He already has come. In fact, when Yeshua walked upon the earth, some religious Jewish leaders came to Jesus and they said, if you're the Messiah, where is Elijah? For we have read that Elijah will come first to announce His coming. You know what Yeshua said? He has come. Yeshua said in the book of Matthew 11:14, John the Baptist was he, if you can receive it. Well, beloved ones, as we celebrate Passover together, I believe that we've all been touched with the warmth of the Holy Spirit, to be able to be united to Him and united to each other. Baruch Hashem, blessed be the name of the Lord. And we close the Seder by saying, next year in Yerushalayim. In other words, may we celebrate the Seder again together next year in Yerushalayim, the city of the great King. And we know that when Jesus returns, He's gonna return as the lion from the tribe of Judah, and as the offspring of David. And He's gonna take all of us together to the heavenly city, whether you're a Jew or a Gentile. So all I can say, beloved, is what Jesus said. He said, Salvation is from the Jews. Baruch Hashem. I love you. God bless you, and Chag Sameach. Happy Passover.
All Together: Chag Sameach.