Chag Sameach!

       This year, our Easter break falls during the same week as Passover. This is really convenient, but it also got me thinking.

            I was preparing dinner and setting a nicer table to celebrate Passover (no lamb this year, just chicken) and I realized how Passover is not really known or understood here. We were planning a trip to a town up north where there is a large Jewish population, but I said we could not go Tuesday (today) because it’s a Sabbath. Turns out we are probably not going at all, but after realizing how unknown Passover is, I began to question why?

            Passover is one of the reasons Easter/Resurrection Sunday exists. And without understanding Passover, it’s harder to understand the full significance of Christ and some of the names he is called like “the lamb” for instance. Christ’s resurrection should not be overlooked and should be celebrated, but we also need to understand the significance of his death which, for me, is more clearly understood during the Passover Seder and celebration.

           

The Matzah (the unleavened bread used during the Seder and the week of unleavened bread) is both pierced and stripped, just like Christ was pierced and stripped (beaten) for us. Lamb is traditionally served but is at the very least included on the Seder plate. That represents the blood of the lamb placed on the door frames of the homes for the angel of death to Passover, sparing the firstborn. It also represents Christ, the sacrifice for us.

            Why unleavened bread? Leaven is used as a representation of sin. “A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.” (Gal. 5:9 NASB) By removing the leaven it symbolizes purity. However, to Jews, it represents leaving at a moment’s notice. They had no time for the bread to rise, so they just baked it and left.

          

       Although a good portion of the Seder discusses and celebrates the deliverance of the Israelites (notice I said Israelites and not Jews) from Egypt, there are still subtleties that point to Christ. The afikomen is wrapped in a cloth or bag, hidden and then the children search for it. Sounds a bit like Christ being wrapped up, laid in a tomb and then the women go in search for him, doesn’t it?   

            There are many more details I could point out, but I am going to stop for now. I hope you all have a blessed and restful week. Chag Sameach!