Apr. 28, 2024

• The Haggadah -comes from a term meaning "telling." It stresses the importance of the Seder as "a spectacle meant to excite the interest and the curiosity of the children." Everything in the Seder is meant to make the children curious and ask questions.
• The First Cup - The Cup of Salvation - Psalms 16:5; Psalms 116:13; Exodus 6:6
• The Washing of the Hands - symbol of purity required to enter God's presence in His Holy Temple. 
• Dipping of Parsley Into Salt Water -symbolizes the hyssop and the tears shed in bondage. Read Exodus 12: 1-20; Leviticus 17:11; Hebrew 9:22.
• Breaking of the middle Matzo - the leader breaks the middle of the three cakes of unleavened bread (matzo) and hides half of it. This hidden half is called the afikomen. It is a Greek word meaning "dessert" or "after dinner entertainment." It also means "He who comes"! The child that finds the hidden Matzo receives a prize! The ultimate gift or prize is the Messiah. In the same way if they find the ultimate gift in Christ--they receive eternal life.
• The Second Cup - The Cup of the Wicked/Judgment - the ten plagues are recounted and a drop of wine is spilled for each one. Psalms 11:6; Psalms 75:8; Jeremiah 25:15-17.
• Elements of the Passover - 1) The Matzo is half eaten to symbolize the haste in which the children of Israel left Egypt. 2) The Bitter Herbs are eaten to symbolize the bitterness of labor forced upon the children of Israel by Pharoah. 3) The Charoset -This tasty mixture of apples, nuts and spice represents the mortar used to make the bricks to build Pharoah's buildings. It is eaten with matzah. 4) The Beitzah or egg is eaten in memory of the daily Temple sacrifice which is no longer offered. 5) The Afikomen -before the Afikoman is broken, three pieces of Matzo bread are wrapped up in a cloth binding the three into one (represents the trinity.) The broken piece represents Christ the Messiah. Luke 22:19
• The Third Cup - The Cup of Redemption: Exodus 6:6; Why did Jesus pray "let this cup pass?" Did He not want to die? John 19; 18.
• The Empty Seat and Cup -The empty seat is for the prophet Elijah the forerunner of the Messiah. They also poured a cup of wine. (Why did Jesus not observe this at the last supper? Because John the Baptist came in the Spirit of Elijah!
• The Fourth Cup - The Cup of Praise - Exodus 6:7; Matthew 26:27; This is the Cup of our covenant with God. 
• The Seder concludes as all sing in unison, "Next Year in Jerusalem!" Traditionally you would say "next year we go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover."
• Context of Final Supper - John 13:3-15; The Commonality of the Foot-Washing and the Lord's Supper is HUMILITY. In washing the feet, the creator washed the feet of the created. In the Lord's Supper, God is willing to become our sacrifice. This must not be taken lightly!!!
• Self-Examination -1 Corinthians 11: 27-29.
• The Lord's Supper -Luke 22: 14-24.