“Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.
He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”
They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
Luke 22:7-13
The celebration for which Jesus and His disciples were preparing was the Passover meal. This reminded the Jewish people of how God had saved them from slavery in Egypt and how the Angel of Death had "passed over" their homes the night before they were freed from slavery.
All over the world Jewish people still celebrate the Passover. In the meal, each part of it has special meaning.
Karpar - parsley or another green vegetable symbolizes the coming of spring. Sometimes it is dipped in salt water, which represents the tears of the Jewish people when they were slaves.
Maror - Bitter herbs, usually horseradish, represent the bitterness of slavery.
Roasted Lamb - the Z'roa is the one part of the Seder plate that is not eaten during the dinner. Instead, it serves as a visual reminder of the special Passover sacrificial lamb offered at the temple in Jerusalem before its destruction.
Matzah - unleavened bread is eaten to remember how the Israelites had to flea Egypt before their bread had a chance to rise
Egg - Beitzah, often eaten with salt water, hard-boiled eggs are a symbol of life. It is also said to represent the second offerings presented at the temple in Jerusalem, sorrow at its destruction, and the hope that it will be rebuilt.
Charoseth - A sweet mixture of roughly chopped apples, walnuts, cinnamon and red wine, charoset represents the mortar that was used to construct the store houses by the Jewish people when they were slaves in ancient Egypt.
Elijah's Cup - One of five cups, this one symbolizing the belief that Elijah's arrival will announce the coming of the Jewish Messiah.
Questions:
- Think about the Passover Meal - what preparations needed to be made?
- How did the disciples know where to prepare for the meal?
- What do we learn about Jesus from these verses?
- Has Elijah already come? (The Bible explains that John the Baptist came in the "spirit of Elijah - he was like Elijah; "He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:16-17)
Thoughts:
Every Christian home can be enriched by celebrating Passover, just as our Lord did. For Jesus, Passover was the most significant of holy days. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, we too can join in this special holy day. In fact, for Christians, Passover is even more significant because it finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. It was no accident that Jesus was crucified at Passover. He became the once for all sacrifice which allows God's judgement to "pass over" us.
Here is a wonderful website that helps you celebrate the Passover from a Christian perspective:
A Christian Seder Meal http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/04/why-a-christian-family-may-celebrate-passover-a-messianic-seder/
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we worship You and love You so very much. Enter into our thoughts and actions throughout this Easter season. Help us see You in the Passover meal. Thank You for being our sacrifice. We love You.
For Further Study:
There are many children throughout the world who are very bold in their faith in Christ, especially in nations where it is hard to be a Christian. Sharing their stories can encourage a bolder faith in your children. A wonderful resource is Kids of Courage
* Some of the content of this blog is based on the book Family Celebrations at Easter by Ann Hibbard.*
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