In the traditional seder, two
cups are before the meal and two cups follow the meal. This is why the Messiah took
the third cup after the supper , the cup of Redemption, and used it for the New
Covenant. In the same way He took the cup
also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as
often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me". 1CO 11:25 This was the Redeemer presenting Himself at the feast of Redemption (Passover) using the cup of Redemption symbolizing the blood of the Lamb of God. YAHUSHUA was the Lamb of God about to be sacrificed for us.
The Passover meal also includes unleavened bread (matzah) and bitter herbs. The unleavened bread is called the "bread of haste" because Israel had to leave Egypt quickly. There was no time to let the daily bread rise and become leavened. The matzah also speaks of the sinless nature of YAHUSHUA. Leaven is a spiritual symbol of sin. This is why Paul instructs us.
Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1CO 5:7-8
Traditionally, three pieces of matzah are used for the formal part of the Passover seder. They are called the "Unity". Different teachings are offered to explain the use of these three pieces of matzah. However, let me relay exactly what is done with the bread and you can decide for yourselves what they mean. First, the second piece of the matzah is broken in half. The "best part" is wrapped in a clean linen cloth and placed separate from the Passover table. A pillow is put over the wrapped bread. It is said that the bread has been buried and a "stone" is covering it. This piece of bread is called 'the Afikoman". The piece of bread is considered to be the best part of the Passover, it serves as the dessert for the meal. The remaining three pieces of matzah are used in telling the Passover story and for eating bitter herbs. Generally, the father or leader of the Passover eats the first piece and the other half of the second piece and the third piece is shared by others at the table. When eating bitter herbs (usually horseradish), one learns to eat more matzah than bitter herbs; therefore, the bread 'comforts" us.
Immediately after the supper, when it is time to drink the third cup (the cup of Redemption), the leader of the Passover calls for the Afikoman (the wrapped and buried piece of matzah) to "come forth". But, this is where a traditional game is played with the children. During the meal, they are to remove and hide the Afikoman. Therefore, when the leader calls for the Afikoman to come forth, the children report, "The stone [the pillow] has been moved and all we found was this linen cloth".
For those of us who see the resurrection of YAHUSHUA from the grave being foretold, we can see God's great plan of salvation in the Passover story. Maybe this is why YAHUSHUA took the Afikomen at the Last Supper and referred to His own body broken for us.
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me". 1CO 11:23-24
The word "Afikoman" is also significant in its meaning. In the Hebrew it means, "It is finished". This was the last word spoken by YAHUSHUA as He died.
When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" [Afikoman] and He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit. JOH 19:30
The bitter herbs speak not only of sorrow and bitter hardness from bondage. They also speak of betrayal. YAHUSHUA used the bitter herbs to designate that it was Judas who would betray Him.
Jesus therefore answered, "That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him". So when He had dipped the morsel [the matzah with bitter herbs], He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. JOH 13:26
The instruction of Moses concerning the Passover is personal instruction.
Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste-- it is the Lord's Passover. EXO 12:11
For those of us who know YAHUSHUA, we know our loins are to girded with truth and feet shod with the Gospel. We know that we go by the authority of God - with His Shepherd's staff in our hand. We remember God's great work of Salvation in YAHUSHUA our Messiah. We remember that God delivered us with "an outstretched arm" when He was hung from the cross of a tree.
Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance. EXO 12:14
If anyone tells you that the Passover is not for Christians and that it is not done anymore, then you are talking to someone who does not know who the Lamb of God is or what it means. You are talking to someone who knows about some religious things but has never sat at the Feast of Redemption and experienced the Lamb of God, nor does he realize that he is outside looking in.
This article is reprinted from Lion And Lamb Ministries.
Passover Index