Instead of reading and telling stories, the Book Clubbers and a friend got together on Maundy Thursday to taste a story - an old, old, story that has been told every year for 3500 years, and which, when the events did happen, foreshadowed The Story of all stories.We had talked about the Sedar supper for a few weeks. I think most of the 6 of us weren't entirely sure what to do or expect, but we all thought it would be a meaningful thing to do this year at Easter. Christian festivals these days tend towards simplicity, perhaps a conscious effort to ensure that the message of Christmas/Easter is not obscured with tradition and ceremony. I am an advocate of that definitely, but it was an interesting experience to re-enact at home the age-old Jewish passover tradition, and to come to a new appreciation of how the Old Testament runs parallel in purpose to the New Testament in the whole theme of "rescue".
We had to improvise on some items, but this was how the Seder supper table looked like on Thursday.
Took the Cappadoccia plate down from the kitchen mantlepiece, and it became our Sedar plate!
The significance of the items on the Sedar Plate:
- The MATZAH, The Unleavened bread (that's the table water biscuit). The Israelites fleeing Egypt had no time for it to rise. It is the bread of affliction or the humble bread. The bread without leaven (symbolizing sin), made of fine wheat flour, water and oil. (Exodus 29:7 & Deuteronomy 16:3)
- The Roasted Lamb Bone is a reminder of the Temple Sacrifice and the first Passover Lamb.
- Bitter Herbs recall the bitterness of slavery. Traditionally made of Horseradish, grated by hand by the man of the house till he sheds a tear. This makes up for the ones shed by the wife during the year.
- A Green Vegetable represents the hyssop branches used to apply the blood of the lamb to the doorpost. It is also considered a bitter herb. (Exodus 12:22a)
- The Clay (Charoset) of apples, nuts, cinnamon, and wine, represents the bricks and mortar the Israelites were forced to make under Pharaoh's taskmasters. (Exodus 1:14)
- A Roasted Egg is a reminder of the Temple Holiday Sacrifice and also a symbol of life. It was offered at the Temple during the Feast of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. (Deuteronomy 16:16)
- Salt Water symbolizes the blood of the first Passover lamb, also the tears shed by the Israelites slaves. We also recall Israel's baptism in the Red Sea. (Exodus 14:22)
The Red Rabbi led us through the Haggadah, which he brilliantly adapted for this group. The full version (Christianized) can be found here, and one could spend many hours studying it. I guess we each have our favorite parts of the Haggadah. Here's mine - the Yachatz - Breaking of the Middle Matzo:
" Three Matzos are placed in a special white covering. The middle matzah is removed and broken. The larger piece is wrapped and hidden, it is called the afikoman meaning that which comes later [in Greek]. The Afikoman is hidden, or buried, to be found and redeemed later for a reward. The smaller piece is eaten before the meal. Why are there three matzos? Some rabbis say it represents the HIGH PRIEST, LEVITES and PEOPLE of ISRAEL. The three forms of worship in temple times. But why is the middle broken? Other rabbis say that it represents ABRAHAM, ISAAC and JACOB. But this, too, does not explain why the middle matzah is broken. Still other rabbis say that in the wilderness God gave daily MANNA, but on Friday a double portion was given and one is added for Passover, making three. But why is the middle matzah broken, buried and brought back? This tradition has been celebrated for thousands of years. For us who believe in Y'shua, it is no mystery. It is a beautiful picture of Jesus and the one and only God revealed in three persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Son left the Holy of Holies, heaven, was broken, buried, and brought back. He who finds Him receives a great reward, Eternal Life."
So the truly astounding thing about Pesach, and the Pesach that we as Christians now practice (the Lord's Supper) is that it is not merely a teaching about Christ, but an experience of Christ. Not just in the tales we hear, the songs we sing, or even the elements we partake in the Supper, but in being able to say, "Come now and taste that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8)
[more thoughts on Easter....to be continued]
