Observing Passover
Can and should believers in Yeshua celebrate/observe the Feasts of the Lord?
Let’s look at what the Bible says concerning the His feasts and “Gentiles.”
Instructions for the First Passover
And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: No foreigner is to eat of it. But any slave who has been purchased may eat of it, after you have circumcised him. A temporary resident or hired hand shall not eat the Passover. It must be eaten inside one house. You are not to take any of the meat outside the house, and you may not break any of the bones. The whole congregation of Israel must celebrate it. If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, all the males in the household must be circumcised; then he may come near to celebrate it, and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it. The same law shall apply to both the native and the foreigner who resides among you.” Exodus 12:43-49
Believers are No Longer Aliens and Foreigners
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. Ephesians 2:11-19
True Believers have True Circumcision of the Heart
If you follow the law, then your circumcision has meaning. But if you break the law, then it is as if you were never circumcised. The non-Jews are not circumcised. But if they do what the law says, then it is as if they were circumcised. You Jews have the written law and circumcision, but you break the law. So those who are not circumcised in their bodies, but still obey the law, will show that you are guilty. A person is not a true Jew if he is only a Jew in his physical body. True circumcision is not only on the outside of the body. A person is a true Jew only if he is a Jew inside. True circumcision is done in the heart by the Spirit, not by the written law. Such a person gets praise from God, not from other people. Romans 2:25-29 ICB
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua. And if you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:28-29 BSB
So, the answer to our question is Yes! True believers or Christians have had their hearts circumcised by the Spirit and are therefore true Jews. We have the true circumcision, and we follow Yehovah’s law.
In the Torah we are instructed how to keep Passover. In the Gospels we are instructed to keep Passover as a memorial or remembrance of Messiah. It is the blood of Yeshua shed at Passover over 2000 years ago that brings us near to God.
Before We Begin – Get the Leaven Out
Before Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread the Israelites and the Jews today clear out all leaven/yeast containing products as instructed by Torah. They clean their houses thoroughly to get all offending crumbs swept out.
Leaven represents sin and since we are no better than the Hebrews of old, we too tend to be stiff-necked and stubborn. We sometimes need object lessons to help us understand the importance of the message.
As believers in Yeshua, it is equally important to remove the leaven of hypocrisy, malice, and all the other sins we tend to feel justified in holding onto. Repentance is not just turning away from your old life and sin; it is walking away in the opposite direction. Walk toward the light, walk to Yeshua.
After you have removed the leaven from your home and your heart, you are ready…
Let’s Celebrate the Passover!
Passover & the Feast of Unleavened Bread
‘These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it. But you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord for seven days. The seventh day shall be a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it.’” Leviticus 23:4-22
The Passover Seder
As we begin our Passover celebration, let’s make sure we understand what we are about to do and the significance of the various elements of the evening.
Seder (pronounced SAY der) means order. There is an order to the Passover service and retelling of the exodus story. This story has been told and retold for millennia. Our Passover service tonight will follow this order:
- Lighting the Candles
- Significance of the Seder Plate
- Significance of the 4 Cups
- First Cup
- Karpas & Tears
- Significance of the Matzah and the Afikomen
- The Haggadah – Telling of the Exodus Story & the Significance of the 10 Plagues or 10 Wonders
- Dayenu (It would have been enough)
- Second Cup
- Maror – Bitter Herbs
- Charoset – Sweet
- Festive Meal
- New Covenant in Passover
- Find the Afikomen
- Third Cup
- Hallel
- Fourth Cup
- Next Year in Jerusalem
Lighting the Candles
The Significance of Lighting Candles
Light is mentioned many times in the Bible referring to Yeshua, the spirit of man, His commandments and His Torah, and Yeshua’s light to the Gentiles.
Light as Yeshua the Messiah:
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
Light as the Divine:
The LORD is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? Psalm 27:1
Light as the Divine in man:
The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inner depths of the heart. Proverbs 20:27
Light as a symbol of Divine law:
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: Proverbs 6:23
Light of the Gentiles:
I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles. Isaiah 42:6
Since it was through woman that that the Light of the world, Yeshua Messiah, came into the world, it is appropriate that the woman brings light into the home. (Gen. 3:15; Luke 2:7).
Candle Lighting Blessing
[The woman of the house says a blessing and lights the Passover candles.]
Blessed are You, Yehovah, our God, King of the universe, Who makes us holy us by Your commandments, And by the blood sacrifice of Yeshua the Messiah, And has commanded us to be a light for the nations, And gave us the Light of the World, Yeshua the Messiah.
Shehechiyanu Blessing (Who has given us life)
The Shehechiyanu blessing is commonly said to celebrate reaching life’s milestones such as the feasts of Yehovah.
Blessed are You, Yehovah, our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us in life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this festive season.
The Significance of the Seder Plate
Zeroah – This bone represents the shank bone of the Passover lamb. The Israelites were spared the death of their first-born by the blood of the Passover lamb. It reminds us of the sacrifice of Messiah, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.
Karpas & Salt Water – This green vegetable will be dipped in the salt water to remind us of the tears the Israelites shed while in bondage in Egypt.
Maror – This bitter herb – horseradish – remind us of the bitterness of Israel’s bondage in Egypt.
Charoset – This sweet mixture of nuts, fruit, and spices represents the clay the Israelites used to make the bricks in Egypt.
Matzah – The unleavened bread reminds us of when the Israelites left Egypt in haste. It reminds us of the sinless Messiah.
Wine/Juice – This wine or grape juice represents the fruit of the vine, the wine that was drunk at covenant meals. There are 4 cups drunk during the seder.
The Significance of the Four Cups
There are several traditions regarding the four cups drunk during the Seder. One of the more popular traditions is that the 4 cups represent the four “I will” statements in Exodus 6.
I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will save you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people…
With these four cups, we remember the works of God as aspects of His saving Israel. We also see aspects of salvation through Messiah in these cups.
We also take these 4 cups in remembrance of Yeshua. At His final Passover, He commands us to “do this in remembrance of Me.”
- Sanctification
Traditional: “I will BRING you out of bondage.”
New Covenant: Messiah calls us to be set apart as disciples. - Deliverance
Traditional: “I will DELIVER you from slavery.”
New Covenant: Yeshua has saved us from the penalty of our sins through the shedding of His blood. - Redemption
Traditional: “I will REDEEM you with My outstretched arm.”
New Covenant: Yeshua has redeemed mankind – Isaiah prophesied, “the righteous One, My servant, shall make many accounted righteous, because He poured out His soul to death and bore the sin of many.” Through Messiah pouring out His blood, God redeemed from every nation a people for Himself. - Restoration of the Kingdom
Traditional: “I will TAKE you as My people.”
New Covenant: The coming Messianic Age is the restoration of the world when there will be one nation – the Kingdom of God with one king – the Messiah.
First Cup – Cup of Sanctification
[Fill your neighbor’s cup]
The first cup is the Cup of Sanctification symbolizing that we are to be set apart, holy unto God/Yehovah. He told the people of Israel, “I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians” (Exodus 6:6). When we accept Yeshua as our Lord and Savior, God has redeemed us from the burden of our sin, and set us apart, made us holy.
[Take the first cup in your right hand]
Blessing
Blessed are You, Yehovah, our God, King of the Universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.
[Drink the cup]
Karpas & Salt Water – Celery or Parsley
The Israelites continued to moan because of their bondage, and they cried out to be rescued from their oppression. Their cry for help ascended to God. He heard their pleas and remembered the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God saw the situation the people of Israel were in, and He was moved to take action. Exodus 2:23b-25 VOICE
The green Karpas is representative of the green sprouts of new life that come in the spring, the time of early harvest, the time of Passover. The promise of new life out of a life of bondage to slavery and sin.
As we dip the Karpas in the salt water and eat it, we recall the difficulties of the Israelites and the tears shed in slavery. We also remember the tears shed by Messiah over His people, and that we were once enslaved to sin. Even though we may have painful circumstances in our lives, we always have hope that God will hear our cry and deliver us.
Blessing
Blessed are You, Yehovah, our God, King of the Universe, Who creates the fruit of the earth.
[Dip the Karpas in the salt water twice and eat]
The Matzah – Unleavened Bread
Breaking the Matzah – Hide the Afikomen
At the very first Passover the Israelites had to leave quickly and did not have time for the bread to rise. Leaven represents sin and hypocrisy in the Bible. This bread is unleavened to represent sinlessness – the sinless body of the Messiah.
There are three pieces of matzah used during a Passover seder. Later we will break the middle piece in two. The smaller piece is called the Afikomen (pronounced afee KO men) – Greek for dessert. It is called that not because it is sweet, but because it is the last item of food eaten at the seder. It is also “sweet” to us because it represents the body of Messiah.
Yeshua was broken for us, and placed in the belly of the earth, hidden, for three days and three nights. As we break the Matzah, we remember His great sacrifice for us. As we wrap it in the linen cloth, we remember that Yeshua was wrapped in linen for burial.
[Break the Afikomen, place in the linen cloth and hide it until later]
Later we will remove the matzah from the hiding place and linen cloth as a reminder of His resurrection.
The Telling – Haggadah
God rescued Israel from bondage in Egypt
Why do we need to retell the story of the Exodus? Why do we need to be reminded? Because it is a big deal! Yehovah reminded the children of Israel many times of the great and marvelous work He did for them.
A long, long time ago, after Joseph died, and the Pharaoh who was familiar with the Israelites died, the new Pharaoh enslaved them and treated them harshly. Even so they were increasing in number and the Egyptians were afraid their population would be overtaken by the Israelites. So, Pharaoh decreed that all Hebrew baby boys should be killed at birth. One Hebrew baby boy was saved by his mother by hiding him in a basket in the Nile where Pharaoh’s daughter often bathed. His sister hid close by and when Pharaoh’s daughter found him, she volunteered to find someone to nurse him – his real mother. When he was weened, he was returned to Pharaoh’s daughter. She named him Moses (Moshe). When he had grown up, he went to the Hebrew village in Goshen one day and saw an Egyptian mistreating some Hebrew men. He fought with him, killed him, and buried him in the sand. A few days later he was in Goshen again and saw some Hebrews arguing. He tried to intervene, and they accused him of wanting to kill them like he had killed the Egyptian. This made him very fearful and he ran away and left Egypt.
Forty years later, he was in the wilderness and saw an incredible sight. A bush was on fire but not being consumed. He approached to investigate, and God spoke to him and told him to remove his shoes as he was standing on holy ground. God revealed to Moses that He had heard the cries of the Israelites and wanted to rescue them and was calling Moses to lead them out. Moses was nervous and protested because he was not a good speaker. God said he could bring his older brother Aaron with him to do the talking. God would tell Moses what to say and Moses would tell Aaron. God gave him a few signs to perform in front of Pharaoh to convince him to let the people go.
Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and asked him to let the Israelites go three-day’s journey into the wilderness to worship and sacrifice to their God – Yehovah. Pharaoh denied their request. Moses and Aaron performed the miracles that Yehovah had given to them, but Pharaoh’s magicians were able to mimic them and Pharaoh was not persuaded. They returned several times asking him to let them go, and they were denied every time.
Now things were going to heat up for the Egyptians and Pharaoh. Moses and Aaron told them that if they did not let the Israelites go, that all the water in Egypt would be turned to blood. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened toward Yehovah and so the water was turned to blood. His magicians were able to copy this miracle too. Pharaoh said he would let them go, so the plague was stopped. Then he changed his mind so the plagues of frogs, then lice, then flies were unleashed against Pharaoh and the Egyptians. These plagues were also experienced in Goshen. Still Pharaoh would not let them go.
Now Yehovah turned up the heat a bit more – the next five plagues did not affect the Israelites in Goshen. Still after each plague—the cattle killing disease, the boils and skin sores, the hail with fire, the swarms of locust, and then the darkness so dark it could be felt—Pharaoh said he would let them go, but God hardened his heart, and he changed his mind and would not let them go.
Finally, Yehovah told Moses and Aaron that He was going to perform His final most severe plague on Egypt. This time the Israelites had to mark their homes by sacrificing a year-old lamb at twilight on the 14th day of Aviv, roast it, and eat it dressed and ready to move out. Prior to this day, they were to ask their Egyptian neighbors for gold, silver, red, blue, and purple yarn, fine linen. The Egyptians gave them all the things they asked for. On the tenth of Aviv, the Hebrews selected their lambs, kept it with them to ensure it was spotless and on the fourteenth they performed the sacrifice. They dipped hyssop branches in the blood and dabbed it on the lintel and doorposts of their houses. Everyone stayed inside and ate the meal just as instructed. At midnight Yehovah and the Death Angel passed thought Egypt and Goshen. When Yehovah saw the blood on the doorways of the Hebrew’s houses, He did not allow the Death Angel to enter. Not a single one with blood on the doorways had any loss of life.
When Pharaoh and the other Egyptians woke up, they found every first born human or animal dead. A huge cry went up and Pharaoh realized he had sinned against Yehovah. He called Moses and Aaron and told them to leave with everyone and everything just as they had asked and he asked Moses to pray for him. So, all the Hebrews and many Egyptians left Egypt in a great exodus.
Later Pharaoh regretted letting them go and assembled his army and took out after them. But Yehovah protected the Hebrews – He stood as a Cloud between the Hebrews and the Red Sea, He parted the Red Sea and the Hebrews crossed on dry land. The Egyptians followed the Hebrews into the sea, but the ground became muddy, and the wall of water began to fall in on them and they were drowned.
The mixed multitude (Hebrews and Egyptians) on the other side of the Red Sea saw this great protective act by Yehovah. They were now safe and free.
The 10 Plagues – The 10 Wonders
The plagues that Yehovah brought against Egypt were not just random plagues and disasters. They struck at the very heart of the Egyptian religious system. The Egyptians worshipped many gods and goddesses – Yehovah proved more powerful than all of them.
Passover is a courtship. Yehovah wanted His people to see that he was greater than all the Egyptian gods. In his love for Israel, He destroyed all of Israel’s suitors (Egypt’s gods), led them out of bondage, and destroyed Pharaoh and his army as well.
- The water turned to blood – Plague 1: revealed the impotence Khnum, the guardian of the river, Hapi the spirit of the Nile, and Osiris, whose blood was the Nile. This plague took out 3 Egyptian gods.
- The frogs – Plague 2: revealed the impotence of Egypt’s gods, Hapi and Heket, who were symbolized by frogs and related to Egyptian fertility rites. This took out 1 more god.
- The lice – Plague 3: revealed the impotence of Egypt’s earth god – Seb. One more Egyptian god down.
- The flies – Plague 4: revealed the impotence of Egypt’s god of flies – Uatchit. One more destroyed.
- The disease on cattle – Plague 5: revealed the impotence of the Egyptian gods associated with bulls and cows – Ptah, Mnevis, Hathor, & Amon. Four gods taken out by this plague.
- The skin boils – Plague 6: revealed the impotence of the goddess of epidemics – Sekhmet, and the god of healing – Imhotep. Two more destroyed Egyptian gods.
- The hail mixed with fire – Plague 7: revealed the impotence of the sky goddess – Nut, two Egyptian agricultural deities – Isis & Seth, and the god of the atmosphere, weather, and sky – Shu. This plague took out four more gods.
- The swarms of locusts – Plague 8: revealed the impotence of the deity who was to protect Egypt specifically from locusts – Serapia. This plague took out one more god.
- The thick darkness – Plague 9: revealed the impotence of gods who were related to the sun – Re, Amon-re, Aten, Atum, & Horus. This plague took out 5 Egyptian gods!
- The firstborn sons of Egypt die – Plague 10: revealed the impotence of Pharaoh himself, who was worshiped as a deity in Egypt.
All told, Yehovah destroyed 23 Egyptian gods and goddesses including Pharaoh.
After all the miraculous acts against Pharaoh and the Egyptians, the children of Israel were protected during the final plague – the death of the first born. They were instructed to select a spotless lamb, a year old, on the 10th of Aviv and keep it with them for four days. On the evening of the 14th, they were to slaughter the lamb and splash the blood with hyssop branches on the lintel and door posts of their houses. This was a sign of their belief, trust, and obedience to Yehovah that He would cause the Death Angel to pass over their homes and not kill their first born.
“After you have entered the country promised to you by the LORD, you and your children must continue to celebrate Passover each year. Your children will ask you, “What are we celebrating?” And you will answer, “The Passover animal is killed to honor Yehovah. We do these things because on that night long ago Yehovah passed over the homes of our people in Egypt. He killed the first-born sons of the Egyptians, but he saved our children from death.” (Exodus 12:24-27)
During the final Passover of Yeshua’s life on earth, He, the only begotten Son of God, was sacrificed once for all to rescue us from our bondage to sin and death.
Consider These Facts from Exodus & the New Testament
| Exodus | New Testament |
| Pharaoh has the Hebrew baby boys killed (Moses is hidden in a basket in the Nile) | Herod has the Jewish baby boys killed (Yeshua is hidden in Egypt) |
| The Hebrews selected their lamb on the 10th of Aviv (Nisan) | The Jews in Jerusalem selected the Lamb of God as they shouted, “Hosanna to the son of David.” |
| The Hebrews set aside their lamb for four days to make sure it was without blemish | The Messiah was put on public display in the temple to challenge His unblemished life (Mar 14:53-65) |
| The Passover lamb was sacrificed at twilight | Yeshua gave up the ghost at 3:00 in the afternoon |
| The final plague, the first born of Egypt are killed | Yehovah’s only begotten is sacrificed |
| The blood on the doorways of the Hebrew’s homes protected them from death | The blood of Yeshua on the cross saved us from curse of sin and death |
| The Israelites were freed from bondage to slavery | Yeshua freed us from bondage to sin |
| Those who left Egypt were a mixed multitude | God’s plan was always to restore all mankind to back to Himself |
God rescued Mankind from bondage to sin
A long time ago, we were lost in our sins, separated from God and without hope in the world. Yeshua came and walked among us fulfilling the prophecy that a prophet like Moses would come. He died for and paid the debt of all our sins once and for all. He was buried and spent the first three days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread in a grave. On the third day, the Feast of Firstfruits, He rose from the grave defeating sin and death. Forty days later He ascended back to Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father where He is always interceeding for us. Then 10 days after ascending, He sent the Comforter – the Holy Spirit. Now we live in hopeful expectation of His return.
Dayenu
Dayenu is a traditional upbeat song that has been part of the Passover celebration since at least the ninth century. The earliest instance of the full text of the song occurs in the first medieval haggadah, which is part of the ninth-century Seder Rav Amram.
The word “dayenu” means roughly “it would have been enough”, “it would have been sufficient”, or “it would have sufficed.” Day (pronounced “die”) in Hebrew means “enough”, and -enu is a suffix meaning “to us.”
The song is about being grateful to God for all of the gifts He gave the Jewish people, such as freedom from slavery, giving them the Torah and Shabbat, and had God only given one of these gifts, it would have still been enough.
The 15 verses of Dayenu represent the 15 gifts God gave the children of Israel. The song is broken into 3 groups of 5 verses recalling the Freedom from Slavery, Miracles of Yehovah and their new Relationship to Yehovah. Each verse is followed by the word “Dayenu” sung repeatedly.
To show our amazement and gratitude for what Yehovah did for us through His plan of eternal salvation, I have added 5 verses extoling the gift and grace of Yeshua.
Yehovah Frees Israel from Slavery
1) If He had only brought us out of Egypt.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
2) If He had only executed justice upon the Egyptians.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
3) If He had only executed justice upon their gods.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
4) If He had only slain their first-born.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
5) If He had only given to us their health and wealth.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
The Miracles Yehovah Did for Israel
6) If He had only split the sea for us.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
7) If He had only led us through on dry land.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
8) If He had only drowned our oppressors.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
9) If He had only provided for our needs in the wilderness for 40 years.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
10) If He had only fed us manna.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
The Gifts Yehovah Gave to Israel
11) If He had only given us Shabbat.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
12) If He had only led us to Mount Sinai.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
13) If He had only given us the Torah.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
14) If He had only brought us into the Land of Israel.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
15) If He only built the Temple for us.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
The Promise of Eternity with Yehovah
16) If he had only paid the death debt of our sin.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
17) If he had only risen again from the grave providing hope of the resurrection.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
18) If He had only sent His Holy Spirit to comfort and empower us.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
19) If He only ascended to the Father to make intercession for us.
Dayenu! (It would have been enough!)
20) If He only promised to come back to judge the world and spend eternity with us.
Dayenu! (It will be more than enough!)
2nd Cup – Cup of Deliverance
[Fill your neighbor’s glass]
As we take the second cup, the Cup of Deliverance, we consider the Israelites being delivered from bondage to slavery in Egypt. We also think about the fact that we have been delivered from bondage to sin.
Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of the Israelites when they were rescued from Egypt, when they were standing on the other side of the Red Sea and realized that they had been delivered from slavery to freedom, from sorrow to joy.
We have the same joy knowing we have been delivered from death to life in Yeshua.
Blessed are You, Yehovah, our God, Who redeemed us and brought us to this night.
We give thanks to You with a new song. A song You have put into our hearts for redemption and liberation of our souls. Blessed are You, O Yehovah, Redeemer of Israel and all nations.
Blessing
Blessed are You, Yehovah, our God, King of the Universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.
[Drink the second cup]
Maror – Bitter Herbs
That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without leaven. Exodus 12:8
The bitter herbs represent the bitterness of the slavery suffered by the Israelites and the bitterness of our sin.
As we eat the bitter herbs with the matzah, let’s also remember the bitterness of the entire ordeal including the crucifixion that Yeshua endured on our behalf.
Blessing
Blessed are you, Yehovah, our God, King of the Universe, Who has commanded us to eat of the bitter herbs.
[Eat some of the Maror with the top piece of Matzah]
Charoset – Sweet
This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Yehovah’s Passover. Exodus 12:11
Now we will eat the Matzah with the bitter herbs and the sweet charoset. The sweet reminds us of the grace, mercy, and love that God has for us. He sent Yeshua to be our Passover Lamb to save us from our bondage to sin.
Blessing
Blessed are You, Yehovah, our God, King of the Universe, Who has ordained that we celebrate the Passover. Help us to remember the two stories of how You give freedom to Your people, first from Egypt and now our freedom from sin though Your Son, Yeshua.
[Eat some more of the Maror with the Charoset with the bottom piece of Matzah]
The Festive Meal
When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless Yehovah, your God for the good land which He has given you. Deuteronomy 8:10
Let’s Eat!
[Say grace – blessing – after the meal]
Blessing
Blessed are You, Yehovah, our God, King of the Universe, Who feeds the entire world with Your goodness, Your grace, Your kindness, and Your mercy. You give food to all flesh and Your kindness endures forever. Though Your great goodness, we have never lacked. May we never lack for food for all of eternity. Blessed are You who feeds all. Amen.
The New Covenant
The LORD declares through the prophet Jeremiah the New Covenant He will make with the House of Israel and the House of Judah.
“Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Jeremiah 21:31-33
Find the Afikomen (The Coming One)
We have come to the part of the celebration when we find the Afikomen (afee KO men), the piece of Matzah we hid earlier in the evening. This broken piece from the middle Matzah represents the body of Yeshua Messiah that was buried and rose again on the third day.
Jesus & the New Covenant
And as they were eating, Yeshua/Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Mark 14:22
[Take some of the matzah]
Blessing
Blessed are You, Yehovah, our God, King of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from out of the earth. Amen.
[Eat all of the matzah]
3rd Cup – Cup of Redemption
In a traditional Galilean wedding, the groom offers his bride-to-be a cup of wine. If she accepts, they are betrothed, and he declares that he will not drink wine again until he drinks it anew with her in his father’s house.
Notice Yeshua’s words at the Last Supper.
Jesus & the New Covenant
Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Mark 14:23-26
[Fill your neighbor’s glass]
Blessing
Blessed are You, Yehovah, our God, King of the Universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine. Amen.
[Drink all of the cup]
Hallel (Psalms 113 – 118)
The Hallel Psalms – the Praise Psalms – are the five Psalms from 113 – 118. Only three are included here.
The Lord Exalts the Humble.
113 Praise the LORD!
Praise Him, you servants of the LORD,
Praise the name of the LORD.
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD
From this time on and forever.
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
The name of the LORD is to be praised.
4 The LORD is high above all nations;
His glory is above the heavens.
5 Who is like the LORD our God,
Who is enthroned on high,
6 Who looks far down to
The heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust,
He lifts the needy from the garbage heap,
8 To seat them with noblemen,
With the noblemen of His people.
9 He has the infertile woman live in the house
As a joyful mother of children.
Praise the LORD!
God’s Rescue of Israel from Egypt.
114 When Israel went forth from Egypt,
The house of Jacob from a people of a foreign language,
2 Judah became His sanctuary;
Israel, His dominion.
3 The sea looked and fled;
The Jordan turned back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams,
The hills, like lambs.
5 What ails you, sea, that you flee?
Jordan, that you turn back?
6 Mountains, that you skip like rams?
Hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, earth, before the LORD,
Before the God of Jacob,
8 Who turned the rock into a pool of water,
The flint into a fountain of water.
A Psalm of Praise.
117 Praise the LORD, all nations;
Sing His praises, all peoples!
2 For His mercy toward us is great,
And the truth of the LORD is everlasting.
Praise the LORD!
4th Cup – Cup of Restoration of the Kingdom
This is the cup that Yeshua most likely did not take at the Last Supper. The singing of the Hallel (Praise Psalms) is done at the conclusion of the Seder. Yeshua had a different 4th cup to drink, the Cup of Judgement, our judgement. He did this so that we can be restored to the Father and become His Bride.
[Fill your neighbor’s glass]
As we drink this fourth cup, let us remember what Yeshua did for us as we anxiously await His second coming and the restoration of all things in the Kingdom of God.
Blessing
Blessed are You Yehovah, our God, King of the Universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine. Amen.
[Drink the 4th cup]
Next Year in Jerusalem!
Chag Pesach Sameach!
Happy Passover Holiday
Feast of Unleavened Bread
This is the seven days following the Passover. Passover is the evening of the Nisan 14. Unleavened Bread starts on Nisan 15. For seven days the only bread you can eat is unleavened matzah.
The first day is a high holy day and no work is to be done.
Remember that leaven represents sin. Examine yourself during this time and remove sinful ways from your life. This is a week-long feast to Yehovah. Since leaven represents sin, and we are to eat no leaven and have no leaven or leavened products in our homes, it symbolizes a holy walk with Yehovah. This is repentance – turning from our ways and walking toward Him and in His ways.
Unleavened bread also represents Yeshua’s body in the New Testament. Remember what Paul said, I am crucified with Messiah, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Messiah lives in me. Living an unleavened life is what we should strive to do. If we do fall, we have an advocate with the Father, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
How to observe Unleavened Bread
- Clean your home from leaven and leavened products prior to the beginning of this week – bread, waffles, snack cakes, yeast, etc. This should be done before Passover starts.
- Do no work on the first and last days of this 7-day period.
- Look online for recipes using matzah.
- Make your own unleavened bread – it’s easy.
- And of course, read the Bible – read the Gospels, Psalms.
Feast of First Fruits
This day is part of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and it marks the day that Yeshua rose from the dead. He is the First Fruits of the Dead. When he rose, many other graves were opened and those in them rose also and walked about and people saw them.
This gives us hope that we too will either be raised from the dead or see that great day when He comes again in His glory and we see those dead in Messiah rise and then we meet them all and Him in the air.
Get ready for the counting of the Omer and Shavuot.
This day also starts the 50-day count to the Feast of Weeks/Shavuot/Pentecost. The day commemorating when the 10 Commandments were given at Mount Sinai and when the Holy Spirit/Comforter was given, His Torah was written on the hearts of believers, the disciples were empowered, and the Church began to grow. Check out our Counting of the Omer to Shavuot page.
Some Things You’ll Need for Your Passover Celebration
Passover 2021 begins at sunset March 27.
You will need these items:
- Three Pieces of Matzah – homemade or store-bought unleavened bread
- Maror/Bitter Herbs – horseradish is typical
- Charoset/Sweet – mixture of fine diced fruit, nuts, spices, honey
- Grape Juice or Red Wine
- Karpas/Green Vegetable – parsley, lettuce, or celery for dipping in the salt water
- Salt Water – small bowl of salt water for dipping
- Seder Plate – can be a traditional one or a plate large enough to arrange the small containers of the items above
- Candles – two is sufficient for the candle lighting part of the seder
- Clean your house from anything with leaven (yeast). Many remove baking powder, baking soda and all leavened products (except Matzah) including bread, waffles, pancakes, snack cakes, active dry yeast and yeast cakes. This is where the tradition of Spring cleaning comes from.
Start this well in advance so you are ready when Passover starts at sundown.- We should also look inside and remove the leaven of malice from our hearts.
- Make it special: Plan a nice meal with candles, tablecloths, your best dishes.
- Passover Seder Haggadah – Download and print our booklet below.
When printing the Haggadah booklet, be sure to select booklet format, if your printer prints on both sides, select flip on short edge.
Icons made by Freepik.com from Flaticon.com
Lisa Urbani
OnScripture
Gina Cash
On Scripture 
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