Wednesday, March 15th

The Seder Dinner

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

Luke 22:7-8

Read Mark 14:12-16

The Passover meal was first eaten in Egypt as Moses and the children of Israel awaited their deliverance from Pharaoh’s grip. They had been slaves in the land for four hundred years, and God was about to manifest His mighty strength over the ruler of Egypt.

As they waited for the time to depart, God instructed them to prepare a special meal. They were to kill an unblemished lamb, roast it, and spread its blood over their doorpost. Then as a family they were to eat the lamb with bitter herb and unleavened bread.

The bitter herb represented the bitterness of their slavery. The unleavened bread demonstrated their imminent exodus, as there was not even time to allow the bread to rise.

That night the angel of death came over the land. Every first- born son was struck dead, with only one exception: If the angel saw the blood of the lamb over the doorpost, he would “pass over” the house and not bring death to any first-born son. Jewish people have celebrated the Passover meal ever since that night in Egypt.

The Passover is a picture of our salvation in Christ. All who are under the blood of the Lamb of God will be saved. The Jews rehearse in the Seder meal the deliverance Christians have experienced in Christ.

Something to think about

1. Where did Jesus eat His final meal with His men?

2. How is the Passover a picture of Christ?

3. Make arrangements to enjoy a Seder Meal or Communion during this season.