Passover Seder

(One Perfect Life Chapters 166-171) In this portion of the Gospel we see Jesus celebrating Passover with His disciples for the last time. The events occur during the Passover meal or Seder. Seder means order. It is the orderly process for conducting the Passover celebration. The Haggadah which means “telling” is the written instructions for conducting the Seder as the Passover account is retold through it. The events of this portion of the Gospel are linked to the elements of the Seder.

Jesus divinely arranges for an “upper room” in which top celebrate the Passover. This is the upper portion of a Jewish home that was reserved for guests. It is the type of room that was not available to Him for His birth – instead He was born in the lower section of the home where the animals slept. Now, prior to His death He will enter this special place.

The urchatz is the portion of the Haggadah when the leader who is conducting the Seder takes a basin to wash his hands. I believe that this may be the time where Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. He teaches them important lessons about service and humility. He is their leader and teach yet He humbles Himself to perform the lowliest task. He teaches them to do likewise.

The maror is the bitter herbs that are part of the Passover ritual. The term is also used to describe when a piece of matzah is dipped into bitter herbs and eaten. It reminds the people of the bitterness of slavery. The maror may have been what Jesus dipped into and gave to Judas to identify him as the one who would betray Jesus. Jesus then speaks of the bitterness of Judas actions and the bitterness and consequences of being the one who betrays Him. This is the turning point in that evening.

The disciples who had just witnessed Jesus act of humility and service descend into an argument over who will be the considered the greatest among them. Next Jesus warns then about His impending death and the persecution they will experience. When Peter professes His allegiance Jesus counters with the fact the Peter will betray Him.

This Seder ends with the establishment of communion. During the Seder three matzahs are placed in a matzah tosh which is one bag with three compartments – each of which holds one matzah. This is a representation of the trinity. The middle piece is removed, broken in half and half of it is hidden. Later, during the tzafun, that piece is retrieved and eaten after the meal. This is what Jesus used for communion. It was His body that was broken for them. They then drink form the cup of redemption – which will come through the shedding of His blood.

In John 6:56 Jesus said, “The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him.” Many had turned away from Him at this saying. The elements of the tzafun- of communion, were the body and blood to which He referred.