The Last Supper and The Passover Haggadah

by Richard D. Kirkham
http://www.ida.net/users/rdk/ces/passover.html

INTRODUCTION

"For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7). Jesus
Christ was God's Passover Lamb. A pure unblemished first born son who sacrificed
His life for us that we may be freed from the bondage of our sins. The Last
Supper, eaten by Jesus Christ and his disciples the night before He was crucified
was a Passover feast. This overview of the Passover observance goes through all
the steps of the Feast of the Passover, correlating them to the Last Supper eaten
by Jesus and His Apostles.

THE FEASTS OF ISRAEL TEACH ABOUT JESUS CHRIST

The Passover is one of two main Israelite celebrations that Jesus always observed.
Passover is the Spring festival. It corresponds to the planting time, the time of
rebirth. To the Hebrews it suggests redemption, atonement, and new life. Passover
predicted the first coming of Jesus Christ.

The Feast of Tabernacles is held in the fall of the year. Its themes include
harvesting, gathering, burning, repenting, thanksgiving, and rejoicing such as are
associated with the Second coming of Christ. God gave the Feasts to Israel to teach
them about the two comings of the Messiah.

THE HAGGADAH

The commandment to keep the Passover is recorded in the Old Testament. The
traditions surrounding the celebration are recorded in a book called the Haggadah
1a. It is a reference book used by Jews to guide them through the steps of the
Passover. Its origins date into antiquity. It is a written account of the oral
traditions that predate it. We can compare the events recorded in the New
Testament narratives of the Last Supper to the Haggadah in order to cast more light
into what might have taken place that night so long ago.

THE FIRST PASSOVER

The commandment of the Lord through Moses to keep the Passover has been observed
and kept by Jews for 3,300 consecutive years. It marks the 'passing over' of the
angel of death in Egypt long ago. It teaches that death can be done away with
through the merits of the Lamb of God. The children of Israel were in bondage in
Egypt when the angel of death was sent to slay the first born of each house. The
'first born' was another symbol of Christ who was the first born of God who would
be slain as a sacrifice for sin to fulfill the law of Justice. To save the first
born of all Israel from the angel of death each family was required to slay a lamb
and take its blood and put it on the lentil and the posts of the door of their
house showing that they had entered into a covenant with God. This showed that
they had 'taken upon themselves the blood of the Lamb'. On that first Passover
night a great miracle occurred. It was the climax of 10 miracles or 'plagues' that
the Lord sent upon the people of Egypt. That night the angel of death came through
the land of Egypt 'passing over' every house where the blood was found. In the
homes of the unbelieving Egyptians death came to all the first born of that house,
of both man and beast. This loss humbled Pharaoh so much that he finally freed the
Israelite slaves from their bondage. Passover commemorates this liberation from
bondage and teaches us that by remaining true and faithful to God, He will save and
preserve Israel.

The first passover is recorded in Exodus 12:4. It says 'if the household be too
little to eat an entire lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it
according to the number of the souls every man according to his eating shall make
your count for the lamb.' The Lord never permits waste so they were to gather a
number such that the lamb sacrificed would feed those present exactly. Any meat
remaining the next day was to be burnt.

The first Passover differed from all subsequent Passovers in many respects. It was
eaten standing, not reclining as today. This symbolized their flight from Egypt.
The meal was eaten in haste, but since then Passover is eaten at leisure. The
first Passover required that the blood of the lamb be placed upon the lentils and
posts of the doors. But since that time the blood was sacrificed on the altar of
the tabernacle or Temple. When the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. most Jews
stopped the sacrifice of the lamb. 2 The events of the first passover and the
plagues and liberation of Israel are all recounted each Passover to remind of
deliverance from bondage.

JESUS OBSERVED THE PASSOVER

As a Jew, Jesus celebrated passover. His family went to Jerusalem each year for
Passover. 3 The scriptures tell us specifically of the Passover when Jesus came of
age, the year He turned 12. His family went to Jerusalem. This would have been
the first time He would have been allowed on Temple mount to participate in the
Passover activities held there. When His family left to return to Nazareth, Jesus
was left behind. His worried parents searched the city of Jerusalem for three
days until they finally found him teaching in the Temple. He told His worried
parents that He was about His fathers business. 4 This is just one example of how
Jesus celebrated Passover His entire life.

HOW PASSOVER IS OBSERVED TODAY

Passover is a family celebration and is generally not observed publicly. It is

held in a home much the way Thanksgiving would be. Immediate and extended family
join together to partake of the meal and perform the 'Seder' (meaning 'steps' in
Hebrew) of the Passover. The elements of the observance, outlined in the
Haggadah, include prayers, songs, games, stories, and a meal. The complete
Passover Seder including the meal will usually last 4 to 5 hours.

HOW PASSOVER DIFFERS FROM THEN TO NOW

Passover generally remains much the same as it was ancient times. Yet the way it
is celebrated by Jews today often varies slightly from country to country and from
culture to culture ranging from orthodox to reformed to modern in its presentation.
Some things today are different, however. For example, today, since lambs are not
sacrificed in the Temple, a shank bone from a lamb is placed on a 'seder plate' as
a reminder of the lamb. A hard boiled egg serves as a remembrance of the free will
offering that accompanied the sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb in the Temple long ago.
Other aspects of the passover service which are not clear in the scriptures may or
may not have been part of the Last Supper of Jesus. These things include;
The seder plate upon which the six foods used in the service are arranged
A roasted or boiled egg symbolic of the free will sacrifice offered up in the
Jerusalem Temple
Haroset a mixture of apples, nuts, cinnamon and wine, which represent the mortar
the israelite slaves used in Egypt
Dipping of the bitter herb in salt water which is symbolic of the tears shed by the
Israelite slaves.
The number of Matzahs or unleavened bread today is 3. Although unleavened bread
certainly was eaten since the very first passover it is not certain of the number
eaten at the Lord's passover.
The number of cups of wine today is four. Wine was drunk during the Passover Seder
that the Lord ate, we can only identify 2 cups for certain from the scriptural
text.
The cup of Elijah and the Chair of Elijah. A tall goblet is placed with the
special table setting for Elijah. The cup is filled during the Seder, the door is
left partially opened in case Elijah comes. Likely this was added after the
destruction of the Temple since Elijah is viewed as the restorer who will bring the
Temple back.
Afikomen or dessert. The middle of the three matzahs is broken in half. The
larger half which is put away to be eaten at the close of the meal is called
afikomen. One of the customs connected with the Afikomen is the leader bartering
for its redemption. The leader good-naturedly takes no note of the spiriting away
of the hidden matzah by the children. The child with it does not surrender the
Afikomen until the leader redeems it with a gift, deed, or a promise of a gift.
After it is distributed and eaten, no other food is taken. It is not certain if
afikomen was part of the seder at the time of Jesus.
THE PASSOVER OF THE LAST SUPPER

We begin on Thursday night of the last week of Jesus' life. The Jewish Friday
began that night at sunset. It was the first day of The Feast of Unleavened Bread
which is called Passover. Jesus and His disciples, like everyone in Israel that
day, were preparing for the Passover meal which also began at Sunset. The Hebrew
date would have been Nisan 14, 3790 (April 6, 30). 1 The number of worshippers
coming to Jerusalem in those times was immense, some 2,700,000 persons according to
one account. 5 Peter and John were sent to 'make ready the passover'. 6 They
probably selected the lamb and offered it in the temple. The lamb was chosen
according to scriptural criteria; it had to be free from all blemishes, defects, or
spots and could be neither less than eight days nor more than exactly one year old,
presumably the age at which a lamb becomes a sheep and is no longer 'innocent' as
such. Each lamb was to serve for a 'company,' which was to consist of not less
than ten, nor of more than twenty persons. They would have purchased their lamb
outside the Temple area itself since Jesus had 'cast out all them that sold and
bought in the Temple'.

According to Alfred Edersheim, those who came to the sacrifice that day were
grouped into three divisions. Once inside the temple court, each head of
household would have slayed the lamb for his own family himself. The priest would
catch the blood in a bowl and hand it to another priest who would thrust it at the
base of the altar. The kidneys, fat, and certain other internal organs were burnt
on the altar. The slain lambs would be hung from hooks around the court yard of the
temple or placed on a staff held between the shoulders of two other men. This
'hanging' foreshadowed of the crucifixion of Jesus. They would flay the lamb,
remove the entrails, clean the carcass and separate the fat and put it in a bowl
for the priests to burn. One quarter of the lamb was given to the priests as the
priestly portion and the rest would be carried home to be roasted over a fire for
the meal. While they were dressing out the lamb, a hymn called the 'Halell' was
sung as recorded in Psalms 113 to 118. These are noted Messianic verses.

THE BETRAYAL

Sometime prior to the Last Supper, Judas Iscariot went to the Jewish priests and
elders and offered to deliver Jesus to them for money. The amount paid was 30
pieces of silver, as had been prophesied by the Zechariah. 7

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the
chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the
people. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of
the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains,
how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him
money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the
absence of the multitude. (Luke 22:1-6)

PREPARATION OF THE MEAL

Following the slaying of the lamb in the temple, Peter and John contact a follower
who has offered his 'upper room' in Jerusalem to for their Feast. This unnamed
believer, together with the two apostles, must have attended to all the other
details of the feast including place settings, utensils, food items, and so forth.
How fitting that they who would carry on the work after the death of the Lamb of
God would carry the slain Passover lamb to the Supper. According to custom, the
skin of the Lamb would have given to the host of the house with whom the pilgrims
from distant places would stay. The lamb was probably roasted whole since the
breaking of any bones was strictly forbidden. That was because when Christ hung on
the cross His bones were not be broken to hasten His death as in the case of the
thieves. 8 The roasting of the Lamb would have taken several hours.

Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. And he
sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. And
they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? And he said unto them,
Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a
pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say
unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest
chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he shall shew you a
large upper room furnished: there make ready. And they went, and found as he had
said unto them: and they made ready the passover. (See Luke 22: 7-13)

JESUS AND THE OTHER TEN DISCIPLES JOIN PETER AND JOHN

The Lord and the other ten apostles made their way from Bethany to Jerusalem
probably sometime before sundown to join Peter and John. All the disciples met in
the upper room as previously designated. Jesus began the feast with a few sobering
remarks as they took the first cup of wine.
THE SEDER BEGINS

STEP 1

THE FIRST CUP OF WINE

And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he
said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I
suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled
in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this,
and divide [it] among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the
fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. (Luke 22:14-18)

According to the Haggadah The 'Celebrant' or host (usually the father or patriarch)
is the leader for the evening. Jesus fills this role and poured each one a cup of
wine and then drank it with the Apostles. The Haggadah says that Passover begins
with a greeting or prayer of sanctification and the drinking of the first of four
cups of wine. (participants drink the first cup of wine)

DISPUTE OVER IMPORTANCE -- JESUS TEACHES SERVICE

Following the first cup of wine an argument apparently erupted, probably over the
seating arrangement for the supper. The muttering among them was over "the order
in which they should take their places at the table, over which triviality scribes
and Pharisees as well as the Gentiles often quarreled. 9 Christ reminded them that
they were come to serve and not to receive adulation and honor from men.

And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the
greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over
them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye
shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and
he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at
meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he
that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations And I
appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat
and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes
of Israel. (Luke 22:24-30)

Perhaps Jesus did not sit at the head of the table as they expected Him to but
rather in the place where the server sat. If that is what happened, that change in
the seating arrangement may have upset the pattern the apostles were used to,
giving rise to the strife that resulted. Jesus had already taught this lesson of
service to His apostles several times before but oh how sad that on this of all
nights He would have to repeat the lesson again. 10

(The person portraying Jesus sits in the servants place at the table, next to John.
The participants representing the other apostles argue)

STEP 2
PURIFICATION BY WASHING -- HE WHO SERVES IS GREATEST

The Celebrant always washes himself prior to touching any food served. This, of
course, was done in accordance with Jewish purification and Passover custom. It
may have been at this time when Jesus made a new addition to the ceremony, one
never to be forgotten, which enlarged the meaning of washing. Jesus took the water
and a cloth and washed the feet of His apostles. 11

This humble, somewhat demeaning act would have been entirely out of character for
the Celebrant of the Passover to perform since he would be considered as 'the
chief' of all, the one to be waited on and not the waiter. This most important
ordinance was instituted by the Lord in this final Passover feast to teach a
principle: He who was 'the greatest of all' came to serve.

John says that 'He laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself'.
12 A special garment is mentioned in the Haggadah that is worn only by the
Celebrant. It is a white shroud-like gown worn over the normal street clothing,
suggesting purity. By washing the feet rather than just the hands alone, as is
routine in the Passover seder, it symbolized that we are to be clean, 'even every
whit'. 13 Indeed we are made clean from the top of our heads to the tip of our
toes when the Lord Jesus is in our lives.

(The person portraying Jesus washes the feet of those portraying the Apostles as
the following is read)

[Jesus] rises from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and
girded himself. After that he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the
disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then
cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt
know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus
answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto
him, Lord, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head. Jesus saith to
him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash [his] feet, but is clean every
whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore
said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken
his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done
to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am. If I then,
[your] Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's
feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither
he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are
ye if ye do them. (John 13:4-17)

STEP 3

EATING OF THE KARPAS -- JUDAS DOES A SORROWFUL DEED

Next is the eating of the karpas. Usually celery, parsley, lettuce, watercress, or
some other green herb is dipped in salt water and is then eaten. It is called
'karpas' which means celery in Hebrew. The salt water is a reminder of the tears
that were shed by the slaves in bondage. It also symbolizes the tears we shed when
we truly repent of our sins with a broken heart and contrite spirit. The karpas
represents a sprig of new life and renewal. We are not certain that this was a
part of the Passover observed by the Lord and his Apostles, but the Haggadah
prescribes that each participant dip a mouthful of karpas as the seder begins.
Many times throughout the Passover food is dipped and eaten in symbolic
remembrance. It was on one such occasion during the meal that the announcement of
the betrayal of the Lord was made. Judas was revealed as he dipped his 'sop' with
the Lord. The word 'Sop' in the greek means 'mouthful'.

And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which
eateth with me shall betray me. (Mark 14:18) Behold, the hand of him that
betrayeth me is with me on the table (Luke 22:21) Then the disciples looked one on
another, doubting of whom he spake. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have
chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath
lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come
to pass, ye may believe that I am he. (John 13:18-22) And they were exceeding
sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? Now there
was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter
therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He
it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. The Son of man goeth as
it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it
had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him,
answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. And when he
had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

(Participants dip the parsley in the salt water)

And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou
doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto
him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto
him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should
give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out:
and it was night. (Matthew 26:22-25 & John 13:23-30)

(The participants representing Judas exits the room and returns as an observer)

JESUS PROCLAIMS HIS LOVE

With Judas gone from among them tensions were eased. He could now proclaim His
love openly and honestly for the remaining Apostles. He gives them a new
commandment to love one another. Love is fundamental to the gospel and is the
crowning evidence of discipleship.

Therefore, when he was gone out, [meaning Judas] Jesus said, Now is the Son of man
glorified, and God is glorified in him. Little children, yet a little while I am
with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot
come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one
another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men
know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:31-34)

Jesus would now prove to them how much He loved them by offering His own life as a
ransom for sin. As Bruce R. McConkie asks, "But did the Jewish worshippers in the
day of Jesus know that their sacrificial ordinances were part of an atoning
process? That the blood of animals was being shed so they could gain forgiveness of
sins? That the animal � slain for the sins of men, as it were � was but a
substitute, a symbol, a type of him who should bear the sins of all men? The
answers are in the affirmative". 14 The Messianic problem in Jesus' day was that
the Person to whom the similitudes pointed didn't fit their image of who he SHOULD
be. They just could not accept HIM."

STEP 4

MATZOTH; BROKEN BREAD -- THE BROKEN BODY OF CHRIST

In the traditional ceremony as written in the Haggadah, Jesus would now have taken
the unleavened bread, symbolizing a pure life, a life without being puffed up in
sin or greed or arrogance, and would have broken it in half. According to the
Haggadah three Matzoth, or pieces of unleavened bread, are to be covered and laid
on the table. The middle matzoth is broken in half. The smaller portion is left
in its place and the larger piece becomes the 'Afikomen'. This term is a greek
word, meaning dessert. In the seder the larger half is now placed in a special
cloth envelope and is passed around under the table, hidden from the Celebrant who
at meal's end must redeem it for a price from the person who has concealed it. It
is played out like a game for the amusement of the children but it has an
instructive purpose. Whether or not this tradition began before or after the
Passover of our Lord is not important. It is significant, however, that He, in
fact, paid a price for all of us, and by His broken body He has become our
Redeemer. Like the afikomen, the meaning of His sacrifice is hidden from many.
When we discover His sacrifice, His broken body, we learn we can boldly go to Him
and receive redemption, just as a child who discovers the Afikomen can take it to
the Host at the end of the meal and redeem it for a prize.

STEP 5

THE DAYENU -- THE RECITAL OF THE STORY OF REDEMPTION

The next step in the Seder is to tell the story of the deliverance of Israel from
bondage. We can only imagine that Jesus shared this same story with His disciples
but the scriptures do not say for certain. Today this lengthy recital is given by
the father. The narrative begins when the youngest son asks a series of questions
beginning with, "How is this night different from all other nights?" The father
then recounts the oppression of Israel and miraculous deliverance by God through
Moses. The telling of the story can take up to an hour or more as songs and
stories have been added to the recital. It concludes with the Dayenu or
thanksgiving song, Psalms 113 and 114, which are part of the Halell. The remainder
of the Psalms of the Halell will be sung at the end of the meal. During the
telling of this story the second cup of wine is poured and the bread of affliction
(Matzah) is uncovered. At the conclusion of the story the SECOND CUP OF WINE is
drunk.

(The participants drink the second glass of wine)

STEP 6

WASHING THE HANDS -- ALL WASH

The first washing in a normal passover, is done by the Celebrant in Step 2. Now
all who are in attendance wash their hands in preparation of the meal. 15 This
step like all the rest include the offering of a brief prayer, such as "Blessed art
Thou, Lord God, King of the Universe, who sanctified us by His commandments and
commanded us concerning the Washing of the Hands."
(The participants pass the washing cup and cloth)

STEP 7

THANKS IS OFFERED -- THE UPPER MAZZAH IS BROKEN AND EATEN

Unleavened bread sometimes rendered Mazzah, Matzah, or plural Matzoth. It is a

cracker-like bread and can be large or small

Taking a portion of the uppermost Mazzah, the host recites another brief prayer of
thanks. Then a portion of the other two cakes is broken, blessed, and each person
eats their first taste of unleavened bread.

(The participants each take a small piece of matzah and eat it. )

STEP 8

BITTER HERB

Maror (bitter herb)

After all have partaken of the unleavened bread, the Celebrant distributes some of
the bitter herb for all to taste. A bitter herb, like horse radish, serves to
reminds us of the bitterness of bondage and sin.

(The participants each take a small piece of matzah and dip it in the bitter herb
and taste it. )

STEP 9

- COMBINING -

THE HILLEL SANDWICH, A REMINDER OF THE TEMPLE DAYS

According to the Haggadah, portions of the undermost of the three Matzah are next
distributed. The participants place some of the bitter herb and combine it with
"Haroset", a tasty mixture of apples, nuts and spices, and place it between two
pieces of matzah. This unsavory and odd mixture of bitter and sweet teaches us
that there is an opposition in all things and that we must pass through sorrow in
order to know happiness. 16 Before partaking of this 'sandwich' it is remembered
that Hillel, who was a prominent rabbi among the Jews of Palestine just prior to
the birth of Christ, combined the Pascal lamb, Mazzah and Bitter Herb as he ate the
Passover. He then would eat it all as one, in order to literally fulfill the
precept in Numbers 9:11 which says, "With unleavened bread and bitter herbs shall
they eat the lamb." This was likely the practice followed by many at the time of
the Lord. This unsavory morsel reminds the participants that the bitterness of
bondage and sin experienced in this life are also mingled with the sweetness of
redemption. There is no mention in the scriptures whether Haroset was eaten at the
Last Supper.

haroset
With that out of the way the haroset may then be enjoyed alone to soothe an
otherwise troubled pallet. The sweet taste of apples and cinnamon are a welcome
treat as most of the participants still continue to wince from the after effect of
the bitter herb. This, too, is a teaching moment as it illustrates that the
bitterness of sin lingers with us for a long time.

STEP 10

THE TABLE IS SPREAD -- A FESTIVE MEAL EATEN

Step 10 is the meal. At the time of Christ this was the point where the lamb was
eaten. It was eaten with unleavened bread, wine and bitter herbs, just as it had
been done for thirteen hundred years before this night. Each year as Jesus
celebrated the Passover He tasted of the meat of the lamb which was a symbol and
reminder of Him and sacrifice He would be called upon to offer. Now on this night,
the night of the Last Supper, He would eat the final Passover ever to be eaten
before its fulfillment. The Lord, His disciples, and all of Israel consumed their
lambs that night. This set into motion a series of events that would end with
Jesus allowing Himself to be consumed upon the cross for the sins of mankind. He
would give up His life as a ransom for all.

Today the meal portion of Passover might include chicken, salad, vegetables, and
fruit, but lamb is generally not eaten any more. 17

(The participants each take a small piece of lamb and eat it reminiscent of the
meal. )

STEP 11

(PART II)

THE HALELL -- THE CUP OF ELIJAH; THE THIRD CUP OF WINE

At the end of the meal a concluding prayer of thanks is pronounced. This prayer
marks the beginning of Part II of the Passover Seder which can last yet another
hour or more. The Halell (meaning praise is Hebrew) was sung earlier in the
evening beginning with Psalms 113 & 114 and it now continues with the singing of
Psalms 115 to 118. Matthew refers to the singing of the this hymn at the Last
Supper in Chapter 26:30. Now the third cup of wine is raised. It is called 'the
cup of redemption'. As it says in the Haggadah, "Now that the night has far
advanced, expectations are keyed up to a renewal, on this anniversary of the
deliverance which took place on the first Passover; for according to legend this
night is a 'Night of Watching for the Lord in all generations' (Exo 12:42)." How
ironic that on the night of watching for Him, the Jews failed to see to see that He
was already with them.

(The participants drink the third glass of wine)

ELIJAH COMES

Jewish tradition is that Elijah, the ever-living prophet, who is to be the

harbinger of the Messiah, will return on Passover. It is customary to set an empty
place at the table, bring a special chair, and leave the door slightly ajar so that
Elijah may come in and take his place at the feast. A special ornate goblet is
filled with wine and set it at his place. It is called the Cup of Elijah. It was
prophesied that he would come and restore all things. Elijah was looked for even
at the time of Jesus. The apostles were aware of the traditions surrounding the
coming of Elijah. 18

But Elijah did not return to the Passover table that night. In fact it would be
many years before he would return as expected. But Elijah the prophet did return
during the feast of Unleavened Bread in the year 1836. He came, however, not to
Jerusalem, nor even to the Jews. Instead he came to the restored Temple which had
been built in Kirtland, Ohio. On April 3, 1836 (16th of Nisan 5596) he appeared in
a glorious vision to Joseph Smith the Prophet at the dedication of the Kirtland
Temple. The event is recorded in D&C 110:13-16;

'Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before
us, and said: Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of
Malachi -- testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and
dreadful day of the Lord come -- To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,
and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse --
Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this
ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.
D&C 110:13-16

(A participant should go to the door, open it momentarily and then close it

symbolic of the return of Elijah)

STEP 12

THE HIDDEN MAZZAH - THE SACRAMENT INTRODUCED

The Afikomen is wrapped in a special napkin and hidden away until this moment

Also at the close of the meal, the portion of the middle matzah, called the
'Afikomen', meaning desert, which was hidden away at the beginning of the night is
now retrieved and distributed among the company. It is customary that a gift is
given by way of ransom to the child who hid it away successfully. Symbolically we,
too, can take the bread of the covenant and go boldly before the Lord and through
that divine ransom receive a gift far greater than the bread itself. We receive
from Him the gift of Eternal Life.

We can draw so many lessons from this final matzah. Earlier in the meal, it was
broken, just as Christ's body was broken for us. We notice that when the the
matzah was made it received stripes. Christ's body, too, was "wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities ... and with his stripes we are
healed." (Isaiah 53:5). This matzah was the middle of the three suggesting that
"He came in the meridian of time, in the flesh." (D&C 20:26) And finally, the
true meaning of 'MESSIAH' is 'hidden away' for most, even His true identity as King
of Kings will not be manifest until the "end time" just as the afikomen is not
manifest until the end of the meal. "The Messiah will set himself again the
second time to recover them; wherefore, he will manifest himself unto them in power
and great glory, unto the destruction of their enemies, when that day cometh when
they shall believe in him; and none will he destroy that believe in him." (2 Nephi
6:14)

It is most likely at this point in the Last Supper that Jesus took this special
broken piece of unleavened bread and divided it and blessed it, and then gave it to
his disciples instituting the sacrament. He commands them to eat it.

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This
is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. (Luke 22:19)

The Apostles partook of the bread as they were instructed.

(The participant representing Jesus now breaks the bread onto a plate and passes it
to the others. Each participant breaks off a small piece and 'hides' their portion
by eating it. )

STEP 13

THE FOURTH CUP OF WINE

Following prayers for an end to sin and continued singing of the Halell the service
is formally concluded with the final cup of wine. At the Last Supper Luke called
this final cup of wine 'the cup after supper'. 19 The drinking of this cup
prompted Jesus to add, once again, a new, deeper significance to the Passover and
in so doing instituted the Passover we observe now each Sunday in his honor, the
Passover we call the Sacrament.

This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of
sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the vine,
until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. (Matthew
26:29) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying,
This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in
remembrance of me. (1 Corinthians 11:25)

(The participants drink the fourth glass of wine)

The Lord instituted the sacrament as a means for us to renew our covenant with Him.
The covenant requires us to take upon ourselves the name of Christ, always remember
Him, and keep His commandments. In turn He promises us that we will always have
His spirit to be with us.

The final concluding act of the passover, verifiably added after the Lord's Last
Supper, is traced back to the time of the destruction of the second Temple in 70
A.D. It is the shouting of the concluding phrase, "NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM." This
famous phrase means that Passover is sweetest when eaten in Jerusalem as it times
of old. It expresses the sentiment on the part of dispersed Jews everywhere to one
day gather again in Jerusalem to again eat the passover. After the death of Jesus,
the Jews were dispersed and shut out of Jerusalem for nearly 2,000 years. In 1841
Orson Hyde, under the direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith, rededicated the Land
of Palestine for the return of the Jews. Since that time the Jews have once again
begun to gather back to their homeland. More and more the Jews in Jerusalem have
changed this jubilant shout to, "THIS YEAR IN JERUSALEM" as they toast the final
cup of wine in the Holy Land.

STEP 14

POST PASSOVER SCRIPTURAL DISCUSSION

The apostles drank the final cup with Jesus. This marked the end of the formal
seder of the Passover both then and now. But from this point the Passover will
usually continue on 'informally' for hours into the night marked by the singing of
hymns and the discussion of scripture. The Haggadah says, "It must not be imagined
that this prescribed ritual exhausts the intellectual appeal of the Seder. It
should be enhanced by scholarly give-and-take; for (in the words of the Rabbinic
adage) it is sacrilege if three men eat together from one table and do not speak
thereon of the Torah -- and on this night all the more so."

And so it was on the final night of the Lord's Passover. Jesus continues for many
hours to teach and instruct His apostles. He told His apostles many things. He
reassured them that in His Father's house there are many mansions and that He was
going to prepare a place for them. He reminded them that He was the Way, the Truth
and the Life and that no one could come to the Father except by Him. He gave them
the promise of another Comforter who would come to them after His death. He
foretold the denial of Peter. Then He said "Peace I leave with you, my peace I
give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid." He then went with His apostles to the nearby
Garden of Gethsemane where He offered prayer and took upon Himself the sins of the
world.

And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for
it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But
after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter said unto him,
Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. (Mark 14:27-29) And the Lord said,
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired [to have] you, that he may sift [you] as
wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art
converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go
with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the
cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest
me. And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes,
lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. Then said he unto them, But now, he
that hath a purse, let him take [it], and likewise [his] scrip: and he that hath no
sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is
written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the
transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. And they said, Lord,
behold, here [are] two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough. (Luke 22:33-38)

It was evident that the mistrust the apostles had for the Elders of the Jews was
now quite clear as they had come 'armed' into the city that night. They now shared
this preparation with the Lord, telling him they were prepared to fight to protect
His life. John records that Jesus corrects them, and comforts them, reassuring
them that His death is part of the plan. He tells them, in essence, to put away the
weapons.

Many Mansions
LET not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my
Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I
go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come
again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also. And
whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

I Am The Way

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know
the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my
Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Knowing The Father

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith
unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me,
Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew
us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?
the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth
in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I [am] in the Father, and the Father in
me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He
that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works]
than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in
my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall
ask any thing in my name, I will do [it]. If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Another Comforter

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may
abide with you for ever; [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot
receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he
dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will
come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me:
because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I [am] in my
Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them,
he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I
will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot,
Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my
Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He
that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine,
but the Father's which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being [yet]
present with you. But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father
will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Peace I Give You

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I
unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard
how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would
rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye
might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this
world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the
Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go
hence. (John 14)

At Jesus' suggestion, they arise and go to the Mount of Olives. 20 The Passover and
the traditional post-discussion afterward have ended. On their way to the Garden of
Gethsemane, the Lord continued to instruct them as recorded in John chapters 15 and
16 teaching them that He was the true vine, commanding them further to love one
another, warning them that the world would hate them, and revealing more completely
His pending death.

When arrive at the Garden of Gethsemane it is early in the dark hours of Fateful
Friday.

CONCLUSION

Jesus was THE Passover Lamb; perfect, unblemished, sinless and innocent before God.
His blood was shed for us. If we are wise enough to take upon ourselves His name
and His blood we can go forth from the bondage of sin and be liberated from its
awful chains. May we be willing to mark the lentils of our hearts and enter into
that covenant with Him forever and be saved.

Return to the Syllabus

Back to Lesson 23
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Performing the Passover

If you want to perform the Passover as outlined in the scriptures and in the
Haggadah here is a list of some of the items you would want to include.

FOOD ITEMS-- Placed on a Seder Plate are the following 6 objects;

Beitsazh or hard boiled egg;

(reminiscent of the free-will offering that accompanied the paschal offering, and a
token of grief for the destruction of the temple: at the same time a symbol of
resurrection)
Z'roa - Shank bone of a lamb to represent the Paschal Offering
Haroset (Charoset) in a bowl;
a composition of apple, almonds, raisins and cinnamon, symbolizing the Mortar used
by the Israelites during the Egyptian bondage
Karpas - parsley, lettuce or watercress -1 sprig per person
dipped in salt water as a reminder of the tears of sorrow shed while in captivity
Hazareth (chazeret) -- the green top of the bitter herb
Maror -- The Bitter Herb (horse radish will do)
typifies the bitterness of the Egyptian bondage

Plate arrangement

To the side of the plate are placed the following;

Salt water in a bowl

4 cups of Wine (red - non alcoholic)
3 cakes Unleavened bread or Matzoth (available in most ethnic food sections of
grocery stores)
cloth for covering the unleavened bread
a cloth envelope for wrapping the Afikomen
Lamb (roasted)
NON FOOD ITEMS - used as visual aids
Goblet, chair, and place setting for Elijah
Basin for washing hands and feet
Towel for drying hands and feet (1 for each table)
A white shroud for the leader of the passover (optional)
Lamb skin to be given to the home owner (optional)
Kipa's (head coverings)
A copy of the Haggadah or this booklet for each participant
a spoon at each table for serving the bitter herb
paper cups, napkins, plates & toothpicks
2 ounce sample cups for the bitter herb, haroset, wine etc.
Jesus, Peter, John, and Judas Iscariot, are specifically mentioned in the
scriptures cited above and participants could represent them. Others can sit
around the table representing the other apostles.

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NOTE: This article and its interpretations are the sole responsibility of the
Author and are not intended to represent the official views of Judaism, The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or any other person or group. Many possible
scenarios and interpretations as to the actual events of the Last Supper are
possible due to the lack of a more detailed account of the actual events that took
place that night. The important fact is that Jesus Christ did honor, respect,
observe and fulfill the Passover and that a study of the feast and its meanings
expands our appreciation for this important event.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Footnotes
1a. Haggadah: a hebrew word meaning saga or tale. Some scholars suggest it means
'to come out' or 'to reveal'. Christ is the hidden meaning behind the passover and
saga that the Haggadah reveals.
1. Leviticus 23:5. Nisan is the beginning of the Jewish Religious calendar year,
but in the Jewish Legal calendar Passover comes in the middle of the year showing
symbolically that Jesus, the Passover Lamb who was slain for our sins, came in the
meridian of time. For more information on the dates of the last week of Christ's
life see Last Week.
2. Some Hassidic sects of Jews continue to 'shecter' or ritually slay lambs for
passover but this is a small minority.
3. See Luke 2:41
4. See Luke 2:42-52
5. See Josephus
6. (See Luke 22: 7-13)
7. Zechariah 11:12-13
8. John 19:31-36.
9. Talmage, p. 595
10. Mark 10:35-45 & Luke 14:7-11
11. See also the Washing of the Feet by Bruce R. McConkie. John's account places
this ordinance of the washing of the feet after the meal had ended (John 13:1-14)
although the Revised Standard translation of the phrase 'and supper being ended'
renders the same passage as 'during the supper' thus reconciling the possible
discrepancy.
12. John 13:4
13. 3 Nephi 8:1
14. The Mortal Messiah, Vol.1, p.13
15. Psalms 26:6-7
16. 2 Nephi 2:11
17. See footnote 2
18. Matthew 17:10-13
19. The final cup is mentioned in Luke 22:20.
20. Matthew 26:30

FOR A BRIEF HANDOUT ON THE PASSOVER PLEASE REFER TO

http://www.ida.net/users/rdk/ces/passover_handout/passover_handout.html