a Christian Passover

we are presently on spring break, and trying to soak up every minute!

but with the weekend and an out of town trip quickly approaching, and Holy Week upon us, i needed to set aside some time, for my own sake as well as my family’s, to really remember what the heck we are celebrating.

i found this idea to do a Christian Passover here, and thought it would be a great tradition to start as a family.

here’s my disclaimer. i have never done nor participated in a Passover meal before. i in no way want to disrespect that tradition nor the importance that this meal holds for people. i just think this tradition is SO RICH in meaning, and really wanted my family to participate in that tradition. with that said, we adapted this tradition to suit our family in such a way where we could use it as a teaching tool and time of remembrance of all that Jesus has done for us. i’m SURE that there are things that we did in the process that may not be considered correct. but my goal was to provide our family with an intentional time set aside to really consider what has been done on our behalf…the RESCUE that we have been freely given! so i hope this brings no offense whatsoever to anyone, especially those who’ve participated in this celebration for many years!!

as i began to study the Passover, i was amazed at the depth and meaning that each item had, particularly how they represent a deep truth about the Gospel:

we chose to have our Passover celebration on the beach this evening, because the weather was perfect, and we wanted it to be special:

in case you are interested in doing one, i used the information on this site as well as this site to formulate our ceremony.

items needed:

Matzah (whole wheat unleavend bread)

sprigs of parsley

salt water

horseradish

Haroset (chopped apples and walnuts, recipe found here)

boiled egg

shank bone of lamb (we used meatloaf to represent the lamb, because i didn’t feel the need to spend money on lamb since we would not be eating it, and i was making meatloaf for our dinner anyway.)

glass of red grape juice (or wine)

we used grape juice

traditionally, (as best as i could gather) the children ask a total of 4 questions throughout the ceremony. after a question is asked, it leads into explanation and teaching using the items on the plate, which is how the ceremony flows.

the Four Questions:

1) Why are we eating unleavened bread, or matzah tonight?

2) Why are we eating bitter herbs?

3) Why tonight do we dip our herbs twice?

4) Why are we eating this meal reclining?

i had them written on index cards for Canaan, but maybe after years of keeping this tradition, they will be memorized!

Canaan began with Question 1, and Jake explained…

that Matzah bears much significance, but for my kids, the stripes and holes on the Matzah was a visual of the verse in Isaiah 53:5, “by His stripes, we are healed.”

we broke bread, representing how Jesus was broken on our behalf, and participated in the meal together:

each getting to taste the bread without yeast, while remembering that just as the Matzah is without yeast, so Jesus was without sin.

we proceeded with Question 2, and spooned the “bitter herbs” (horseradish) onto our Matzah, remembering the bitterness of the Israelites bondage of slavery, and the bitterness of our own bondage to sin, and yet how the broken lamb absorbed the cost of our bitter sins, the great cost of our redemption:

and Question 3 prompted us to dip the parsley into saltwater, remembering the tears of the Israelites as they wept over their slavery, and as they painted their door with the blood of the lamb so that the Angel of Death would pass over. we teach that there is no forgiveness of sins without blood being shed.

and then the answer to Question 3 continues, as we dip the parsely into the Haroset, and taste the sweetness of Hope in our Rescuer, the One who willingly sacrificed it all because of his deep love for us.

and then the egg, which represents the burnt offerings brought to the Temple. but we remember that Jesus was our Ultimate and final Sacrifice, giving us New Life:

and then, as the final question is asked, we celebrate, and pass the cup of Elijah, remembering that our freedom has been bought, at a high cost, and that we are now Royalty, heirs of the King, princes and princesses who now have the freedom to live eternally with our Rescuer, our Redeemer, our Abba Father, Papa God!

we then partake in dinner together, a dinner of meatloaf, glazed carrots, and roasted rosemary potatoes, on this night, Maundy Thursday, the night that Jesus held his Last Supper, the Passover Meal, with his disciples. i don’t think Passover traditionally happens on this date, but for us, it was the perfect night to remember.

and it was also the perfect night to try out a new dessert, Honey Yogurt Berry Pops. see recipe here.

now…i’d be lying through my teeth if i didn’t tell you that i just wrote about this Passover meal not so much for your sake, but for my own sake…to remember!! i feel SO very scattered right now, and my heart longs…longs…to be grounded in what matters. i am failing at that….big time. and this big holiday approaching could pass by so quickly, and i could miss the whole point among the Easter baskets and egg hunts.

there has been a stirring in me lately…a deep stirring…to not miss these years with my family…to teach my kids…to make every day count. and not just count in a fluffy kind of way. but to REALLY count…like in a Gospel truth kind of way. i want my kids to see Jesus everywhere!! and i want to be equipped to show them how He shows up everywhere! but i fail, all the time, because most of the time I don’t stop long enough to look for Him either.

so if nothing else, this Passover reminds me that HE is the Rescuer…the King…who has bought me for a price…and bought my family for a price. and in a few short days, i’ll get to celebrate and rejoice that, as Canaan says, “He used all His power to rise again!” and its HIS Power that does the teaching, and the reminding, and rescuing!

Happy “Rescue” Day!