Celebrating a One New Man Passover

In 2010 my wife and I did a One New Man Passover with Sid Roth. Below is the haggadah he outlined for me. He told me, the whole service should reflect Yeshua (Jesus).

We want each and everyone of you to be able to celebrate it this year yourself, as well as all the coming years ahead. We need to be ready to celebrate/practice for the final feast that we all will partake in with Yeshua in His Glorious Kingdom.  Hope that you all can enjoy and have fun with it, and remember to celebrate it with Yeshua in the middle of it. Chag Semeach (Happy Holiday)!

Introduction

Passover is one of the oldest and most beautiful holidays that we celebrate.  It is a springtime feast, and was originally a time of new beginnings for the Israelites, even though they fled in haste.  

It always begins on the fourteenth day of the month of Nissan.  Since God’s original calendar actually revolves around the lunar cycle and not the solar cycle, like ours does, we will always see a full moon on this night.  According to Exodus 12:2 the calendar starts anew.  In Exodus 13:4 it is to be the month of Aviv (translates to Spring).

We also see that Passover is known by four other names:

1.       Chag Ha-pesach (The holiday or festival of Passover)

2.       Chag Ha-matzot (The holiday or festival of Unleavened Bread)

3.       Chag Ha-oviv (The holiday or festival of Spring)

4.       Z’man Cheir-useinu (The Time of our Freedom)

Overview of the Seder 

Four Cups of Wine (Represents the four “I wills” found in Exodus 6:6,7):

• The Cup of Sanctification: “I will bring you out”
• The Cup Deliverance: “I will rescue you from their bondage”

• The Cup Redemption: “I will redeem you”
• The Cup of Praise: “I will take you as my people”

Matzah:

It is also known as the Bread of Affliction to remind us when the Israelites left Egypt in haste.  They did not have time to let the bread rise, instead it was baked by the sun as they ventured out.  The matzah is also described in Isaiah 53:

            Holes:  “He was pierced for our transgressions” (vs. 5)

Flat:  “He was crushed for our iniquities” (vs.5); “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer.” (vs. 10)

            Stripes:  “By His stripes we are healed.” (vs. 5)

Salt Water: 

Represents the tears and sorrow of the Israelites, but it also represents the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. 

Seder Plate:

1.       Chazaret:  As described in Exodus 12:8, we are commanded to eat bitter herbs (plural). This can be a whole bitter herb, an onion, or a piece of lettuce.

2.       Z'roah:  The shank bone is to remind us that the central feature of Passover used to be lamb.  Since the destruction of the temple in 70 AD all that is left is a dried up shank bone.

3.       Charoset:  This sweet mixture of apples, nuts and honey represents the mortar used for making the bricks.  Its sweetness reminds us of the servitude that preludes the sweetness of redemption.

4.       Maror:  The bitter herb, or horseradish, is used to remind us of the bitterness that the Israelites suffered as slaves in Egypt.

5.       Karpas:  This green vegetable reminds us that this feast is celebrated in the springtime.  It is also to remind us of the hyssop plant that was used to spread the blood over the doorposts.  According to one of the great rabbinical sages of old, Passover was also an agricultural festival and a time for the Israelites to give thanks for the earth's rich bounties.

6.       Betzah (also known as chagigah, or Festival Offering):  This roasted egg represents the daily temple sacrifices before the destruction of the temple. It also shows the symbols of suffering and oppression in Egypt.  While most foods become softer in boiling water, eggs become tougher just like the Israelites.

Hadelaketh (Blessing of the Festival Candles)

(The mother of the house lights the candles and recites.)

Leader: Baruch atah Adonai Elohaynu melech ha-olom, she-shalach et bin'cha y'cheed'cha Yeshua Ha-Mashiach, li-h'yot or ha-olam v'seh ha-pesach shelanu l'ma-on n'chyeh biz'chuto.  Ah-main.

Translation: Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sent Thy Son, Thine only Son, Yeshua the Messiah, to be the light of the world and our Passover Lamb, that through Him we might live. Amen.

Kos Kaddish (Cup of Sanctification)

    The first cup is called the Cup of Sanctification, and it simply sanctifies the table and all of the preparations.

  

Leader:  Baruch atah Adonai, Elohaynu melech ha-olom, boray p'ree hagafen.

Translation:  Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who created the fruit of the vine.

Yachatz (Breaking of the Middle Matzah)

(Remove the middle piece of matzah.)

   The Rabbis explain that the three matzahs represent the three classes of Jews: The Cohens, the Levis, and the rest of the Jews (or Israel).  Another explanation says that they represent Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Either way the middle piece is not representative of the name Levi or Isaac, however, there is a very interesting explanation.  Even if we could understand a number of things about Jewish traditions and viewpoints it still would not explain what happens to the three matzahs during the Passover feast.

     On the other hand, Hebrew Christians today believe this matzah represents the three persons of the Godhead:  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  Here is one of the many things in the Passover Feast that can be truly understood by the believer in the Messiah, whether they have a Jewish background or a Gentile background.  Think for a moment about how the Lord Yeshua observed that last Passover.  When He took the matzah, what did He refer it to?  What did He say it represented?  We will answer these questions later on.

(The middle matzah is broken, wrapped in a napkin and hidden. The children will later look for this piece of matzah.)

Mah-Nishtahnah (The Four Questions)

(The child rises and asks the leader.)

Why is this night different from all other nights?

Once we were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Lord, in His goodness and mercy, brought us forth from that land, with a mighty hand and an out-stretched arm.

1.  On all other nights we eat either leavened or unleavened bread; why on this night do we eat only matzah, which is unleavened bread?

2.  On all other nights we eat vegetables and herbs of all kinds; why on this night do we eat only bitter herbs?

3.  On all other nights we never think of dipping herbs in water or in any-thing else; why on this night do we dip the parsley in salt water and the bitter herbs in charoset?

4.  On all other nights we eat either sitting upright or reclining; why on this night do we all recline?

 Answers to the Four Questions

1.  We eat these unleavened cakes to remember that our ancestors, in their haste to leave Egypt, could not wait for breads to rise, and so removed them from the ovens while still flat.

2.  We partake of the maror on this night that we might taste of some bitterness, to remind ourselves how bitter is the lot of one caught in the grip of slavery.

3.  We dip twice in the course of this service, greens in salt water and maror in charoset, once to replace tears with gratefulness, and once to sweeten bitterness and suffering.

4.  On this night to recline at mealtimes in ancient days was the sign of a free man.  We demonstrate our sense of complete freedom by reclining during our repast.

Makot (The Ten Plagues)

The Second Cup is called the Cup of Deliverance.  Ten drops are to be spilled out of the cup.  Each drop is in remembrance of a plague God visited upon Egypt while the implacable Pharaohs heart hardened.

(Everyone places one drop of wine for each plague mentioned)

                    Leader                                                   Assembled

                    1.  Dom                                                    1.  Blood

                    2.  Tz'far-day-ah                                       2.  Frogs

                    3.  Kee-neem                                            3.  Gnats

                    4.  O-rov                                                   4.  Flies

                    5.  De-ver                                                  5.  Livestock diseased

                    6.  Sh'cheen                                               6.  Boils

                    7.  Bo-rod                                                 7.  Hail

                    8.  Ar-beh                                                 8.  Locusts

                    9.  Cho-shech                                            9.  Darkness

                    10.  Ma-kat-b’cho-rot                               10.  Slaying of the first-born

Maror (Bitter Herbs)

(The maror and charoset are mixed together.  Enough maror needs to be taken for the next section.)

    The bitter herb speaks of the sorrow, the persecution, and the suffering of our people under the hand of Pharaoh.  The charoset is a symbol of mortar, representing the clay bricks which were made by our people in Egypt.  Thus, we remember how bitter is slavery, and how it can be sweetened by God's redemption.

Leader:  Baruch atah Adonai, Elohaynu melech ha-olom, asher keedshanoo b'meetzvotov, v'tzeevanu al-acheelat maror.

Translation:  Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who hast sanctified us by thy commandments and hast commanded us to eat the bitter herbs.

(Eat the bitter herbs and charoset.)

Koreich (Sandwich)

(The leader breaks the bottom matzah and distributes two pieces to all.  The assembled place some bitter herbs between the two pieces of matzah.)

    Rabbi Hillel observed that in Exodus 12:8 and Numbers 9:11 we are to eat bitter herbs and matzah together.  Thus, this has become a traditional part of the Passover.

(The sandwich is eaten.)

Tsafoon (Search for the Afikomen)

(The third cup of wine is filled.)

(The children may search for the Afikomen and return it.)

    Earlier in the service, we asked you to take note of the questions over the breaking of the middle matzah.  These were in reference to how the Messiah observed that last Passover night.  We want to know what was being represented when He took the matzah.  Think of it for a moment.  The middle matzah was taken out, broken, and wrapped up in a cloth. It was then hidden out of sight for the first cup and the second cup, but at the third cup it was found and partaken of.  Again, what does that remind you of?  Just so, the broken body of our Lord was taken down from the cross, wrapped up carefully in the linen grave clothes, hidden out of sight in the borrowed tomb of Joseph of Aramathea.  It was not until the third day that He was found by His disciples.  He was seen by as many as 500 Jewish men on one occasion, and He has been partaken of ever since, as the Bread of Life.  Not only is the death of the Messiah taught in the Passover, but also His resurrection from the dead!  Is it any wonder that when Jewish people receive the Messiah there is a sense of fulfillment and completeness that is indescribable?  They are finally able to see that everything they have observed from their youth points to the Messiah through the Passover and in Judaism.

(The afikomen is broken and distributed to all.)

And He [Yeshua] took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remebrance of me.” Luke 22:19

Leader:  Baruch atah Adonai, Elohaynu melech ha-olom, asher keedshanoo b'mitzvotov, vitz-e-vanu al-acheelat matzah.

Assembled:  Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who hast sanctified us by thy commandments and has commanded us to eat Matzah.

(Eat the matzah)

Kos G’ulah (Cup of Redemption)

 (The third cup of wine is lifted up.)

This cup is called the cup of Redemption to remind us simply of how God redeemed Israel out of Egypt with an outstretched hand.  Also, it was our redemption through the blood of Yeshua our living sacrifice.  In the same way, after the supper He took the cup saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”  Luke 22:20.

Leader:  Baruch atah Adonai, Elohaynu melech ha-olom, boray p'ree hagafen.

Translation:  Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who created the fruit of the vine.

Kos B’racha (Cup of Blessing)

This is the fourth cup and it is not to be drunk.  Yeshua said, “...I will not drink of this cup until that day when I drink with you in My Father's kingdom” Matthew 26:29.

In biblical days, and even now in some of the Jewish cultures, it was customary that after the fathers had agreed on making a match, the bride to be was confronted and told of the proposed matrimony. In a public setting, friends and relatives would be invited to come and witness the betrothal. A part of this ceremony was to introduce the bride to the offered groom and give her the opportunity to accept or decline. This was done by presenting the groom with a silver cup of wine filled to the brim. If he would signify the agreement, then he would do so by lifting this cup of wine and drinking from it. By doing this he was entering into a covenant of betrothal that could only to be nullified through divorce. This cup was normally given to the bride that accepts to sit at times as she would ponder the face of her groom to be, and even drink a bit of wine from the cup to bring to remembrance the wedding feast yet to come.

In the same way, Yeshua is coming for us, His bride, and we will not drink that last cup with Him except when He returns and we can see Him face to face.

Next year in Jerusalem!

L’shanah ha’ba-ah b’Yerushaliyim!