My Seder 2008
The Seder was led by me, but key passages were shared by the pastor and two leaders of the local church, designated below as “Leader”. The name of the leader reading a given section was hand-written prominently in the margin in his copy of the Seder script.
Lighting of Candles (by “the honored woman”)
Baruch ata Adonai, E loheinu melek HaOlam, Sheshalach et bin-‘echa
y’echid’echa, Y’shua HaMashiach, lih’eyot or HaOlam, v’eseh
Ha Pesach, shelanu l’emaan nich’eyeh biz’echuto. Amen
Translation
Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who hast sent Thy Son, Thine Only Son, Y’shua the Messiah, to be the light of the world and our Passsover Lamb, that through him we might live. Amen.
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. – Numbers 6:24-26
Let the Seder Begin
Leader: Ushers fill the first cup.
KIDDUSH – First Cup
(Leader hold up cup)
Leader: THIS FIRST CUP IS THE CUP OF SANCTIFICATION AND BLESSING. [IN HEBREW, KIDDUSH.]
Leader: With this cup we set this night aside, as different from all other nights.
Leader: Baruch Ata Adonai Eloheinu Melek HaOlam Borea Perie hagafen. Amen
Leader: Blessed art Thou, o lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Leader: Blessed art Thou, o Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who chose us from all peoples and exalted us among all nations, by making us holy with His commandments.
Leader: Blessed art thou, o Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has given us life and brought us to this happy season.
Leader: All lean to the left and drink the Cup.
UR’CHATZ – THE WASHING OF HANDS:
[In very large groups, only the leader may want to wash]
Leader: Now for the Washing of Hands: (Exodus 40:29-32)
Leader: Blessed art thou, o Lord our God, king of the universe, who has sanctified us with Thy commandments and commanded us to wash the hands.
Leader: At the time of the first cup, during Y’shua’s Last Passover, (Supper), the Bible tells us:
They prepared the Passover. When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” (Luke 22:13-18)
Leader: The washing of hands was customarily done by the servant or the slave of the house. But, it was at this time during the washing of hands the Bible tells us Y’shua…
(John 13:4-12)
So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. (John 13: 4-12)
KARPAS – EATING OF the GREEN VEGETABLE
Leader: After the blessing, we will eat the Green Vegetable, Celery which we dip in salt water. Green is a symbol of life and Springtime. The salt water is to remind us of the tears shed by the oppressed house of Israel in Egypt. With hyssop branches they sprinkled the blood of the lamb to their doorpost (Exodus 1:22). This is the appetizer of the meal.
Leader: Baruch Ata Adonai Eloheinu Melek haOlam Borea Perie Ha adamah
Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the earth.
Leader: Now you may eat the celery dipped in salt water.
YACHATZ – BREAKING THE MIDDLE MATZAH
Leader: (Shows 3 matzoth wrapped in white covering [napkin])
Leader: Now comes one of the most interesting parts of the Seder for believers in Y’shua, the breaking of the middle matzah. Three Matzoth are placed in a special white covering [called the “matzoth tosh”]. The middle matzah is removed and broken. The larger piece is wrapped and hidden, it is called the Afikomen, a Greek word meaning that which comes later. The Afikomen is hidden, or buried, to be found and redeemed later for a reward. The smaller piece is eaten before the meal.
Leader: Why are there three matzoth? Some rabbis say it represents the HIGH PRIEST, LEVITES and PEOPLE of ISRAEL, the three levels of worshippers in temple times. But why is the middle broken?
Leader: Other rabbis say that it represents ABRAHAM, ISAAC and JACOB. But this, too, does not explain why the middle matzah is broken.
Leader: Still other rabbis say that in the wilderness God gave daily MANNA, but on Friday a double portion was given and one is added for Passover, making three. But why is the middle matzah broken, buried and brought back? This tradition has been celebrated for thousands of years.
Leader: For us who believe in Y’shua, it is no mystery. It is a beautiful picture of the one and only God revealed in three persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Son left the Holy of Holies, heaven, was broken, buried, and brought back. He who finds Him receives a great reward, Eternal Life.
Leader: (uncovers the matzah and lifts up the plate [or smaller middle matzah] for all to see. Then recites following:)
Leader: This is the bread of affliction which our forefathers ate in the land of Egypt. All who are hungry–let them come and eat. All who are needy–let them come and celebrate the Passover with us. Now we are here; next year may we be in the Land of Israel. Now we are slaves; next year may we be free men.
(Breaks matzah)
(The plate is put down, and the matzah is covered,)
Leader: Note that in the traditional recital, Israel is still looking for the messiah to free them. Only their ancestors were slaves in Egypt, but all are enslaved and in bondage to sin, in need of the deliverance only Y’shua can give.
Leader: Ushers please fill all cups in preparation for SECOND CUP coming later.
Leader: Now we will HIDE the AFIKOMEN. All the Children’s eyes are closed…..
(Hides AFIKOMEN (larger piece) returns the other piece to the cover.)
MAGGID
THE FOUR QUESTIONS
Leader: Now it is time for the Four Questions to be read.
The youngest present asks the Four Questions. In a Jewish household, this is read in Hebrew, then English. We will sing the four questions first, then four of our children will ask the questions in English.
Singer who knows the song well sings Mah Nishtana
Children, please ask the 4 questions.
(Why is this night different from all other nights?)
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On all other nights we may eat either leavened or unleavened bread; but on this night why only unleavened bread?
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On all other nights we eat herbs of any kind; but on this night why only bitter herbs?
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On all other nights we do not dip our herbs even once; but on this night why do we dip them twice?
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On all other nights we eat our meals sitting or reclining; but on this night why do we eat in a reclining position?
Leader: uncovers the matzah and begin the reply.
Leader: Before we read the Haggadah which tells in detail the whole story, I will answer your questions one by one.
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We eat matzah because when our ancestors were told by Pharaoh that they could leave Egypt, they had no time to bake bread with leaven, so they baked it without leaven.
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At the Seder, we eat bitter herbs to remind us of the bitterness our ancestors experienced when they were oppressed by the Egyptian taskmasters.
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At the Seder, we dip food twice: the celery in salt water, as we have already explained, and the maror into the charoset, as we shall later explain.
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As a sign of freedom, we lean to the left when we partake of the cup. In ancient times, slaves ate hurriedly, standing, while royalty, and the wealthy in Egypt, and other empires, dined on couches. To show that Israel was now free, they too reclined while eating. Since we do not have couches for each person, the leader has a pillow to lean on and everyone leans to the left when drinking the cup and eating the matzah.
Leader: Blessed Is God Who gave the Torah to His people, Israel. Blessed is He.
[The Four Sons]
Leader: Four times the Torah declares that a father should tell his son the story of Passover. Thus the Rabbis infer that there are four types of children. The Torah tells of the Four sons:
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The Wise son asks, “What is the meaning of the laws and customs which God has commanded us?” (Deuteronomy 6:20)
Tell him all the laws of Passover to the last detail about the Afikomen. -
The rebellious son asks, “What does this service mean to you?” (Exodus 12:26)
Tell him it is because of what the Lord has done for me when I came out of Egypt.(Exodus 13:8) Not for him for he excludes himself and denies God by asking what is the meaning to you. If he was in Egypt he would not have been redeemed. -
The simple son asks “What does this mean?”
Tell him with a mighty hand, the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of bondage. (Exodus 13:14) -
As for the shy son who does not even known how to ask, you must begin for him. As it is written in the Torah, “You shall tell your child on that day: I do this because of what the Lord did for me, when I came out of Egypt. (Exodus 13:8) Thus one must arouse his interest in what the Lord has and will do.
Leader: Blessed Is God Who keeps His promises to Israel. Blessed is He.
MAGGID – TELLING THE PASSOVER STORY
Responsive Reading
Leader: Now we will read the telling of THE PASSOVER STORY responsively from our Seder program.
Leader: The Bible teaches that during a great famine in the land of Canaan, the sons of Israel journeyed to Egypt to purchase food. There they were reunited with their brother Joseph. Because of his influence, they were permitted to dwell in the fertile plains of Goshen. At first, the House of Israel numbered less than 80 souls. But in time, their numbers swelled, their flocks increased, and they became a mighty people.
ALL: And then there arose a new Pharaoh, one who did not know Joseph. He beheld the might of Israel, and he feared that in time of war, the sons of Jacob might join themselves with Egypt’s foes.
Leader: And so he subdued the Israelites, and he afflicted them with cruel labor. Task masters were placed over the Israelites, to compel them to make bricks and to build Pharaoh’s great storage cities of Ramses and Pithom.
ALL: But despite their hardship, they continued to thrive, just as God had promised. This caused Pharaoh even greater alarm, and he ordered the slaughter of Israel’s infant sons. By his command, every male child born to the Hebrews was to be cast into the Nile and drowned.
Leader: How sober were the afflictions of the Jewish people. In anguish, we cried to the God of our Fathers. And God heard our cry. God remembered His covenant. And God raised up a deliverer, a redeemer, the man Moses. And He sent Moses to Pharaoh’s court to declare the commandment of the Lord…
ALL: Let my people go.
Leader: But Pharaoh would not hearken to the Lord of Hosts. And so, Moses pronounced God’s judgment on Pharaoh’s house and on Pharaoh’s land. Plagues were poured out upon the Egyptians, upon their crops, and upon their flocks.
ALL: But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. He would not yield to the will of God. He would not let the House of Jacob depart.
Leader: Then the tenth plague fell upon the land of Egypt: the death of Egypt’s firstborn. “And all the first born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born of Pharaoh who sittest upon his throne, even unto the first born of the maid servant who was behind the mill; and all the first born of beasts…and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment.” But to protect the children of Israel, God commanded the head of each Jewish household to sacrifice a spotless lamb, without breaking any of its bones, and to apply it’s blood to the doorway of our homes, first to the top of the doorway, the lintel, and then to the two sideposts.
ALL: “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plagues shall not be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt.”
Leader: By the blood of lamb was Israel spared.
ALL: By the blood of the lamb was Jacob redeemed. By the blood of the lamb was death made to pass over.
Leader: Passover. The night when death passed over the houses of Israel because of the blood of the Passover lamb. What a mighty act of redemption. And what a beautiful picture of redemption destined to come. For just as no bones of the first Passover lambs were broken, so none of the Messiah’s bones were broken.
ALL: And just as the blood of those first Passover lambs was applied in faith to the doorposts of Israel’s homes, so the blood of the Messiah must be applied in faith to the doorposts of our hearts.
Leader: Tonight, we worship God not only because the angel of death passed over our ancestors homes, but because all of us whether Jewish or Gentile, may be redeemed from an even greater bondage through our faith in the Messiah of Israel, the Messiah Jesus. Through Him, we may pass over from death to life.
THE SECOND CUP – PLAGUES & iniquity
Leader: Ushers, please pour the second cup, the cup of the TEN PLAGUES, but pour less than for the first cup.
Leader: So this promise made to our forefathers holds true also to us! For more than once has the enemy risen up to destroy us. But the Holy One, blessed be He, The Lord and God, He Saves us!
THE TEN PLAGUES
Leader: Our JOY is less than full because our redemption involved the suffering of the Egyptians. Though their suffering was a result of their own evil, God has taught us to love our enemies. Proverbs (4:17) says “Rejoice not when your enemy falls”. For God’s love is for everyone. A full cup is a symbol of joy and we rejoice tonight. But we diminish our cup to show that our joy is not complete.
Leader: Neither as believers in Y’shua, is are joy complete so long as so many are still in bandage to sin.
Leader: I will say the plagues in Hebrew, then we will all say them together in English and diminish our cup.
Leader: These were the TEN PLAGUES which the Holy One, praised He be, brought upon the Egyptians in Egypt.
Leader: Dam, Tzfardeiyah, Kinim, Arov, Dever, Sh’chin, Barad, Arbeh, Choshech, Makat b’chorot.
ALL: Blood, frogs, lice, swarms of insects, cattle disease, boil, hail, locusts, darkness, slaying of the first born.
SONG: DAYEINU (Enough for us) [sung by a musician who knows it well]
The THREE SYMBOLS
Leader: (Rabbi Gamaliel of temple times, who was Saul’s {Paul’s} teacher, gave the following explanation:)
Whoever does not explain the following three symbols at the Seder on Passover has not fulfilled his duty:
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THE PASSOVER OFFERING
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THE MATZAH
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THE BITTER HERBS
Leader: What was the reason for the Passover offering which our fathers ate in Temple days? It was because the Holy One, blessed be He, passed over the houses of our forefathers in Egypt, as it is written in the Bible: “And you shall say it is the Passover offering for the Lord, Who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and spared our houses. And the people bowed their heads and worshipped.” (Exodus 12:27)
Leader: [We do not lift up the lamb bone lest it remind us there are no temple offerings today.]
Leader: (Hold up a Matzah)
Leader: What is the reason for this matzah which we eat? It is because there was not time for the dough of our ancestors in Egypt to leaven, before the Ruler of all, the Holy One, blessed be He, revealed Himself to them and redeemed them, as it is told in the Bible: “And the dough which they had brought out from Egypt they baked into cakes of unleavened bread, for it had not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt and they could not tarry, nor had they prepared for themselves any provisions.” (Exodus 12:39)
Leader: (Hold up the bitter herbs)
Leader: These bitter herbs which we eat — what is their meaning? They are eaten to recall that the Egyptians embittered the lives of our forefathers in Egypt, as it is written: “And they embittered their lives with hard labor: with mortar and bricks, with every kind of work in the fields; all the work which they made them do was rigorous.” (Exodus 1:14)
Leader: In every generation one must look upon himself as if he personally had come out from Egypt, as the Bible says: “And thou shalt tell thy son on that day, saying, it is because of that which the Lord did to me when I went forth from Egypt.” For it was not alone our forefathers whom the Holy One, blessed be He, redeemed; He redeemed us too, with them, as it is said: “He brought us out from there that He might lead us to and give us the land which He pledged to our forefathers.”
Leader: [In Romans 6:6-8, 11 we are to think of ourselves as crucified with Messiah, putting aside the old self. This is what coming out of Egypt symbolizes.]
Leader: (Raise the cup and say:)
Leader: Therefore, it is our duty to thank and to praise in song and prayer, to glorify and extol Him who performed all these wonders for our forefathers and for us. He brought us out from slavery to freedom, from anguish to joy, from sorrow to festivity, from darkness to great light.
Leader: (Set Cup down, again)
Leader: [Let is praise the Lord by reading Psalm 136.]
THE SECOND CUP – PLAGUES
Leader: (Raise the cup and say:)
Leader: Baruch Ata Adonai Eloheinu Melek HaOlam Borea Perie Hagafen
ALL: Blessed art Thou, O Lord Our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the Vine
Leader: Drink the second cup, leaning to the left.
MOTZI – MATZAH, MAROR & BITTER HERBS
KORECH – MATZAH, BITTER HERBS SANDWICH
MOTZI – MATZAH
Leader: All hold the middle and top Matzah.
Leader: Say the two blessings over the matzah:
ALL: Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.
ALL: Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Who made us holy with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the eating of matzah.
Leader: Eat the matzah. [a pinch of salt may be added Numbers 18:19] (salt: Leviticus 2:13, Mark 9:5, Matthew 5:13)
MAROR – BITTER HERBS
ALL: Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Who made us holy with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the eating of bitter herbs. (Exodus 12:8 & Numbers 9:11)
Leader: Now eat the bitter herbs.
KORECH — MATZAH, BITTER HERBS SANDWICH
EATING THE BITTER HERBS AND MATZAH sandwich
Leader: In remembrance of the holy Temple, we do as the rabbis did in Temple times: Rabbi Hillel, father of Simeon, put matzah and bitter herbs together and ate them as a sandwich, in order to observe literally the words of the Torah: “They shall eat it [the Passover offering] with matzah and bitter herbs. (Exodus 12:8 & Numbers 9:11)
Leader: Make a sandwich of matzah, bitter herbs [and charoset.] (Eat the sandwich.)
Leader: This sandwich was eaten with Lamb during temples times in Jerusalem, it is also known as the sop. It is still the custom today to give this dipped sop with affection to a loved one. [give sop to loved one]
Leader: It was with the dipped sop Y’shua spoke of his betrayal:
“One of you shall betray me” Peter motioned John to ask who he was, Jesus answer: ” He it is, to whom I shall give a sop” After he dipped sop, Judas left to betray Him. (John 13:21-28).
Leader: The Passover lamb was the last item eaten at the Seder. But the lamb was not eaten outside of Jerusalem, so the afikomen took on much of the significance of the Passover lamb for them. Jesus foretold the destruction of the Temple and thus the end of Passover sacrifices. Thus it was appropriate for Him to desire his followers to remember Him in the broken afikomen. The Passover sacrifice which could be offered only by dwellers in, or travelers to, Jerusalem was soon to cease. When Jerusalem fell, lamb was no longer eaten at the Seder. With afikomen alone we can remember the Lamb, our Messiah.
Leader: Jewish custom is to say a blessing before meals and give thanks after. Jesus gave thanks before He ate many times. Lifting up the food He gave thanks. (Matthew 14:19 & Luke 9:6 & John 6:11)
Leader: Let us give Thanks. In your hearts, please say a personal prayer of thanks.
MEAL
Leader: Let the meal begin. Tonight we are having lamb biryani. In addition, all of the ceremonial foods and drink may be eaten with the meal.
BAREICH – GRACE AFTER THE MEAL
Leader: Let us continue the Seder.
Let us read responsively the Grace.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord.
ALL: May the name of the Lord be blessed from this time forth and forever.
Leader: We praise You, O God, from whose abundance we have partaken.
ALL: We praise You, O Lord our God, our Savior and our King who gives bread to all flesh, for Your lovingkindness endures forever.
Leader: Ushers: Please fill the cup in preparation for the cup of Redemption.
TZAFON – EATING THE AFIKOMEN
Leader: The meal cannot be completed without eating the AFIKOMEN. The AFIKOMEN, the broken middle matzah that was hidden will now be brought back, must be found. The one who finds it receives a reward.
Leader: The children must now get up and find the Afikomen. No one can leave till it is found…
(Leader gives Warm-cold hints. OK. The Afikomen is found and returned. Continues…)
Leader: Thank you. I will give you your reward later, please see me after the Seder is over.
Leader: The AFIKOMEN is our substitute for the Passover Lamb, which in days of old, was the final food of the Seder feast.
Leader: Jesus took this portion of the Seder to establish the Lord’s supper.
Leader: Jesus is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
Leader: This is the Bread of affliction, the humble, poor man’s Bread.
Leader: The Bread itself reminds us of Him. The Rabbis have rigid codes as to the appearance of the matzah. It must have stripes, be pierced and without leaven. Y’shua was afflicted, striped, pierced and without sin.
Leader: [The Prophet Isaiah, inspired by God, said of the Messiah to come:
Reads from the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 53).
Leader: What a perfect description of Y’shua told 700 years before his birth.]
Leader: The Prophet Zechariah inspired by God said of the Messiah:
Leader: Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. (Zechariah 12:10)
Leader: There are 60 major direct prophecies predicting the birth, life, death and resurrection of the messiah and another 270 implied references to the coming of the messiah all written hundreds to thousands of year before His birth. Only Y’shua, Jesus of Nazareth, has or could fulfill these predictions foretold by the prophets of God.
Leader: The Afikomen has been buried and risen. A reward is given for the finder of the Afikomen.
Leader: It was during the blessing after the meal and the eating of the Afikomen that the Bible tells us:
Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (1 Corinthians 11:23-24)
Leader: Each person is given a portion. pass to left & right
Leader: Jesus said:
Leader: “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)
Leader: [The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.”] (1 Corinthians 11:28)
Leader: Let us pause for moment of thought. (Pause for a moment) Let us eat the bread. His sacrificial death on the cross fulfilled the prophetic symbolism of the Passover lamb.
THE THIRD CUP – REDEMPTION
Leader: The Cup of Redemption: The Cup of Blessing: With this cup Israel remembers their deliverance from 430 years of slavery, and their redemption from the plague of death by the blood of the first Passover Lamb.
It was with this cup that the Word of God tells us:
Leader: In the same way, after the supper he, (Y’shua, the Lord Jesus) took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. (Luke 22:20)
This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:25b)
Leader: I will lift up the cup of salvation, The Cup of Y’shua, and call on the name of the Lord. Remembering that Jesus’ blood was poured out for the forgiveness of sins. Let us be thankful.
Leader: Take a moment for personal prayer, and a moment of thought.
Leader: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the Vine.
Let us drink the cup.
(ALL drink the third cup)
Leader: The apostle Paul wrote of this Cup and this Bread:
Leader: reads 1 Corinthians 10:16 & 11:20, 26
“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16)
When you come together, is it not the Lord’s Supper you eat…
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes”) (1 Corinthians 11:20 & 26)
Leader: In Egypt if they had not trusted God and applied the blood of the Lamb to their doors, their first-born would have died. So also, God must see the blood of the Lamb, Y’shua our Savior, at the door of our heart, that we may Pass over from death to life.
Leader: It was by God’s Grace and for His Name’s sake that Israel was redeemed, not by their own righteousness. So it is also with our redemption from sin and spiritual death. We are saved as we put our faith in Y’shua, the Lamb of God.
Leader: Let us sing a song of praise to Him.
([ALL Sing the Hallelujah song.])
Leader: We are witnesses to God’s power to deliver us from slavery and sin. God calls us, Do not go back to bondage in Egypt nor back to the bondage of sin. There is a Redeemer, Jesus our Lord. We have partaken of the Afikomen and the Third cup of redemption, remembering that the One who was to come, has already come and will come again.
Leader: Christians and Jews have a belief in common, yet with this difference: The Torah-based Jew believes the Messiah is to come: the Torah-based Christian, believes that he is to come again.
Leader: Please fill the fourth cup of Thanksgiving and Completion.
ELIJAH THE PROPHET
(THE 4th CUP)
Leader: Ushers, please fill the fourth cup. The cup of Elijah. We will now hold it up. Someone please open the front door and everyone please rise.
Leader: Elijah is the bearer of good tidings of joy and peace. His name is especially associated with the coming of the Messiah, whose advent he is expected to announce.
Leader: I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; (Malachi 4:4-6a)
Leader: We recall what Jesus said of John the Baptist:
(Mark 9:13)&(Matthew 11:14).
(And they asked him (Jesus), “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.” (Mark 9:11-13)
(For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. He who has ears, let him hear. (Matthew 11:13,14,15)
Leader: “Elijah has come” This was certainly true in the person of John the Baptist.
Leader: So please close the door and be seated. Elijah and the Messiah have already come and we await His return, once again preceded by Elijah.
Leader: At this time we also remember the promises of God to Israel. He who blesses the Jews will be blessed, he who curses the Jews will be cursed. (Genesis 27:29)
Leader: History speaks for itself that this is true. Many mighty nations have fallen when they began to persecute God’s people. Nations like Babylon, Egypt, Rome, Spain, Germany and more have fallen. God is faithful and true to His promises. We can trust in Him!
Leader: Let us Praise the Lord Our God, Our Redeemer.
HALLEL – PSALMS OF PRAISE
Leader: The Passover Hallels are the Psalms of praises, Psalm 113 to 118 are the Passover Psalms. The Great Passover Hallel is Psalm 136. These were sung in the Temple by the Temple Choir during Passover.
Leader: Let us read responsively a Hallel of Praise.
Leader: Praise the Lord!
ALL: Praise, O servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord.
Leader: Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forever. When Israel went forth from Egypt, the House of Jacob from a people of strange language, Judah became His sanctuary, Israel His dominion.
ALL: The sea looked and fled. The Jordan turned back. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.
Leader: You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?
ALL: I shall lift up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.
Leader: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.
ALL: For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Leader: I shall give thanks to Thee, for Thou hast answered me; and Thou hast become my salvation.
ALL: The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
Leader: This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
ALL: This is the day which the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Leader: O Lord, do save, we beseech thee!
ALL: O Lord, do save, we beseech thee!
Leader: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. We have blessed you from the House of the Lord.
ALL: Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
THE FOURTH CUP of PRAISE and Completion
Leader: Lift up the fourth cup of praise and completion.
(raises the cup and recites:)
Leader: Baruch Ata Adonai Eloheinu Melek HoOlam Bore a Perie Hagafen Amen
Blessed art Thou, O Lord Our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the Vine. Amen.
Leader: Let us sing to the Lord!
[PASSOVER SONGS]
Leader: At This Time of the last Supper, the Word says in (Mark14:26,27,28).
Leader: When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” (Mark 14:26,27,28)
Leader: Jesus after singing and closing the Passover dinner had to leave the city for the atonement Lamb’s body was always offered up to God outside the city’s walls. (Hebrews 13:11-14)
[SONGS]
NIRTZAH – CONCLUSION OF THE SEDER
Leader: In Closing we call out to our Lord and God,
Leader: Have compassion, O Lord our God, upon us, upon Israel Your people, upon Jerusalem Your city, on Zion the dwelling place of Your glory, and upon Your altar and Your Temple. Rebuild Jerusalem, Your holy city, speedily in our days. Be gracious to us and give us strength.
Leader: Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe. We thank Thee for sustaining us all to this day. Blessed be the Lord.
Leader: Ended is the Passover Seder according to custom, statute and law.
As we have celebrated it this year, so may we perform it in future years.
Leader: O Pure One in heaven above, restore the congregation of Israel in Your love, and bring them to the knowledge and love of the everlasting Redeemer, Y’shua, the Anointed one, King of Kings, Lord of Lords. For before Him every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Yeshua the Messiah is Lord. And we will be with Him in the New Jerusalem. He will be our God and we will be His people forever more. (Revelation 21:1-4)
ALL: read Revelation 5:17 Worthy is the Lamb]
ALL: Speedily lead Your redeemed people to Zion in Joy.
Leader: The Seder customary ends by every one saying:
Next Year in Jerusalem!
And everyone said:
Next Year in Jerusalem!
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