FOR THE MESSIANIC BELIEVER

BEDIKAT CHAMETZ

THE SEARCH FOR LEAVEN

Before we celebrate Passover we are instructed to remove all the leaven from our houses, as it is written in Exodus 12:15;

Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses; for whoever eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.

Why would eating anything with leaven be so severely punished? Passover is a holiday that is rich in symbolism, and leaven is used throughout the Scriptures as a symbol for sin. Just as a little leaven is mixed with a batch of flour and spreads throughout the entire batch, so sin will infect the life of an individual or a community that tolerates it. Therefore eating anything made with yeast, which is a symbol of sin, is not allowed during this holiday that is so full of symbolism.

On the day before Passover, after we have searched for and removed all the leaven from our homes, we pray this prayer to make sure that our home is thoroughly cleansed of all leaven:

All leavened bread and leavening that is in my possession, whether I have observed it or not observed it, whether I have searched it out or not searched it out, shall be rendered null and accounted valueless as the dust of the earth.

Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us concerning the removal of leavened bread.

Rabbi Paul referred to this ceremony when he wrote to the Messianic Community at Corinth. As it is written in I Corinthians 5:6-8;

Don't you know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, just as you are unleavened. For Messiah, our Passover Lamb, also has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the feast, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Just as we cleanse our homes of leaven in order to celebrate the Passover, so we are to cleanse our lives of sin in order to enjoy all the blessings that come from Messiah Yeshua our Passover Lamb.

Baruch  Atah  Adonai  Elohaynu  Melech ha'olam,  she-heh-cheh-ya-nu  v'kee-ma-nu  v'hi-gee-ya-nu  laz-man   ha-zeh.

Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has kept us in life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this season.

LIGHTING THE PASSOVER CANDLES

            It is appropriate that the woman of the home brings light to the Passover celebration. It reminds us that Messiah Yeshua, the Light of the World, is the seed of the woman.

Baruch  Atah   Adonai  Elohaynu  Melech  ha'olam,  asher kidshanu b'Yeshua  HaMashiach,  Or  ha'olam  v'Pesach  shelanu.

Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us in Yeshua the Messiah, the Light of the World and our Passover Lamb.

KIDDUSH

THE FIRST CUP

Wine is a symbol of joy, since wine makes glad the heart of man. During the Seder we will drink four cups of wine. Each cup has its own meaning and name. Let us begin our Passover meal by thanking God for the cup of sanctification, which serves to set apart this meal to accomplish God's plans and purposes.

Baruch  Atah  Adonai  Elohaynu  Melech ha'olam,

Boray  p'ree  hagafen.

Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe,  Creator of the fruit of the vine.

(Everyone drinks the first cup)

URCHATZ

WASHING THE HANDS

To insure our hands are clean, it is traditional to wash our hands before the Passover food is touched. As it is written in John 13:1-12;

At His Last Seder Yeshua was aware the Father had put everything in His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God. So He rose from the table, removed His outer garments and wrapped a towel around His waist. Then He poured some water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples and wipe them off with the towel wrapped around Him... If I, the Lord and Rabbi, have washed your feet, you should also wash each other's feet. For I have set you an example, so that you may do as I have done to you.

Knowing that He had been given all authority in heaven and on earth, knowing He had eternally shared the glory of God, and was soon returning to again share God's glory, Messiah Yeshua acted as a servant and washed the feet of His disciples. He set for all time the supreme example of servanthood and humility. Let us now wash our hands.

KARPAS

PARSLEY

Passover is observed in the spring when the earth is green with life. The karpas represents life. We dip it into salt water, which represents tears, and we eat it. This reminds us that life in Egypt was full of tears.  As it is written in Exodus 1:11-14;

The Egyptians appointed taskmasters over us to afflict us with hard labor. The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously; and they made our lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and with all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously imposed on us.

The karpas can also represent hyssop, the plant that was dipped into the blood of the Passover lamb and applied to the doorposts of our houses in Egypt.

Baruch  Atah  Adonai  Elohaynu  Melech ha'olam, Boray  p'ree  ha'adamah.

Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the earth.

YACHATZ

DIVIDE THE MIDDLE MATZA

The Matzatash contains three pieces of matza in one bag. Some say that we have three pieces of matza in one bag to represent the Priests, the Levites and Israel. Another interpretation is that the three represent Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It's obvious that this matza does not represent Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Why would we break Isaac in half? As believers in Master Yeshua we can see a greater Three-In-One: God the Father, Messiah Yeshua, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit.

The middle matza reminds us of Messiah Yeshua. It is the one that is removed from the middle of the matzatash, just as the Son of God was the One who came from heaven and was manifested on earth. It is unleavened just as Messiah Yeshua lived a perfectly sinless life. Matza is called the "Bread of Affliction" because we were driven out of Egypt under duress and hastily so that there wasn't time for our bread to rise. In a similar manner, Messiah Yeshua was afflicted. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. One half of the matza is put back in the Matzatash. The other half, the Afikomen, is wrapped up and hidden, just as Messiah Yeshua was wrapped in graveclothes and hidden for a time in a garden tomb.

This is the Bread of Affliction which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt; let all those who are hungry enter and eat of it. All who are in distress, come and celebrate the Passover.

At present we celebrate it here, but next year we hope to celebrate it in Israel with Messiah in the New Jerusalem.

MA NISHTANAH

THE FOUR QUESTIONS

Passover provides a yearly opportunity to teach our children God's plan of redemption. It is written in the Torah in Exodus 12:25-27;

When you enter the land which the LORD will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite. And when your children say to you, What does this rite mean to you? you shall say, It is a Passover sacrifice to the LORD who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.'   And the people bowed low and worshiped.

To make sure that the children fulfill this Scripture, there are four questions that the youngest son is to ask on Passover.

Ma  nish-ta-nah  ha-lai-lah  ha-zeh  mi-kol  ha-lay-lot?  She-b'chol  ha-lay-lot ah-nu  och-leen  cha-met z u'matza,  ha-lai-lah  ha-zeh  ku-lo matza?  She-b'chol   ha-lay-lo t ah-nu  och-leen  sh'ar  y'ra-kot;  ha-lai-lah  ha-zeh  ma-ror?  She-b'chol      ha-lay-lo t ayn  ah-nu  mat-bee-leen  a-fee-lu  pa'am  eh-chat;  ha-lai-lah  ha-zeh  sh'tay f'ah-meem?  She-b'chol  ha-lay-lot  ah-nu  och-leen  bayn  yosh-veen  u'vayn  m'su-been; ha-lai-lah  ha-zeh  ku-lah-nu  m'su-been?

Why is this night different from all other nights?

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

·        On this night we eat only matzoh to remind us of the swiftness of Gods salvation, which came so quickly there was no time for the dough to rise.  Further, the purging of leaven from our houses reminds us to purge our lives of sinful thoughts and actions.  Similarly, we eagerly wait for the swift return of Master Yeshua, or Messiah as a thief in the night.  And we seek to live holy lives so as not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.

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

·        On this night we eat only maror to remind us of the bitterness of bondage in Egypt.  Similarly, as believers in Master Yeshua we remember the bitterness of bondage to sin and death from which our Messiah has freed us.

3.         On all other nights we do not even dip once; why on this night do we dip twice?

·        On this night we dip the greens into salt water to remind us of the tears shed in bondage.  We dip the matzoh in the charoset to remind us of the sweetness of freedom, which the Lord, our God, blessed be His Name, brought about through the Exodus.  Similarly, as believers in Master Yeshua we remember how He turned our tears of sadness into joy.  We praise Him for the abundant life into which He has brought us.

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

·        On this night we recline because in ancient times that was the posture of free people at meals.  Those whom God liberated in the Exodus were no longer slaves.  Similarly as believers in Master Yeshua we know that we have been made new creations.  We are freed from our past sin and pain, freed to live with joy in the present and freed to live and reign with God forever.  Freed by Master Yeshua, we are free indeed.

The answers to these questions explain the major features of the Passover Seder: We were once slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord, our God brought us out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.  If the Holy One, blessed be His Name, had not brought our ancestors out from Egypt, then we, our children and their children would still be slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt.  Therefore, even if we were all wise, all understanding, all experienced, all intimate with the Scriptures, we would still need to recount the Exodus from Egypt.  And whoever recounts at length is praiseworthy.

THE FOUR SONS

Just as there are four cups of wine and four questions to ask, so too there are four kinds of sons.

What says the wise son?

He asks: "What are these testimonies, statutes, and judgments which the Lord our God has commanded you?"

Then you shall instruct him in the laws of the Passover.

What does the wicked son say?

He asks: "What do you mean by this service?"

By the word "you" it is clear that he does not include himself, and so he has withdrawn himself from the community.

What says the simple son?

He asks: "What is this?"

Then you shall tell him: With a mighty hand did the Lord bring us forth from Egypt, from the house of slavery.

But as for the son who has no capacity to inquire, you must tell the Passover story, as it is said: And you shall tell your son on that day: This is done because of what the Lord did for me, when I went forth from Egypt.

MAGID

TELLING THE PASSOVER STORY

The children of Israel went down to Egypt in the time of Joseph. God used Joseph to save both the children of Israel and the children of Egypt. But years later a new Pharaoh arose who did not remember Joseph. Instead of showing gratitude he enslaved our people. The Lord raised up Moses who went to Pharaoh and demanded that he let the Jewish people go. Pharaoh was stubborn and refused to let Israel go. God poured out ten plagues on the land of Egypt. The tenth plague was the worst one of them all: death for all the first-born sons throughout the land of Egypt, both the first-born of Israel and the first-born of Egypt, both the first-born of man and the first-born of beast.

There was only one way a first-born son could survive that first Passover night. God instructed us to take an unblemished year old lamb, kill it, and drain its blood into a bowl. Then we were to take hyssop, dip it in the bowl of blood and apply it to the two doorposts and the top of the door of our homes.  The Lord said in Exodus 13:13;

...when I see the blood on the door I will pass over that house.

The Lord went throughout the land of Egypt that night and struck every house. There was a great outcry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead. But as He had promised, on each door where He saw the blood of a spotless lamb, God passed over that home and spared the first-born son from death. The next day Israel was redeemed from Egypt. Then God took us by the hand, and led us through the wilderness to the promised Land of Israel.

Passover was a prophecy of a greater Lamb, a more profound redemption, and a greater exodus that was to come. Messiah Yeshua is the Lamb of God who died on Passover to take away the sin of the world. Just as the Jewish people took the blood of the Passover lamb and by faith applied it to the doors of our houses, we must by faith take the blood of Messiah Yeshua the Son of God, the perfect and final sacrifice, and by faith apply His blood to our lives. Then God will deliver us from our Egypts, our slavery to sin, our bondage to the world, our captivity to the flesh and our slavery to the adversary. The Lord will take us by the hand, walk with us through the wilderness of this world, and lead to us the New Jerusalem.

THE SECOND CUP - THE CUP OF PLAGUES

Since wine is a symbol of joy, we remove a drop of wine from our cup for each of the ten plagues. This teaches us that we are not to rejoice too much over the destruction of our enemies. They are human beings made in the image of God, and it is a tragedy when a human being is destroyed. We are to feel compassion even towards those who oppose and mistreat us.

Dam,  Tz'far-day-ah,  Ki-neem,  Ah-rov,  Dever,  Sh'cheen,  Barad, Ar-beh,  Cho-shech,  Makat  b'chorot.

Blood, Frogs, Lice, Wild Animals, Plague, Boils, Hail, Locusts, Darkness, Slaying of the first-born.

DAYENU

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH FOR US!

If He had brought us forth from Egypt, and had not inflicted judgment upon the Egyptians, it would have been enough for us.

If He had inflicted judgment upon them, and had not executed judgment upon their gods, it would have been enough for us.

If He had executed judgment upon their gods, and had not slain their first-born, it would have been enough for us.

If He had slain their first-born, and had not bestowed their wealth upon us, it would have been enough for us.

If He had given us their wealth, and had not divided the sea for us, it would have been enough for us.

If He had divided the sea for us, and had not drowned our oppressors in the sea, it would have been enough for us.

If He had drowned our oppressors in it, and had not supplied our needs in the wilderness during forty years, it would have been enough for us.

If He had supplied our needs in the wilderness during forty years, and had not fed us with manna, it would have been enough for us.

If He had fed us with manna, and had not given us the Sabbath, it would have been enough for us.

If He had given us the Sabbath, and not given us the Torah, it would have been enough for us.

If He had given us the Torah, and not led us into the land of Israel, it would have been enough for us.

If He had led us into the land of Israel, and had not built the Temple, it would have been enough for us.

Elu  hotzee  hotzeeanu,  hotzeeanu  mee-mitzrayim

hotzeeanu  mee-mitzrayim,  dai-ye-nu!

Elu  natan  natan  lanu,  natan  lanu  et  ha  Shabbat,

natan  lanu  et  ha  Shabbat,  dai-ye-nu!

Elu  natan  natan  lanu,  natan  lanu  et  ha  Torah,

natan  lanu  et  ha  Torah,  dai-ye-nu!

Elu  natan  natan  lanu,  natan  lanu  Eretz  Yisrael,

natan  lanu  Eretz  Yisrael,  dai-ye-nu!

Elu  natan  natan  lanu,  natan  lanu  et  Mashiach,

natan  lanu  et  Mashiach,  dai-ye-nu!

THE HALLEL

THE PSALMS OF PRAISE 113-118

PSALM 113

Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes, with the princes of their people. He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord!

PSALM 114

When Israel came out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of foreign tongue, Judah became God's sanctuary, Israel His dominion. The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back; the mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. Why was it, O sea, that you fled, O Jordan, that you turned back, you mountains, that you skipped like rams, you hills like lambs? Tremble O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.

In every generation each individual is bound to regard himself as if he had personally gone forth from Egypt, as it is written in Exodus 13:8;

And you shall relate to your son on that day saying: This is on account of what the Lord did for me, when I went forth from Egypt.

Thus, it was not our ancestors alone, whom the Most Holy One, blessed be He, then redeemed, but He redeemed us with them, as it is said in Deuteronomy 6:23;

And He brought us forth from there, in order to bring us in, that

He might give us the land which He swore unto our ancestors.

In the same way each individual must personally identify with the redemption provided by the Messiah, with His death, His burial and His resurrection. It is as if we died with Him, as if we were buried with Him, and as if we rose with Him when He rose from death.

Therefore we are bound to thank, praise, laud, glorify, extol, honor, bless, exalt, and reverence Him who performed for our fathers, and for us, all these miracles. He brought us from slavery to freedom; from sorrow to joy; from mourning to festivity, and from servitude to redemption. Let us therefore sing a new song in His presence.

And everyone shouts; Halleluyah!

Baruch Atah Adonai Elohaynu Melech ha'olam, Boray p'ree hagafen.

Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

(Everyone drinks the second cup)

MATZA (unleavened bread), MAROR (bitter herbs), BETZA (the egg), CHAROSET (the apple mixture), ZEROAH (the bone)

Rabbi Gamliel, who was Paul's teacher, said that whoever does not mention three things at Passover has not done his duty; namely: the Passover Lamb, the Unleavened Bread, and the Bitter Herbs.

The Passover Lamb, which our ancestors ate during the existence of the Temple, why was it eaten? Because the Holy One, blessed be He, passed over the houses of our ancestors in Egypt, as it is said in Exodus 12:27;

You shall say, "It is a sacrifice of the Passover unto the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians and spared our houses."

God was very specific about what kind of lamb was to be used. The lamb was to be a perfect male in the prime of its life, without any spot or blemish. It was brought in for observation four days prior to Passover. No bone of the lamb was to be broken. The Passover lamb was a symbol of the Messiah.

Master Yeshua was a perfect male in the prime of His life. He was sinless and blameless in the sight of God. He was observed by Israel for three or four years during His public ministry. Not one of His bones was broken.

This Unleavened Bread which we now eat, what does it mean? It is eaten because the dough of our ancestors didn't have time to become leavened before the supreme King of Kings, the Most Holy One, blessed be He, revealed Himself unto them and redeemed them; as it is written in Exodus 12:39;

they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened because they were driven out of Egypt, and could not delay; neither had they made any provision for themselves.

Matza is called the bread of affliction because we were driven out of Egypt so quickly that there wasn't time for our bread to rise. Messiah also was oppressed and afflicted. When the matza is striped and pierced it reminds us that Yeshua was afflicted on our behalf.  As it is written is Isaiah 53:5;

He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment for our well being fell upon Him and by His stripes we are healed.

The unleavened bread reminds us that Messiah was tempted in all ways like we are, yet He never sinned.

Baruch  Atah  Adonai  Elohaynu  Melech  ha'olam,  asher  kidshanu b'mitzvotav  vitzivahnu  al  acheelat  matza.

Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to eat unleavened bread.

This Bitter Herb which we eat, what does it mean?

·        It is eaten because the Egyptians embittered the lives of our ancestors in Egypt, as it is said in Exodus 1:14;

They embittered their lives with hard bondage, in mortar and brick, and in all manner of labor in the field. All their labor was  imposed upon them with rigor.

The bitter herb is a reminder to all of us that life in Egypt was full of bitterness.

Baruch  Atah  Adonai  Elohaynu  Melech  ha'olam,  asher  kidshanu b'mitzvotav  vitzivahnu  al  acheelat  maror.

Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to eat bitter herbs.

This Charoset which we eat, what does it mean?

·        It represents the mud that was mixed with straw to make the bricks to build Pharaoh's cities. It reminds us that if we know God and Messianic redemption, there can still be sweetness even in the midst of the most bitter circumstances.

We must eat the dry matza and the bitter herbs, but we must also eat the delicious charoset. This reminds us that the sons and daughters of God, who are precious in God's sight, whom He purchased with the blood of His own Son, and for whom He has prepared an everlasting inheritance, must through much tribulation and many difficulties and trials enter into the kingdom of God.

Though we may be despised by the world, we are a royal priesthood and joint-heirs of Messiah. Even if we are oppressed with a multitude of trials and sufferings, we are nevertheless the possessors of all things.

Thus did Rabbi Hillel during the existence of the holy Temple: he took unleavened bread and bitter herbs and ate them together, in order to perform the commandment found in Exodus 12:8;

...with unleavened bread and bitter herbs shall they eat it.

This Egg which we eat, what does it mean?

·        The egg represents the sacrifices that were roasted at the Temple in Jerusalem during the holidays. Since the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD we can not offer any animal sacrifices, even though God's Word demands a sacrifice from us, for without the shedding of blood there is no atonement. We dip the egg into saltwater because we are sorry and tearful that we can no longer bring the sacrifices that the Torah requires. But for the Messianic Believer it is comforting to know that Messiah Yeshua is the final and sufficient sacrifice.

SHULCHAN ORAYCH

EAT THE PASSOVER MEAL

BARAYCH

BLESSING AFTER THE MEAL

In the Christian home, grace is said before the meal is eaten.  However, in the Jewish home, the commandment to pray after the meal is observed.  As it is written in Deuteronomy 8:10;

When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.

Baruch  Atah  Adonai  Elohaynu  Melech  ha'olamMay the name of the Lord be blessed now and throughout eternity! Blessed is He of whose food we have eaten and through whose goodness we live. Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, who feeds the entire world with Your goodness, with grace, with loving kindness and with pity. You give bread to all flesh, for Your loving kindness endures forever. In Your great goodness food has not been and shall not be lacking for us, forever and ever. For You feed and support all, and You do good to all, and prepare food for all of Your creatures which You created. Blessed are You O Lord, our God who feeds all.  Ah-mayn.

TZAFUN

THE HIDDEN AFIKOMEN

After the meal the children search for the hidden Afikomen. It was removed from the middle of the Matzatash. It is unleavened, striped, pierced, broken, wrapped up and hidden. The child who finds it resurrects it and brings it to the father. The father ransoms the Afikomen and rewards the child who finds it.

In this ceremony we see the Three-In-Oneness of God, Messiah Yeshua and His sinless life, His death, His burial, His resurrection, and the reward that our Father in heaven gives to each one of His children that comes to genuine faith in Him.

Just as the father takes the matza, breaks it and gives a piece to his family, so at His Last Supper Master Yeshua took matza, broke it and gave it to His disciples, and gave it even more meaning when He said in Luke 22:19;

Take, eat; this is My body which is given for you;

do this in remembrance of Me.

At another occasion around Passover season Messiah Yeshua said these words found in John 6:32-51;

Truly, truly I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world. They said therefore to Him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. Yeshua said to them, I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst... I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh.

For the believer in Master Yeshua, the Afikomen represents Messiah Yeshua's body that was broken for us. Because of His sacrifice we have atonement, eternal life, and peace with God. For the one who does not believe, this is only the bread of affliction which our forefathers ate in Egypt.

Baruch  Atah  Adonai  Elohaynu,  Melech ha'olam,  Ha-motze  lechem  min  ha'aretz  v'Lechem  ha-Emet,  Lechem  ha-Chai  min  Ha-shamayim.

Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth and the true bread, the living bread from Heaven.

THE THIRD CUP - REDEMPTION AND BLESSING

The third cup symbolizes our redemption out of Egypt. Yeshua took the cup after supper and gave it additional meaning when He said in Luke 22:20;

Drink from it, all of you; this cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in My blood, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

For the believer in Messiah Yeshua, this cup represents Messiah Yeshua's blood that was shed for our sins to bring us into the New Covenant with God. For the one who does not believe, this is only the cup of redemption from slavery in Egypt.

Baruch  Atah  Adonai  Elohaynu  Melech  ha'olam, Boray  p'ree  hagafen.

Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

(Everyone drinks the third cup)

THE FOURTH CUP - THE CUP OF PRAISE

At Messiah Yeshua's Last Passover Seder, He and His disciples sang to the Lord, as it is written in Matthew 26:30;

After singing a hymn they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Hah-mo-tzee   leh-khehm   meen   hah-ah-rehtz

We give thanks to God for bread, our voices rise in song together as our joyful prayer is said:

Bah-rukh   ah-tah   Adonai   eh-lo-hay-noo   meh-lehkh   hah-o-lahm  hah-mo-tzee   leh-khehm   meen   hah-ah-rehtz.  Ah-mayn.

Blessed are You, O Lord  our God, Ruler of the universe, Who brings bread from out of the earth and has given us the Bread of Life in our Messiah, Yeshua.  Ah-mayn.

PSALM 115

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your loving kindness, because of Your truth. Why should the nations say, where now is their God? But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the works of men's hands. They have mouths but they cannot speak; they have eyes but they cannot see; they have ears but they cannot hear; they have noses but they cannot smell; they have hands but they cannot feel; they have feet but they cannot walk; they cannot make a sound with their throat. Those who make them will become like them, everyone who trusts in them. O Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless those who fear the Lord, the small together with the great. May the Lord give you increase, you and your children. May you be blessed of the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth. The heavens are the heavens of the Lord; but the earth He has given to the sons of men. The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence; but as for us, we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forever. Praise the Lord!

PSALM 116

I love the Lord because He hears my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live. The cords of death encompassed me, and the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord; O Lord I beseech You, save my life! Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yes our God is compassionate. The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For You have rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I believed when I said, I am greatly afflicted. I said in my alarm, all men are liars. What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I shall lift up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I shall pay my vows to the Lord, O may it be in the presence of all His people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones. O Lord, surely I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid; You have loosed my bonds. To You I shall offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and call upon the name of the Lord. I shall pay my vows to the Lord, O may it be in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!

PSALM 117

Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.  Praise the Lord!

PSALM 118

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Let Israel say: His love endures forever. Let the house of Aaron say: His love endures forever. Let those who fear the Lord say: His love endures forever. In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and He answered by setting me free. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; He is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.  It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.   It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them off. They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them off. They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off. I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: the Lord's right hand has done mighty things!  The Lord's right hand is lifted high; the Lord's right hand has done mighty things!

I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death. Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give You thanks, for You answered me; You have become my salvation. The Stone which the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. The Lord is God, and He has made His light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will give You thanks; You are my God, and I will exalt You. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

Baruch  Ata h Adonai  Elohaynu  Melech  ha'olam,  Boray  p'ree  hagafen.

Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

(Everyone drinks the fourth cup)

THE CUP OF ELIJAH

One cup on the table is reserved for the prophet Elijah. The Lord our God promised to send this great prophet who never died to prepare us for the coming of Messiah. We have a cup for Elijah in case he should visit us this Passover.

But someone already came in the spirit of Elijah to prepare Israel for the first coming of the Messiah! Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptist) came and immersed (baptized) people at the Jordan River. One day he saw Yeshua coming and testified about Him.  As it is written in John 1:29

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John knew that God's plan to redeem the Jewish people was again through a Lamb - the ultimate Passover Sacrifice our Blessed Messiah. 

The things which happened to our ancestors are recorded for all of humanity's instruction. Just as the Jewish people in Egypt applied the blood of a spotless lamb to our doors, we must keep the Passover and the smearing of blood today. We must acknowledge our guilt and helplessness, and place our full confidence in Messiah Yeshua, the final and perfect Sacrifice who died on Passover.

Each one of us must apply the blood of Yeshua to the doors of our hearts. Then God will pass over our sins and bring us from our Egypts of sin and death, and guide us to the Promised Land of eternal life.

Israels deliverance out of Egypt and passage through the Red Sea and arrival in the Land of Israel is a type of the true and final deliverance from all evil, sin and death, from the world and from Satan. We too must turn our back on the world, embrace the death of Yeshua, and go through the Red Sea of immersion.

Just as we Jewish people girded up our loins and left Egypt, we must walk through this world in newness of life, clothed with Messiah's character and resurrection power. Then just as the Jewish people sang a song of rejoicing on the other side of the Red Sea, the Lord will put a new song of praise to God in our hearts. He will take us by the hand, and walk with us through the wilderness of this world, and lead us to the New Jerusalem, where we will live with Him forever and ever.

Have you kept the true meaning of the Passover? Are you removing the leaven of sin from your life? Have you applied Messiah's blood to the doorposts of your heart? Have you left the sinful things behind that kept you in slavery? Have you passed through the Red Sea by being immersed in cleansing waters? Are you clothed with newness of life? Are you fighting your way through the wilderness of life in this fallen world? Are you singing a new song, a song of praise unto our God?

May each one of us experience the full reality of Messiah's Passover in our lives! May all Israel and the entire world be speedily redeemed. May Messiah Yeshua soon return to Jerusalem, build up His holy city Zion, rebuild the Temple, gather Israel from the four corners of the world, rule over the nations, bring peace to the earth, and judge the world in righteousness, speedily and in our days. And let us say, Amayn!

ELIYAHU HA-NAVEE

ELIJAH THE PROPHET

Eliyahu  ha-na-vee,  Eliyahu  ha-tish-bee  Eliyahu  Eliyahu  Eliyahu  ha-gil-ah-dee;  bim-hay-ra  v'yah-may-nu  yah-vo  ah-lay-nu  eem  Mo-shi-ach  ben  David,  eem  Mo-shi-ach  ben  David!

Elijah the prophet,

Elijah the Tishbite,

Elijah the Gileadite;

speedily and in our days may he come to us with Messiah Son of David!

L'SHA-NA  HA-BA-AH  YE-RU-SHA-LA-YIM

Next Year In Jerusalem

Happy   Passover

Steve Chumbley

Beit Adonai Yisrael - House of the Lord of Israel

407 South Gulf Street, Humansville, MO  65674

417-754-8751