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Passover Photos

The Time of Passover

Passover is first of seven feasts. It falls in March or April, in the Jewish month of Nisan. Leviticus 23 says in v5 -8, The YHVH's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of that month the YHVH's Feast of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. For seven days present an offering made to the YHVH by fire. And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.' " When the feasts were instituted Nisan was the first month, Chodesh Nisan, (Exodus 12 c1-2). This is still the start of the religious calendar. The civil new year is celebrated in the Autumn. (Rosh Hashannah)

Passover Symbols

It is a family celebration, at home, involving children and using not just Visual Aids but taste experiences See - Ex 12 v 1-16 and 27 - Lev23v4&9 - Dt 16v1-8 (Note New Testament references are given in black )

The Seder plate



The Sederplate is the centrepiece of the table. It has five (or six) dishes around a bowl of salt water. Each dish holds an item of significance which we will come to later. The things on the Seder plate:

The shankbone of a lamb:

Represents the lamb whose blood marked the houses of the children of Israel Ex12v3,v5-8&v11-13 Since the Temple in Jerusalem no longer stands, lamb is not eaten at Passover, Hence the bone.

The roasted egg:

This is regarded as a symbol of mourning (for destruction of second temple) It is also considered to denote eternal life since the shape has no beginning or end. Some consider it to be a reminder of the burnt offerings in Temple worship.

Afikomen



Three Matzot are wrapped for Passover ( Think about why three wrapped together ) The leader takes the middle Matzah, breaks it in half. One half is wrapped in a white cloth. (Y’shua was wrapped in burial cloths) This half is called Afikomen, the coming one.

Extra Cup



The extra cup at the table is for Elijah. One of the children opens the door to welcome him to our Seder. Remember Elijah did not die, but was taken up to heaven. Elijah is expected to come before Messiah. "Look, I will send to you Eliyahu the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of YHVH. (Malachi 4 v5-6 [ Mal'akhi 3 23-24 in Complete Jewish Bible ] See also Luke 1 v17 - Matt 11 v14 )

Preparation

On the 10th ofNisan a lamb was brought into home - Ex 12 v3&6 - John 1 v11 On the Eve of Pessach , Chametz ( leaven / yeast ) items were to be searched out and burned. Nowadays Father and the children hunt house with candles. (Mother will have placed bits around to be found). Chametz is a picture of sin and vanity of life in Egypt . On the 14th of Nisan, at twilight, the Lamb was to be slaughtered and prepared. It was to be roasted whole over the fire (no bones broken) Ex12v46 - Num9v12 ( See John 19 v33 for a reference to Y’shua) Y’shua kept Passover Matt 26 v 17-30 - Luke 22 v7-20 - John 13 . Y’shua said, "I will not partake again until......." Luke22 vl5&16

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