Passover

Some of you emailed, asking for details. Sorry it’s late, but here is a glimpse of what Passover commemorations look like at our house.

The menu is rather simple. Roast leg of lamb, oven roasted potatoes seasoned with olive oil and herbs, braised vegetables, unleavened bread and raspberry slush..

We put an extra chair and setting at the head of the table which remains empty through the course of the meal. During the meal we discuss (for the younger kids benefit) the poignant symbolism of the items on the menu and how they each teach us something about Jesus. We talk about how Jesus and His disciples must have been feeling on this day two thousand years ago..

Toward the end of the meal we read from Matthew 26:26-29 “Jesus took the cup and said, surely I will not drink of this fruit of the vine again until I drink it with you anew in my Father’s kingdom.” etc.

Then we read the following slightly condensed excerpt from “Come Ye Apart” by J.R. Miller

“The Passover points forward as well as back. It keeps the past in remembrance; we are to think of what happened over four thousand years ago in Egypt, and over two thousand years ago at Cavalry. The supper is a memorial but it is also a prophecy. Christ drew white lines of future hope amid the red streaks of sacrifice and sorrow. He lifted the veil and gave a glimpse of a fulfillment very glorious beyond earth’s shadows. Even the Passover, precious as it is, is but a faint picture of something far better.

The disciples would not have Jesus with them at the table any more. This was their “last supper” together. From this time forward on earth, His place would be empty. But in telling them this He gave them sweet comfort in the assurance that He would sit down with them again, by and by, not here, but in another kingdom. These words tell us of a supper in heaven of which the Lord’s supper on earth is only a shadow.

That night when the Master and His disciples sat down together in the upper room, a cloud of sorrow hung over their hearts and His; the shadow of the cross. But the other side of the cloud was very bright. Out of Christ’s death came blessed and glorious salvation, now in heaven Jesus sees the result and is satisfied. Out of temporary separation there came to the disciples an eternal presence of Christ which filled their hearts full. Jesus went away from them for a little while so that He might be with them forever. His place at the table is empty now, but He is here, and one day soon He will invite us to celebrate Passover at His table. And He will serve us, and we will worship the Passover Lamb.”

And then we celebrate communion with the bread and the juice and “toast” the anticipation of His return.

Some of you also asked for pictures. I’m sorry, these are the kind of moments that I tend to want to just “experience” without a camera in hand. I don’t know why but sometimes the camera, even while capturing the moment, feels like it gets between me and the experience.