Christian Seder.com says “as more and more Christians are learning the significance of this ceremony and the connection we all have with our Jewish heritage, and as more and more Christians are inviting others to Seder, The Body of Christ seems to be coming together around The Lord’s Table.” The Passover was the point between the triumphal entry on the donkey and Jesus’ death, and it is what Jesus commanded that we do ‘in remembrance of him’.
Our communion is the essence of the teaching from Luke 22:19 “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'” Jesus the Messiah would have taken the middle one of the three pieces of matza, the piece that stood for the priest or mediator between God and the people, broken it as His body would be broken, wrapped half in a linen napkin as he would be wrapped in linen for burial, hidden it as he would be buried, brought it back as he would be resurrected, and distributed it to everyone seated with him, as He would distribute His life to all who believe. As He did this, he was conscious that this middle piece of matza represented His own, spotless body given for the redemption of His people. As the matza is striped and pierced, His own body would be striped and pierced, and it is by those wounds that we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). This middle piece of matza, or the Afikomen, is our communion bread.
A reading portion from the Christian Seder: [12] Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. [13] We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. [14] But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. [15] Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. [16] But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. [17] Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. [18] And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:12-18)
Encyclopedia.com reports that a growing number of Christians, hungry to learn more about their biblical roots, are celebrating this uniquely Jewish event in churches and homes during Holy Week.
These are the steps and order of the Seder: For the complete readings for each portion of the Christian Seder , go to http://www.godonthe.net/passover/messianic_haggadah.html
KADDESH (1st cup of Wine)
URECHATZ Wash hands, before eating Karpas
KARPAS Eat parsley dipped in salt water
YACHATZ Break the middle matzah – hide the Afikoman
MAGGID The telling of the story of Passover (2nd cup of Wine)
RACHTZAH Wash hands before the meal
MOTZI Blessing for “Who brings forth”, over matzah
Blessing over matzah MAROR
Blessing for the eating of bitter herbs
KORECH Eat matzah with bitter herbs & charoset
SHULCHAN ORECH Passover Dinner
TZAFUN Eat the Afikomen
BARECH Blessings after the meal (3rd and 4thcups of Wine)
HALLEL Recite the Hallel, Psalm of praise
NIRTZAH Next year in Jerusalem – conclusion of the Seder Song of Rejoicing
For more information on the Christian Passover
http://www.chosenpeople.com/main/index.php/holidays-and-festivals/190-the-meaning-of-passover
Passover and the days of Unleavened Bread – Congregation of Yahweh Milwaukee
coymil.org/thesabbath/passoverandthedaysofunleavenedbread.html
1122 West North Avenue, Milwaukee WI 53205
(414) 264-2813
http://www.christianseder.com
