Gospels (58) - Leviticus 23:4-11

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
Series: Gospels

Rusty's Notes

• The house was supposed to be rid of leaven before Noon on Thursday – 14th of Nisan
• Peter & John killed the Passover Lamb on Thursday afternoon – 14th of Nisan
• Passover Meals was eaten after Sundown on the 14th of Nisan which was the beginning of the Jewish Friday.
• Gethsemane, Caiaphas, Pilate on Friday Evening
• Jesus was crucified at 9 AM on Friday, the 15th of Nisan
• Jesus died at 3 PM on Friday, the 15th of Nisan
• Jesus was buried before sundown on Friday.
• Jesus was in the grave on Friday before sundown – 1 day
• Jesus was in the grave all day on Saturday (Sabbath) beginning at sundown on the 15th of Nisan. – 2 days
• Jesus was in the grave on Sunday, after sundown on the 15th of Nisan. - 3 days
• Jesus was resurrected on Sunday before sunrise on the 16th of Nisan.
• Jesus was in the grave 3 Jewish days.
• Jesus fulfilled the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of First Fruits.

 
Leviticus 23:4-11 - 4 “These are the Lord’s appointed times, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times. 5 The Passover to the Lord comes in the first month, at twilight on the fourteenth day of the month. 6 The Festival of Unleavened Bread to the Lord is on the fifteenth day of the same month. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly; you are not to do any daily work. 8 You are to present a fire offering to the Lord for seven days. On the seventh day there will be a sacred assembly; do not do any daily work.”
9 The Lord spoke to Moses: 10 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you enter the land I am giving you and reap its harvest, you are to bring the first sheaf of your harvest to the priest. 11 He will present the sheaf before the Lord so that you may be accepted; the priest is to present it on the day after the Sabbath.[1]

• For the Jews: the Passover was significant
• For the Christians: the timing of the sacrifice was important.

Current Seder Plate was recognized until 600 AD.
This "order" is known as the “seder,”

• seder meaning "order.”
• Picture of Seder Plate
• Picture of Seder Meal
• All Jews use the same type of seder plate.
• A cup of salt water is positioned in the center of the plate.
• Reclining – Slaves had to stand or sit up straight to eat meals. So now they recline in freedom.

 
Things changed after the destruction of the temple in AD 70, for no longer could a lamb be slain for the Passover meal.

• The shank bone of a lamb is placed on the Seder plate as a memorial. The shank bone serving as a symbol of the lamb that can no longer be offered for the Passover meal.
• Roasted chicken is usually eaten today in place of the lamb during the main meal.

 

1. The Kaddeish: The first cup of wine:

The Cup of Blessing, or, The Cup of Sanctification
Current practice: Kaddeish means "sanctification,"

• Lighting of two candles soon after nightfall
• Special blessing is pronounced over the feast day
• blessing over the first cup of wine
• No wine allowed between the first & second cups.
• Occurs soon after nightfall, while the children are still alert – well before they become drowsy enough to fall asleep.

Luke 22:17 - Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine (Passover wine…alcoholic) until the kingdom of God comes.”[2]

1. The Urchatz: The washing of the hands

Current practice: urchatz means "and wash,"

• Fingers dipped into water

John 13:1-20 - Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father.  Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2 Now by the time of supper, the Devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray Him. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God,  and that He was going back to God. 4 So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. 5 Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t understand now, but afterward you will know.”
8 “You will never wash my feet—ever!” Peter said.
Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with Me.”
9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”
10 “One who has bathed,” Jesus told him, “doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him. This is why He said, “You are not all clean.”
 
The Meaning of Footwashing
12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His robe, He reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  15 For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you.
16 “I assure you: A slave is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 18 I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled:  The one who eats My bread has raised his heel against Me.
19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.  20 I assure you: Whoever receives anyone I send receives Me, and the one who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

1. Carpas: The eating of the green vegetable

Current practice:

• Parsley is similar to hyssop
• Hyssop being used to apply blood over doorpost.
• Dipped in salt water – tears drip off
• God parted salt waters of Red Sea

Matthew 26:21-25 - While they were eating, He said, “I assure you: One of you will betray Me.”
22 Deeply distressed, each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?”
23 He replied, “The one who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl—he will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
25 Then Judas, His betrayer, replied, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”
“You have said it,” He told him. [3]

1. Yachatz: The breaking of the middle Matzah

Current practice: Yachatz means “to divide”

• Plate holding 3 loaves of unleavened bread
• Loaves are wrapped together
• Middle loaf is removed and broken in half
• One half is returned
• The other half, “Afikoman”, is wrapped in linen and hidden for later (for use with the 3rd cup)
• Yachatz is not addressed in Gospels

 

1. Maggid: The Passover Story

Current practice: Maggid means “telling the story”

• The actual Passover story is told (Mishnah)
• From Abraham to Jacob
• From the enslavement in Egypt to the liberation of the Jews
• Important for the children to hear the story.
• 2nd cup is poured out (10 drops=10 plagues)

1) Water to blood
2) Frogs
3) Gnats or lice
4) Flies
5) Sick Cattle
6) Boils
7) Hail
8) Locusts
9) Darkness
10) Death of first born

• Hallel is read (Psalm 113 & 114)

 

1. Rachtzah: Washing of the hands

Current practice: Rachtzah means “washing”

• Dipping of fingers into water

 

1. Motzi: The blessing of He who brings forth bread from the earth

Current practice: Motzi means “the bringing forth”

• Blessing on the bread eaten before the main meal
• “Blessed are You, O Lord our god, ruler of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.”

 

1. Matzah: The eating of a small piece of the middle matzah and the upper matzah

Current practice:

• Each participant eats a small piece of the middle and upper matzahs.
• They all recite “Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who commanded us concerning the eating of the Matzah.”
• Points to the swiftness with which the Jews departed from Egypt.

 

1. Maror: Bitter herbs

Current practice: Maror means “bitter herbs”

• Blessing over a bitter herb
• Bitter herb is dipped in charoset
• Brings tears to the eyes in remembrance of tears shed in Egypt and loss of sons in Nile.
• Eaten with matzah (hurriedness & bitterness)

 

1. Coreich: The sandwich

Current practice: Coreich means “combining”

• 2 pieces from bottom matzah with charoset on one piece and maror on the other
• Eaten as a sandwich
• Charoset & maror replaced the lamb
• Eaten with no blessing

John 13:21-30 - When Jesus had said this, He was troubled in His spirit and testified, “I assure you: One of you will betray Me!”
22 The disciples started looking at one another—uncertain which one He was speaking about. 23 One of His disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining close beside Jesus. 24 Simon Peter motioned to him to find out who it was He was talking about. 25 So he leaned back against Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus replied, “He’s the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it.”  When He had dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son.  27 After Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Therefore Jesus told him, “What you’re doing, do quickly.”
28 None of those reclining at the table knew why He told him this. 29 Since Judas kept the money-bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 After receiving the piece of bread, he went out immediately. And it was night.

1. Shulchan: The eating of the main meal

Current practice:

• Main meal is eaten (no specific menu)
• In Moses’ day, roasted lamb was required
• A different roasted egg was eaten to begin the meal
• The roasted egg was known as the Chagigah and was offered at 9 AM on Passover day
• Since there is no temple the egg was offered in replacement of the lamb
• It is dipped in salt as the sacrifices were salted
• One should not eat or drink too much so they can enjoy the afikoman last.

Luke 22:20 - In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said,… [4]
 
 

1. Tzafun: The eating of the afikoman; Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper or Communion

Current practice: Tzafun means “the hidden”

• After the meal, the afikoman is returned and eaten as “desert”
• Each person receives the size of an olive
• Judas was not present at this point

Luke 22:19 - And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”[5]

• Three compartment bag – Trinity
• Afikoman hidden (burial) and returned (resurrection)
• In conjunction with 3rd cup – Jesus rose on the 3rd day

 

1. Bareich: The grace said over the third cup

Current practice: Bareich is the “cup of redemption”

• To the unredeemed Jew the cup points to the future redemption and freedom of the Jews

Luke 22:20 - In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant established by My blood; it is shed for you.”[6]

• Judas was not present

Luke 22:24-30 - Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest. 25 But He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles dominate them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’  26 But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving. 27 For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the One who serves. 28 You are the ones who stood by Me in My trials. 29 I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one on Me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel.”[7]
 
John 13:31-35 - When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.  32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself and will glorify Him at once.
33 “Children, I am with you a little while longer.  You will look for Me, and just as I told the Jews, ‘Where I am going you cannot come,’ so now I tell you.
34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

• This is based upon the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) that already resides in us.

 
Matthew 26:31-35 - Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will run away because of Me, for it is written:
I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.
32 But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
33 Peter told Him, “Even if everyone runs away because of You, I will never run away!”
34 “I assure you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times!”
35 “Even if I have to die with You,” Peter told Him, “I will never deny You!” And all the disciples said the same thing.
 
Luke 22:35-36 - He also said to them, “When I sent you out without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?”
“Not a thing,” they said.
36 Then He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one. 37 For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in Me: And He was counted among the outlaws.  Yes, what is written about Me is coming to its fulfillment.”
38 “Lord,” they said, “look, here are two swords.”
“Enough of that!”  He told them. [8]

• A sword to defend yourself but not during persecution.

 
John 14 - “Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.  4 You know the way to where I am going.”  5 “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
        -We, the Church, is His one chosen bride
 
Jesus Reveals the Father
7 “If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”
8 “Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father.  How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me?  The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who lives in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.
 
Praying in Jesus’ Name
12 “I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.  13 Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
 
Another Counselor Promised
15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commands.  16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of truth.  The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.
 
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
19 “In a little while the world will see Me no longer, but you will see Me.  Because I live, you will live too. 20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, you are in Me, and I am in you. 21 The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me.  And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father.  I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it You’re going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.  24 The one who doesn’t love Me will not keep My words. The word that you hear is not Mine but is from the Father who sent Me.
25 “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit —the Father will send  Him in My name—will teach you all things  and remind you of everything I have told you.
 
Jesus’ Gift of Peace
27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.  28 You have heard Me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.  29 I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe. 30 I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over Me. 31 On the contrary, I am going away so that the world may know that I love the Father. Just as the Father commanded Me, so I do.
“Get up; let’s leave this place.[9]

1. Hallel: The singing of the Psalms 113-118

Current practice:

• These Psalms sung over the 4th cup (cup of praise)

 

1. Nirtzah:

Current practice: Nirtzah means “accepted”

• Modern day addition
• Someone states that God is pleased with how the Seder was performed

 
Since 600 AD, scholarly Jews have debated whether there were 4 or 5 cups.

• A 5th cup was poured but never consumed
• They agreed to leave it that way until Elijah comes and settles the dispute.
• It is now named the Elijah cup.

The door is opened to accommodate his return

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Le 23:4–11). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] The Holy Bible : Holman Christian standard version. 2009 (Lk 22:17–19). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] The Holy Bible : Holman Christian standard version. 2009 (Mt 26:21–25). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] The Holy Bible : Holman Christian standard version. 2009 (Lk 22:20). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] The Holy Bible : Holman Christian standard version. 2009 (Lk 22:19). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] The Holy Bible : Holman Christian standard version. 2009 (Lk 22:20). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] The Holy Bible : Holman Christian standard version. 2009 (Lk 22:24–30). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] The Holy Bible : Holman Christian standard version. 2009 (Lk 22:35–38). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] The Holy Bible : Holman Christian standard version. 2009 (Jn 13:1–14:31). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.