Use the resources below to celebrate Passover at home. Why not join a video call with some friends or family and enjoy the meal together. Use Google Duo to stay connected and join a call with up to 12 people. Alternatively, use Zoom (40 minute limit with a free account), WhatsApp, FaceTime or Facebook Messenger. Decide what is best for you and your contacts.
The original Passover story text can be found in Exodus 12 - 14.
Recline
Passover is a time for the people of God to RECLINE
God has brought them freedom in the past and will bring them freedom in the future. It is a way of teaching the generations to be faithful and thankful. Can you eat it almost lying down?!
“When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfilment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 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.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” — Luke 22.14
As Christians, we believe that Jesus fulfilled the Passover. He was paid the ultimate price and was the final sacrifice given on the cross for our freedom. Reclining is what free people do! So are you sitting comfortably? Jesus “reclined at the table” (Luke 22.14) so why not have a go. You are free! You have been rescued by the ultimate Passover sacrifice - Jesus himself. Put on some music and some comfy slippers! Switch off your phones and invite the presence of God into your home.
Remember
“This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.” — Exodus 12:14
Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast.” — Exodus 13:3
Can you remember what everything on your plate symbolises?
MATZOH - Crispy Flat Bread: God’s people have to leave in a hurry and so there was no time for the bread to rise.
“MAROR” - BITTER HERBS - (pronounced Marrow with a Northern accent)
HORSERADISH - SLAVERY - BITTERNESS
SALT WATER - Represents the Tears that were shed in slavery.
PARSLEY - Represents the Paintbrush used to paint the blood on the doorpost of the houses.
EGG - Represents new life and the way to freedom.
“HAROSET" - FRUIT AND NUT - Represents the mortar used to make bricks.
LAMB : Represents the sacrificial lamb - Jesus.
WINE: Represents the blood of the lamb
At Passover, the Jews would drink four cups of wine/grape juice. They symbolised four promises of God. I’ll drink to that!
Sanctification (I will bring you out from under the burdens of Egypt),
Deliverance (I will deliver you from slavery),
Redemption (I will redeem you with my outstretched arm and great acts of judgment), and
Praise (I will take you to be my people).
THE STORY
You can revisit the story through these extracts from the animation film The Prince of Egypt.
Moses, a Hebrew, grows up in the household of Pharaoh and sees God's people in slavery.
Pharaoh Refuses to let God’s people go free and so come the ten plagues
The Passover
Parting of The Red Sea
QUIZ
The children at a traditional Passover would ask the grown-ups four questions. Take turns to try and answer their questions. Jewish families would be very creative in the way they answered and retold the story of Passover so if you are celebrating as a family just give it a go. Jesus fulfilled the story of Passover. Can you link the significance of the food on your plate to how Jesus works in our lives today?
Question 1
The Children Ask: Why aren't we eating ‘normal’ bread? why only flattened bread or matzoh? Its like eating cardboard! (Click for answer)ANSWER: The unleavened bread, or Matzoh, reminds us that the Jewish people did not have time to let their dough rise during the exodus so they did not use yeast. They had to escape quickly and be ready to leave to escape Egypt. Matzoh is “fast food”. God said don’t use any yeast and get ready to run when I say.
AND THE JESUS BONUS POINT:
1 Cor 5:8 Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Matthew 16.6: “Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
YEAST was a sign of evil. If you think about it, yeast makes things become all “puffed up” and “full of hot air”. And so unleavened bread the bread we eat at communion, the bread of life, Jesus Christ himself was without “yeast” or and therefore without pride and sin. How much “yeast” do you have in your life?
Question 2
The Children Ask: Why are we eating bitter herbs (Maror)? They make my nose wrinkle and they taste like socks. (Click for answer)ANSWER: If you think the herbs are bitter, try being a slave in Egypt around the time of Moses. The people of God were forced to build and make bricks in the hot sun on little food and they had no freedom. The bitter herbs remind us of the bitterness of slavery. They make our nose wrinkle and bring a tear to our eye.
AND THE JESUS BONUS POINT:
Jesus suffered bitterly on the cross so we would be free from sin and slavery to all the things that hold us captive in life.
AMAZE YOUR FRIENDS!
The fruity and nutty dish that is sweet is called Charoset. It is there to remind us of the bricks and mortar used by the Hebrew slaves. Now it reminds us of the “sweet and sour” of the cross. Pain and Love intermingled for our sake.
Lamb: represents…..well, the lamb slain at passover to paint the door post with blood to protect the people of God. Today we understand it as Jesus the lamb of God and his sacrifice and blood shed for our salvation.
Boiled Egg: Represented the temple sacrifice that was offered for sin and new life. Think Easter Egg. Think Spring. Think Resurrection Life. Think Jesus.
Salt Water: This represents the tears of the Hebrew slaves and the tears shed at the cross. “My God my God why have you forsaken me?”
Question 3
The Children Ask: Why are we meant to dip our herbs and green thing (hyssop) in the salt water twice? Normally we wouldn't dip anything in anything……(unless it’s ketchup and chips). (Click for answer)ANSWER: The salt water reminds us of the tears of the Hebrew slaves. The parsley (or hyssop) reminds us of the hyssop used to paint the blood on the door frames of the Hebrew houses during passover. The first dip is for their pain but the second dip is for hope.
JESUS POINTS:
Jesus was “dipped” at his baptism and we too are “dipped” in order to begin a new life in Him. It can be a mixture of pain and hope as we leave the old and take hold of the new. We are baptised twice: by water and by the Holy Spirit.
Question 4
Why are we eating this meal “reclining”? (Click for answer)ANSWER: Free people, Kings, people enjoying a movie night, a holiday and a break can all “recline”. Jews made sure that they relaxed at passover as a clear sign that they are no longer “on the run”. The Hebrews at the first passover were given the following instructions:
Exodus 12.11
“This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.”
JESUS POINTS:
You are free! It is for freedom Christ set us free! How many meals do you eat with your cloak tucked into your belt and your staff in your hand? We are so often slaves to being “busy” that we forget that we no longer toiling for human approval or material gain or to earn our freedom. If I just finish this job a slower day will come! No it won’t. Take your shoes off, put your staff down and loosen your belt - its passover. Relax. God is in charge! More wine?