A Christian Passover

Seder Meal

WITH THE VOICE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

 AN EXPLANATION
The Passover meal is known as the Seder, which means "order,"
because the meal and service are done in a prescribed sequence.
This sequence is presented in the Haggadah ("telling") which
outlines the steps of the meal as well as the readings and songs for
the participants. While there can be a great deal of variety in how
the service is conducted, and so should not be seen as rigidly
structured, the basic elements and order have remained unchanged
for centuries.
This blend of tradition and innovation conforms to the purpose of
the celebration: to tell the story of God’s actions in history in a
way that brings it out of the past and makes it a present reality for
everyone in the community, young and old, as if they personally
are part of the story. As such, the Passover has been termed one of
the most effective teaching tools ever devised, as it appeals to all
the senses and involves everyone to tell the story of God. It
represents the very best of communal liturgy.

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 The Messianic Passover – Haggadah

PREPARATION FOR THE MEAL

WHAT TO MAKE:
The Haroset
Pork/Lamb
Dinner
Hard Boiled Eggs

PREPARING THE TABLE:

 Hide the Afikomen (matzoh wrapped in white cloth)
 Candles and matches
 Wine glasses for all
 Bowl of water and a towel (washing of hands)
 Parsley enough for all to eat
 Saltwater enough for all to use
 Plenty of Matzoh
 Maror for everyone (horseradish)
 Cushions on all the chairs
 Shank Bone
 Leave an empty seat and prepare a plate/glass for Elijah

ASSIGN THE ROLES:

 Voice if the New Testament
 Father
 Mother(s) – Lighting of the Candle
 Youngest boy
 Readers (1-4)

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INTRODUCTION
THE VOICE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT:
Tonight, we are celebrating Passover, Pesach in Hebrew. We will do that by participating in a
Seder meal. It is based on traditional Jewish celebration of Passover, but adapted into a
uniquely Christian celebration. We will retain as much as possible from traditional Jewish
observance. This reminds us that God did not begin his revelation of himself in the world with
Christians, but to Hebrews, to Israelites, to the Jew first. It also reminds us that Jesus was not a
Christian, but a Jew. It is only in recognizing that connection we have to four thousand years of
God at work creating a people that we can truly appreciate who we are as people of God.
The Passover stories have been told over and over for thousands of years, stories about
miraculous change from misery to peace, slavery to freedom, sin to grace. One of the last things
Jesus did with is disciples was to celebrate Passover and retell the story to them. It’s no
coincidence Jesus chose the Passover meal for what the Church now celebrates as Communion.
God gave us the Passover celebration and He used the same celebration to teach us even more
about His love. God cared for his people, our ancestors, long ago and He cares for His children
today. Tonight, we will be able to see, hear, and taste the great love God has for us!

LIGHTING OF THE CANDLE (TO BE DONE BY THE MOTHER)

FATHER:
As we light the candles, we pray for the light of the Spirit of God to bring the Special meaning
of Passover and Easter to each and every one of us.

MOTHER: (LIGHTS THE CANDLE)

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has chosen each one of us out of
all the people of the world and made us holy by Your Word and in whose name we light these
celebration lights.

THE FOUR CUPS OF WINE – EXPLAINED

FATHER:
God told Moses, “Now you will see what I will do” (Exodus 6:1), and He made four promises
about how he would save his people.

ALL:
“I will bring you out of Egypt…
I will free you from slavery…
I will save you by my own hand…
I will take you to be my own people, and I will be your god…”

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THE FIRST CUP: THE CUP OF SANCTIFICATION – KIDDUSH
THE VOICE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT:
When Jesus began His last Passover supper, He offered a cup to His disciples and said, “Take
this, all of you, and drink from it” (Luke 22:17). Let’s hold up our first cup together and bless
the Lord!

ALL:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine
(ALL DRINK).

WASHING OF HANDS – URKHATZ

FATHER: (WASHES HANDS OF THE PERSON TO HIS RIGHT)
The Scripture says only the person who has clean hands and a pure heart can stand in God’s
presence (Psalm 24:3-4).

VOICE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT:

When we wash each other’s hands, we remember how Jesus, on the night of His last Passover
supper, poured water into a bowl and washed the disciples’ feet for them, like a servant. He
asked them, “Do you understand what I, your Lord and Teacher, have done for you? Now in
your hearts you should be willing to do the same kinds of things for each other” (John 13:12-
14). (EACH PERSON WASHES HANDS OF THE PERSON TO THEIR RIGHT).

THE PARSLEY - KARPAS

FATHER:
Why do we celebrate the Passover? God commands His people to celebrate certain special
holidays every year forever
HOLDING UP THE PARSLEY – The Passover and Easter holidays come in the spring, when the
earth turns green with new life. Only God can create life and keep it alive. This green parsley is
the sign of life.
HOLDING UP THE SALTWATER – But while the Israelites were still slaves in Egypt, their lives
were miserable. The salt water stands for their tears. We know our life can be miserable and full
of tears when we live in Satan’s world. We dip our parsley in the salt water and eat it to eat it to
remind us of our ancestors’ tears and of how miserable our own sin makes us. We also
remember how God parted the salty Red Sea to lead His people to new life.

ALL:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the earth
(ALL EAT).
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THE FOUR QUESTIONS – MA NISHTANAH
YOUNGEST BOY: OR GIRL, IF NO SONS (STANDING)
Why is this night so different from all other nights? On all other nights, we eat leavened or
unleavened bread. On this night, why do we eat only unleavened bread?
On all other nights, we eat all kinds of vegetables. On this night, why do we eat only bitter
ones?
On all other nights, we don’t dip our vegetables even once. On the night, why do we dip them
twice?
On all other nights, we sit on our usual seat. On this night, why do we recline on soft cushions?

THE ANSWERS
FATHER:
It is a special duty and a privilege to be the one to answer the four questions of Passover and tell
everyone the great things God has done.

THE MATZOH
FATHER:
On all other nights, we eat any kind of bread, but on Passover we eat matzoh, unleavened bread.
When our ancestors left Egypt, they were in such a hurry they didn’t have time to let their
dough rise. Instead, they baked it flat. The Scriptures tell us that leaven is a symbol of sin.

ALL:
“Don’t you know that just a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid
of the old yeast so that you may be like a new batch of dough without yeast – as you are
created to be. For Messiah, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5:7).

FATHER:
During this Passover/Easter, let’s break our old habits of sin and selfishness and begin fresh,
new, and holy lives. (HOLDING UP THE PLATE OF MATZOH): This is the bread of suffering that
our ancestors ate.

VOICE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT:

The three matzoh in one napkin show us the special unity of the Lord God, the Messiah, and
His Spirit. The Holy Spirit, three-in-one. The matzoh itself is a symbol of the promised
Messiah, Jesus. See how it is striped, as Jesus’ back was marked by the scourging before his
crucifixion.

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ALL:
“He was wounded for our sins, bruised for our sinfulness: He suffered to bring us peace;
and by his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5).

FATHER:
See how the matzoh is pierced with holes, as God’s only son was pierced by the nails and
soldier’s lance.

ALL:
“I will pour out my spirit of grace and prayer: and they will see me whom they have
pierced, and they will cry with sadness as for an only son” (Zech. 12:10).

THE AFIKOMEN
FATHER: (TAKING THE MATZOH AND BREAKING IT IN HALF)
Just as this middle piece of the bread of suffering is broken, the Son, Jesus, also suffered. We
save half for after the meal. It’s wrapped in a white cloth just as Jesus’ body was wrapped for
burial (THE KIDS WILL SEARCH FOR THIS AFTER THE MEAL).

VOICE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT:

Just like I’ve hidden the broken matzoh, Jesus’ body was put in a tomb, hidden for a little while.
But just as the special piece of matzoh will come out again to finish our celebration, Jesus came
alive again to take us to heaven when we finish our lives. Now we share this piece of bread
made with no yeast – a sign of Jesus, who has no sin (PASS THE OTHER MATZOH HALF).

ALL:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the
earth (ALL EAT).

THE BITTER HERBS – MAROR (THE HORSERADISH)

FATHER:
On all other nights, we eat all kinds of vegetables, but on Passover we eat maror, bitter ones, to
remember how bitter life was for our ancestors in Egypt
HOLDING UP THE HORSERADISH – “…the Egyptians become afraid of the Israelites slaves and
made them work even more. They made their lives bitter with hard work making brick and
mortar and doing all kinds of work in the fields” (Exodus 1:12-14). Scoop some mortar onto a
piece of matzoh and let the bitter taste bring tears to your eyes. Remember with compassion the
tears our ancestors cried in their slavery long ago, and remember the bitterness of our own
slavery to sin when we do not allow Jesus to set us free.

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ALL:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has set us apart by His Word
and command us to eat bitter herbs (ALL EAT).

THE HAROSET – APPLE MIXTURE

FATHER:
On all other nights, we don’t dip our vegetables even once, but tonight we dip them twice.
We’ve already dipped the parsley in the salt water.
HOLDING UP THE HAROSET – The Israelites worked very hard to make brick and clay to build
cities for Pharaoh. We remember this in a mixture called haroset, made from apples, cinnamon,
honey, nuts, and wine. Now again, scoop some maror (horseradish) onto a piece of matzoh, but
this time, before eating it, dip it into the sweet haroset.

ALL:
We dip the bitter into the sweet to remember that even the most bitter things in life can be
sweetened by our hope in God (ALL EAT).

TONIGHT, WE RECLINE
FATHER:
On all other nights, we eat sitting on regular seats, but tonight we relax on soft cushions. The
first Passover was celebrated by a people enslaved.

ALL:
Once we were slaves but now we are free.

FATHER:
The Israelites were told to eat the Passover quickly, their coats ready, their walking sticks in
hand, their sandals on their feet, ready to leave the bondage of Egypt. Today we all may relax
and freely enjoy the Passover seder.

ALL:
The Messiah said, “Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give
you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

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THE STORY OF PASSOVER – MAGGID
FATHER:
The story of Passover is a story of miracles, a story of redemption, a story of the might power of
God to overcome evil.

READER 1:
The Lord had promised the land of Israel to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Yet here were their
children in Egypt. The Pharaoh who had come to power feared them. “These foreigners in our
midst are prospering and have grown numerous,” he thought, “suppose they join with our
enemies and turn against us.” Pharaoh decided to exert greater control over this people,
imposing harsh and bitter slavery upon the Israelites. Still, God blessed His people in strength
and number.

READER 2:
Pharaoh grew more frightened and ordered every baby boy among the Israelites to be drowned
in the Nile River. One Israelites mother hid her little boy for three months. Finally, entrusting
his future to God, they set him in a basket and placed him upon the river. His sister, Miriam,
watched as he floated downstream. Coming upon the basket, Pharaoh’s daughter took pity on
the child and chose to raise him as her own son. She called him Moses, meaning “drawn from
the water.”

READER 3:
Moses grew and became aware of the sufferings of his people. One day, in a rage, he lost
control of himself and killed an Egyptian who was beating an Israelite slave. Fleeing the palace
and the eye of Pharaoh, Moses became a shepherd in the land of Midian, far from the cries of
his suffering brothers.

READER 4:
The Lord, however, saw the affliction of the children of Israel and heard their groaning. He
would raise up a deliverer to lead them out of bondage. It was then that He appeared to Moses
in the midst of a bush that burned with fire, yet was not consumed. Moses drew close and
listened as God commissioned him to go to Pharaoh. Fearful and reluctant, still Moses agreed to
bring God’s message to the king of Egypt, “Let my people go!”

THE SECOND CUP: THE CUP OF PLAGUES

FATHER:
Moses went to Pharaoh with God’s command, “Let my people go!” But God warned Moses that
Pharaoh wouldn’t easily agree. The Lord sent plagues, one by one, but with each plague,
Pharaoh refused and made his heart harder against God. With the tenth and most awful plague,
God broke through Pharaoh’s hard heart.

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ALL:
The Lord said, “On that night I will pass through Egypt and every firstborn person and
animal will die, and I will punish all the demon gods of Egypt for I AM the Lord” (Exodus
12:12).

FATHER:
We fill our cups a second time now. A full cup is a sign of joy and we’re certainly filled with
joy that God has set us free. But we should also remember how much that freedom cost. Many
lives were lost to save our people from slavery in Egypt.

VOICE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT:

But an even greater price was paid to save us from the slavery of sin – the death of Jesus, God’s
only son.

FATHER:
When we say the name of each plague, dip a finger into your cup and let a drop fall onto your
plate, making the cup of joy a little less full as we remember the cost of our freedom.

ALL:
Blood – Frogs – Lice – Wild Animals – Cattle Disease – Boils – Hail – Locusts – Darkness
– Death of the Firstborn.

FATHER: (HOLDING UP THE SHANK BONE)

This bone stands for the lamb whose blood on the Israelite houses was a sign to God. God told
Moses, “The lamb must be perfect.” And when it is killed, “The people are to mark their door
frames with the blood…They are to eat the meat that night, along with bitter herbs and
unleavened bread. Eat quickly, with your coat ready, your shoes on your feet, and your walking
stick in you hand. It is the Lord’s Passover. The blood will show your obedience; when I see the
blood, I will pass over you and no plague will touch you when I punish Egypt” (Exodus 12:3-
13).
We are reminded by Moses that it is the Lord Himself who redeemed our ancestors from
slavery, “So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with
great terror and with miraculous signs and wonders” (Deuteronomy 26:8).
“On that same night I will pass through Egypt…”
ALL:
I, and not an angel,

FATHER:
“and strike down every firstborn – both men and animals”

ALL:
I, and not an archangel,
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FATHER:
“and I will bring forth judgment on all the demon gods of Egypt;”

ALL:
I, and not a messenger,

FATHER:
“I am the Lord”

ALL:
I myself and none other.

VOICE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT:

Since Jesus has become our perfect Passover Lamb, God has allowed the Temple in Jerusalem
to be destroyed. Now no more lambs need to be sacrificed and lamb is traditionally no longer
eaten at the Passover. This bone is enough to remind us of the lamb sacrificed for the Israelites
and of the Sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.

THE EGG – HAGIGAH

FATHER:
Last is the egg. It is called hagigah, a name signifying the traditional offering brought to the
Temple on feast days. The egg is now a symbol of mourning, reminding us of the destruction of
the holy temple in Jerusalem. The hardness of the shells also reminds us of the hardness of
Pharaoh’s heart – and of every heart that won’t accept God’s love. But the egg is also a sign of
new birth and eternal life, since the shape of it shows no beginning and no end. God wants us to
break the sadness and hardness of our hearts and be born into new life, everlasting life with
Him. We will share the egg later, during the seder meal.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH – DAYENU (DIE-A-NEW)

FATHER:
God is so good to us! For even one little blessing we should be able to respond, Dayenu! – “It
would have been enough!”

ALL:
Dayenu! (REPEAT AFTER EACH SENTENCE)

FATHER:
If the Lord had merely rescued us, but had not punished the Egyptians…
If He had only destroyed their gods, but had not parted the Red Sea…
If He had only destroyed our enemies, but had not fed us his food in the desert…
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If He had only given us His Words and Commandments, but not a Promised Land forever…
But the Holy One, the Lord, blessed be He, provided all these blessing of our ancestors…
And not only these, but so many more, and so many for us, too!
(OTHERS MAY ADD THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR)

THE THIRD CUP – THE CUP OF JOY

FATHER:
Everyone drink the third cup now, the Cup of Joy, and we’ll have dinner! (REMOVE SEDER
PLATE AND HAGGADOT FROM THE TABLE AND BEGIN DINNER).

AFTER DINNER

THE AFIKOMEN – “THAT WHICH COMES AFTER”

FATHER:
It is time to share the afikomen, the hidden matzoh. Who can find it? (CHILDREN SEARCH FOR
THE HIDDEN MATZOH AND GIVES IT TO THE FATHER TO CLAIM THE RANSOM)

VOICE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT:

Remember, this piece of matzoh, made without leaven, is a symbol of the promised Messiah,
Jesus. It was hidden and now it is found, just as Jesus was buried and rose from the dead. This
special matzoh is the last food eaten at the Passover so that its taste stays with us. It is shared
like the Passover lamb was shared from the time our ancestors were freed from Egypt until the
destruction of the Temple, after Jesus’ death. Jesus broke the matzoh and gave thanks to the
Lord.

ALL:
Blessed are, O God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

FATHER: (BREAKING THE MATZOH INTO PIECES)

It was here that Jesus added the words, “This is my Body, given up for you; do this in
remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). Jesus changed the significance of the matzoh forever, and
gives us His Body at every Holy Mass. The matzoh is broken in small pieces and shared with
each person at the table, just as each of us must accept Jesus’ grace for ourselves, no other
person can do this for us. Think of Jesus, the Lamb of God, whose Body we are privileged to
truly receive in remembrance, our once and forever Passover sacrifice. Eat this piece of matzoh
now, and lit its taste stay with you (ALL EAT).

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THE PROPHET ELIJAH – ELIYAHU HANAVI
FATHER: (LIFTING THE CUP FROM THE EMPTY PLACE AT THE TABLE)
This cup is the cup of Elijah the Prophet, who did not see death, but was taken up into heaven in
a mighty wind riding a fiery chariot. Our ancestors and Jewish people everywhere hoped that
Elijah would come at Passover to announce the coming of the Messiah.
Before the birth of John the Baptist, an angel of the Lord said, “And he will go on before the
Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah…to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke
1:17).
Later, Jesus said about John, “He is the Elijah who has come” (Matthew 11:14). It was this
same John who saw Jesus and announced, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins
of the world” (John 1:29).
The extra cup also reminds us to pray for our blood brothers, those Jews still seeking the
Messiah, who has already come to them and who waits longingly for them. The empty chair
reminds us and every household observing Passover tonight, that there are still those who
cannot celebrate as free men. We pray that someday soon all may freely rejoice in the majesty
of God. Someone open the door to welcome the Prophet of God to our seder.

THE FOURTH CUP: THE CUP OF PRAISE – HALLEL

FATHER:
Remember God’s promise, “You will by my people and I will be your God” (Exodus 7:7).
Now, let’s fill our cups for the fourth and last time, and give thanks to our great God.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.

ALL:
His love endures forever (REPEAT AFTER EACH SENTENCE)

FATHER:
Give thanks to the Lord, God of all creation…
Give thanks to Him who destroyed the demon gods of Egypt…
Give thanks to Him to destroys the works of Satan today…
Give thanks to Him who saved Israel from slavery in Egypt…
Give thanks to Him who saves us from slavery to sin…
Give thanks to God, our God, who chose us to be His people…
(OTHERS MAY ADD THEIR OWN THANKS)
Lift your cups and bless the Lord!

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ALL:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine
(ALL DRINK).

FATHER:
Our Passover celebration is completed, just as God’s plan for our salvation through Jesus is
complete. Now, it is up to us to go and live His Word. Let us end with the traditional wish that
next year we will celebrate face to face with Jesus! “Lashanah haba’ah bi Yerushalayium!”

ALL:
Next year, in Jerusalem!

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