The history of the Christian faith is deeply rooted in Jewish soil. It is unfortunate that a number of Believers are uninformed as to the abundant blessings that are held deep within the knowledge of their rich Jewish heritage. All too often, there is a hesitation in celebrating the Feasts of the Lord, but there doesn’t have to be. Instead, when we celebrate the Jewish roots of the faith it tends to draw us closer to our Father.
As we examine the deeper symbolic meaning of the Feast of Passover, understand that you, as a Gentile Believer, have been adopted into our heavenly Father’s family.
What does this mean? Not only are we restored to God through the Blood of Yeshua, but also we get to come to His table and celebrate these appointed times with Him!
“And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever. It will come to pass when you come to the land which the Lord will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service. And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ that you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.’ So the people bowed their heads and worshiped. Then the children of Israel went away and did so; just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.”—Exodus 12:24-28
What does forever mean? Forever means—eternal, never ending. God’s Word does not say, “until…” It says FOREVER. He wants us to remember His everlasting promises:
“Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.’”—Exodus 6:6-7
By being adopted into His family as sons and daughters, we then are invited to sit at His table.
The Feasts of the Lord, including Passover, are a literal, pictorial reminder of God’s covenant with His people. These are times of restoration and alignment. Sure, there are some who take this to the extreme—observing out of legalistic obligation, which is not God’s intent.
“…Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men…”—Isaiah 29:13
This is why it is essential to allow the Holy Spirit to lead during these Feasts.
Man tried to erase the memory of these appointed times.
There are several words expressing the word, forever, in Hebrew, such as permanently, continually, eternally, and always, to name a few. It’s apparent that God’s intent for the Church today is to continue to remember and observe these appointed times.
In fact, man vied for the opposite. In the fourth century, during the Councils of Elvira and Nicaea, church elders established many rules and regulations to separate the Church from the Jewish roots of Her faith.
Subsequently, many religious leaders tried to erase the memory of any connection between a Jewish Jesus and the faith of Christianity. These decisions were not God’s highest and best for either Israel or the Church—they simply resulted in separating us from the blessings of our heritage.
As a result, many Believers are not experiencing the great depth of their faith, and are left with feelings of doubt, fear and unbelief. This is not from God. He asks us to draw near to Him with our hearts, during these significant times, and be abundantly blessed.
Another important command, which is commonly overlooked, is God’s instruction to pass this significant Feast to the next generation:
“And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ that you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord…”—Exodus 12:26-27
He desires for us to pass down the Passover! As you draw near to Him, it is an opportunity to share your testimony with your children, so they too can be encouraged and blessed.
The Passover Seder Plate and its Symbolism:
Roasted lamb shankbone: A well-known symbol of Passover is the roasted lamb shankbone —called the zeroah in Hebrew. The bone commemorates the lamb sacrifice made the evening that the ancient Hebrews fled Egypt. Zeroah, meaning, “arm,” refers to the outstretched arm of the Lord, as He saved the Jewish people out of slavery.
Roasted egg: The roasted egg, or the baytsah, stands in place of one of the traditional sacrificial offerings, which would have been performed in the days of the Second Temple. Many subscribe that this also represents, that in the heat of the fire, God’s people remain unscathed.
Maror: Referred to as the “bitter herb.” Maror is a spicy root, that when eaten brings bring tears to the eyes. This act refers to the bitterness the ancient Hebrews experience while living in Egypt. It is also a time for the modern-day Believer to reflect on bitter enslavements within themselves.
Charoset: The opposite of the maror, charoset is a sweet applesauce filled with chunks of apples, nuts, wine and cinnamon. Charoset not only signifies the mortar placed between the bricks created by the Hebrews while in slavery, but it also reflects the goodness (the sweetness) of God who is faithful to remove the bitterroots from our lives.
Karpas: Karpas is a green vegetable and is typically replaced with parsley at the contemporary table. A small vile of salt water sits nearby and the karpas is dipped into it several times throughout the meal. Dipping food was considered a luxury in ancient times. This act symbolizes new life as we walk out of slavery, into the Promised Land.
Chazeret: The chazeret is a second bitter herb and has the same meaning as the maror.
Salt water: Although the salt water symbolizes the sweat and tears experienced during slavery in Egypt, it also stands for purification and healing.
Matzah: Three pieces of matzah also are placed upon the Seder plate. This is a bread, made without leaven, and does not rise like traditional bread. This bread would have been made hastily allowing the Hebrew children to escape quickly. Leaven in bread allows dough to rise and puff up. The removal of leaven represents the removal of personal pride in our souls.
Wine: Each individual attending the Seder is given a cup, or glass, from which they drink four cups of wine, or yayin. Traditionally these represent the four promises of God: “I will take you out,” “I will save you,” “I will redeem you,” and “I will take you as a nation.”
At Curt Landry Ministries we understand that Passover is a unique opportunity to tap into the Jewish roots of our faith, encountering God through a Hebraic set of lenses, while allowing the Holy Spirit to direct us.
