His Final FootstepsSample

The Elements of Passover

Three vital elements comprised the Jewish Seder that Yeshua and His disciples would have observed—matzot, bitter herbs, and lamb.

Matzot was unleavened bread, or bread made without yeast. It is a tangible reminder that when the Israelites left Egypt, they left in haste, and therefore had no time to allow bread to rise in the traditional way.

This is the type of bread Yeshua held in His hands at His final Passover: “Now while they were eating, Yeshua took matzah; and after He offered the bracha [blessing], He broke and gave to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body’” (Matthew 26:26 TLV).

Why bitter herbs? They served as a reminder to the Jewish people that they were slaves in Egypt before God brought them out. When they entered the land of promise, God wanted them to have an annual reminder of the bitter hardships out of which He’d rescued them. Perhaps Yeshua also consumed these bitter herbs with thoughts of the disciple who would soon betray Him, and the Father who had ultimate authority. In fact, I believe it was bitter herbs in the bowl He shared with Judas when He declared, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.”

The roasted lamb was the third piece of the Seder meal. As we’ve seen, it was the lamb’s blood that marked the doorposts of the Israelite houses as a sign for Death to “pass over.” Roasting symbolized trials and judgment.

As Yeshua partook of this final meal with His closest associates, He was surely keenly aware that all of these elements ultimately pointed to Him as the prophesied Messiah of Israel and Savior of mankind. He knew, as John the Baptizer had declared, that He was “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29 NIV).

Food For Thought and Prayer

Through Yeshua’s atoning death, I have been delivered out of slavery to sin and death. I will take a moment now to ponder and remember, with gratitude, all that Yeshua died to make possible for me. Today I will give Him thanks and praise.