158............................ The Passover Meal ( The Last Supper )

JESUS' LAST SUPPER MENU   Matsah - Bread made without yeast or leaven   Red Wine-One cup of wine sanctifies the table ot the start. A second cup of wine is served during the telling of the Exodus story.   Bitter Herbs - Horseradish   Vinegar or Salt Water - Representing tears for the sufferings of the Egyptians   Charoseth - A mixture of almonds, raisins, apples and other foods used as a spread for   the Matsah   Main course   Roast Lamb   Vegetables in Season   Olive Oil - for the sop

The Lord made four promises to the children of Israel represented by four cups of red wine, The four promises are: "Therefore say to the people of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a outstretched arm, and with great judgements; And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and 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   THE FIRST CUP, "I will bring you" represents Israel leaving their comfort zone, the way people come into the born-again experience.   THE SECOND CUP, "I will deliver" represents the end of bondage and slavery. For us this is the end of the bondage of sin,   THE THIRD CUP, "I will redeem" represents the crossing of the Red Sea. Redemption also speaks of intimacy with God.   THE FOURTH CUP, "I will take" is the cup of Elijah, which is not drunk, but is poured for Elijah to drink as he comes to herald the Messiah. This is the cup Jesus drank in Luke 22:20 when He said, "This is the New covenant in My blood, which is being poured out for you."

  At modern Passover, Matzah is always baked on a "griddle", which causes the bread to have stripes, "By His stripes we were healed" (Isaiah 53:3). As it is a crisp-bread, it is pierced with a sharp instrument in order to not bubble. "They shall look on Him whom they pierced" (Zech 12:10 & John 19:37). Matzah is the perfect picture of God the Son. .... On the table, is a stack of three Matzahs. Each Matzah is separated by a sheet of linen and is placed inside a decorative bag. Early in the meal, the father removes the middle Matzah. He then breaks it in two and wraps the larger part of this broken Matzah in a white linen napkin which is then hidden somewhere in the room. This broken Matzah is returned to the table towards the end of the meal. Here we see a picture of the Lord Jesus, who left the Father and came to earth, to "dwell" with us. In the breaking of the Matzah in half, we see His death. Then as the broken bread is wrapped in white linen, we see His burial robe. It is then placed under a pillow somewhere in the room, reminding us of the Tomb.