Passover is always on 15th Nisan it begins at sundown on 14th.
Pesach is the first day of the celebration – Passover, that lasts for a week and is called the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The day following the first day of Unleavened Bread is called Reishit Katzir the Day of FirstFruits.
It is the beginning of the harvest, sometimes confusingly called the Feast of Firstfruits.
Re’shiyth – ראשׁית
Strongs #H7225 re’shiyth, ray-sheeth’; from the same as 7218; the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit): — beginning, chief(-est), first(-fruits, part, time), principal thing. Pronounced ray-sheeth’
ראשׁית קָצִיר – Reishit Katzir
קָצִֽיר qasir
Strongs 7105 Katzir-קָצִיר – qâtsı̂yr
pronounced kaw-tseer’.
Of first fruits harvest, harvesting, crop, what is harvested or reaped.
קָצִיר – Katzir
In ancient times on this day, a sheaf, (an omer) of barley, (the first grain crop to ripen); was waived before the Lord in a prescribed ceremony.
This was to mark the start of the counting of the Omer, thereby initiating the 49 day countdown to the harvest festival of Shavuot – Pentecost. Lev. 23:9-12.
For the Passover Lamb to become the Sheaf of First Fruits and present Himself as the Omer, He had to give up/lay down His life and take it up again.
John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I laydownmylife, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Deuteronomy 26:1–11
Speak to the Israelites and say to them; “When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old without defect together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah[a] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil— a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma— and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin[b] of wine. You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. Leviticus 23: 10-14
Temple plate and scythe for the first cutting.
On this day, the priest would waive a sheaf, an Omer of green barley before the Lord as a symbolic gesture dedicating the upcoming harvest to Him.
The day following the first day of Unleavened Bread, (the day after the Sabbath – the morning the women go to the tomb), is called Reishit Katzir –
Reishit Katzir represents the resurrection of Yeshua our Mashiach Yom HaBikkurim) whereas Shavuot, (Chag HaBikkurim), represents the giving of the Torah at Sinai and the giving of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) at Jerusalem. Nisan 17 in the Old Testament – Torah.
A Note about Chag Ha-Bikkurim
Pronounced: Hahb-bik-koo-REEM
The Hebrew term bikkurim derives from the same root as bekhor – “firstborn.” A frequent synonym for bikkurim is reshit, “the first [fruits].”
Bikkurim ביכורים
literally, firstfruits
First ripe, Hasty fruit, the first-fruits of the crop
Hebrew: בִּכּוּר, bikkûr (H1061)
Pronunciation: bik-KOOR
Definition: The first-fruits of the crop.
In the torah, the general principle that the firstborn of man and beast belong to the Lord is also applied to the first fruits to ripen each agricultural season. Beginning with a sheaf of the new barley harvest, the omer on Reishit Katzir, and culminating in the celebration of Pentecost – Shavuot. Also known as Chag HaBikkurim, which is the festival of first fruits representing the birth of the church/ecclesia; and our future glorious state as part of the coming harvest at the end of the age.
The Torah begins with the words:
“Be-reishit bara Elohim et ha-shamayim ve-et ha-aretz,”.
The most popular translation of “be-reishit” is “In the beginning,” and the phrase would read, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
The Hebrew word for “in the beginning” in Bereishit 1:1, could have been reishit. However, the word used was bereshit. Pronounced: beh-ray-SHEET
It is possible that the use of Bereishit (reishit with the second letter, bet, at its beginning) is significant in that, by its inclusion it may indicate a second beginning, or a recreation?
Where there may be unknown time between verse 1 and 2 in Genesis chapter 1.
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
and also where there seems to be a second reference to creation. The first story runs from Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 2:3; the second story picks up at Genesis 2:4 and runs to the end of the chapter at Genesis 2:25? Interesting thought!
The Beginning wraps the End –
The End wraps the Beginning.
Isaiah 46:9-10
Genesis 1:3God said let there be LIGHT and
John 8:12. Jesus said I AM the LIGHT.
He IS THE Beginning –
He is the God of NewBeginnings.
The Wave Offering is called Tenufat HaOmer and is performed the day after the Sabbath, (our Sunday), Yom Rishon.
Strongs 8573 – Original Word: תְּנוּפָה
Tenuphah: a swinging, waving, wave offering, offering
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine Transliteration: tenuphah Phonetic Spelling: (ten-oo-faw’)
The Sheaf of firstfruits – the day after the Sabbath.
This is the day of firstfruits, the Resheet. Reishit Katzir.
(Spelled both Reishit and Resheet)
The Wavesheaf Offering (Beginning of the Harvest/Reishit Katzir or Day of the Firstfruits/Yom HaBikkurim
The start, the beginning of the harvest. It is the time of the First grain, the first blossom of the first, new harvest. This firstfruits, the resheet, would represent all that would be reaped and gathered in during the rest of the harvest in the following days.
The first sheaf of the harvest in spring was lifted before the Lord and dedicated to Him on the day of Resheet.
How this applies to Messiah and resurrection day. They were to reap the harvest – and then bring, “THE sheaf of the First Fruits of your harvest to the priest” – notice here it does not say – “a sheaf” but rather – “the sheaf” – it is onemarked off as the First Fruits of the harvest.
אֲלֻמָּה
Strongs #485
alummah: a sheaf
אֲלוּמָה al-oom-maw’
(‘alummah, `omer, `amir)
Yeshua’s Resurrection was our FirstFruitwave offering that was pleasing to the Lord.
As He offered to the Father the early crops on what will be an overwhelming harvest at the end of this age – Acharit Hayayim.
We understand the fact that Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1Cor.15:20-23
Total = 3 days and nights (Matt 12:40)
Yeshua raised on the 3rd day (Luke 24:45-6)
Yeshua/Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, after being in the tomb three days and nights.
The disciples and then encountered the risen Lord on Nissan 14, a Sunday morning (Matthew 28:1 – 10).
This means He was crucified on Nissan 14 and resurrected on Nissan 17 (the corresponding Gregorian dates for these dates vary from year-to-year).
The women came to the tomb while it was still dark. Matt 27:61. Mark 16:1-8. John 20:1-2
Pesach/Passover represents all salvation and deliverance by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.
Yeshua Ha Mashiach in whose blood we are trusting that we’ve been justified.
יֵשׁוּעַ is a verbal derivative from “to rescue”, “to deliver”.
Its root word is yasha . עַשָׁי. H3467 yasha (below) which is also the root word of salvation. H3444: עַשָׁי H3467 yasha to save, be saved, be delivered (Blue Letter Bible).
Chag HaMatzot represents our sanctification as we rid ourselves of the old – שׂאר, seor, Strong’s #7603 – leaven/sin
of Egypt/world and die to the carnal flesh nature of the old man. This is represented by the burial of Messiah Yeshua/Jesus and with us identifying with His death.
The Lords supper was a Passover seder the same meal that is celebrated every year. It is not simply a meal it is in fact a service.
The leader is the one who serves the Matzah/bread and all the other elements which are required.
It’s not about serving yourself at a buffet or a smorgasbord; it’s about being served and letting the leader serve you. This is clear that the Lords supper is not about serving self.
So when we sit at His table
He is the one who serves us the bread of life.
Sometimes even as believers we live to serve ourselves. However, in the Lords supper, Our Heavenly Father is saying, in effect, that He will take care of our needs. He will give us the bread of life and the new wine of joy. He wants us to sit at His table and allow Him to minister to us. Then in His love, we serve another, because it is the Lord’s supper, not a buffet.
The main focus of this post is that..
Yeshua the Messiah is our FirstfruitBikoreem/Bikkurim
Chag Ha-Bikkurim
The Hebrew term Bikkurim comes from the same root as the word bekhor –first Born.
In the Torah there is a principle that the firstborn of both man and beast belong to the Lord. It is also applied to the firstfruits to ripen in each agricultural season.
Beginning with a sheaf of the new barley harvest (omer) on Reishit Katzir, and ends in the celebration of Pentecost Shavuot.
This is also called Chag Ha-Bikkurim – the first fruits festival, which bears repeating, also represents the birth of the ekklesia (church) the Called Out Ones.
They are not happening coincidentally, the wave offering and the resurrection of Jesus/Yeshua are linked together prophetically by the apostle Paul. 1Cor. 15:20-23
Which says that in fact Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach, has been raised from the dead, the first fruits all those who have fallen asleep.
For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
Here Paul clearly links the first fruit offering with the resurrection of Jesus our Messiah Yeshua our Mashiach.
Yeshua/Jesus’ resurrection was like a wave offering presented before the Father, as the firstfruits of the harvest to come. Jesus/Yeshua, presented His firstfruits offering to the Father on this day.
Because it was representative of the entire harvest by it’s consecration, it encompassed every sheaf that would follow.
It took place that day after the Passover Sabbath. It was the day of new life. This was the day that also marked the beginning of spring and at the same time sealed the ending of the winter. This is a day that reveals a mystery.
This world is a fallen world. Everything is under the curse of sin and death, everything that lives also dies. It’s like the shadow of winter that hangs over it all year – but God’s will is to redeem that which is fallen; to give life in place of death.
The promise of this redemption is that one day the barrenness of winter will be broken, the cause of death will be destroyed once and for all.
The one thing that will break that winter and bring new life is the first fruits and that date HAS COME!
Some 2000+ years ago on the Day of ResheetHe rose as THE first fruit, EXACTLY when the firstfruits are lifted up to the Lord.
Resurrection Day is the Day of the Resheet. And why? Because He is Resheet.
Day of the Resheet – the first fruits are raised up from the Earth.
It ended the winter of our lives and began the spring that gives new life.
Matthew 27:52 –53 the tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
Yeshua/Jesus is the first begotten of the father (Hebrews 1:6)
The firstborn of creation (Col. 1:15)
The first begotten of the dead (Rev. 1:5)
And is the firstfruits of those who are to be resurrected (1 Cor. 15:20-23)
Pesach/Passover represents our salvation and deliverance by the sacrifice of the lamb of God, Yeshua the Mashiach. We are justified by trusting in the blood of the Lamb of God.
Chag HaMatzot represents our sanctification as we rid ourselves of the old leaven of Egypt. (The type of the world) and die to the carnal nature. This is represented by the burial of the Messiah/Mashiach and our identification with his death.
The best part is that the Resheet/sheaf, stood for, and represented ALL that would follow. It means that as He overcame death unto life, so can we; and so can everyone who comes after the first.
Jesus the Messiah of New Beginnings. Yeshua the Overcoming Resheet of Bikkurim.
Messiah is our Passover Lamb, our Tamid. He is also our Bikkurim/the Firstfruit. Be certain that He is in your life and heart as the days draw ever closer to the end of the age..Open the Door/dalet of your heart/lev and let the Resheet of Bikkurim in..
Make sure Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and very soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
NOT CERTAIN?
YOU CAN BE..
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are greatly loved and very precious in His sight.
He longs to give you the Shalom He paid the ultimate price for..
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.
Most Christian believers know what is meant by ‘taking communion’, or ‘the Lord’s supper’ or ‘the breaking of bread and drinking of wine’.
However what is not always taught is that it is rooted in, and has its’ origins in, the Passover meal of the Israelites PesachSeder.
Also called Pesah, Pesakh – פֶּסַח and pronounced Pay-sak.
Seder סֵדֶר
pronounced SEE-dur-(seyder);
Seder is a Hebrew root word meaning order/arrangement..the same root from which the word siddur comes, meaning: prayer book.
Passover begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nisan
(late March or early April in the Gregorian calendar).
Passover is celebrated for seven days in Israel.
In the same way Israelites have celebrated Passover as a celebration of freedom observed by Jews everywhere.
The name derives from the story of the angel of death passing over the homes of Hebrews; when the 10th plague, the death of the first-born children, came upon the Egyptians.
However many are not aware of how it is connected and integral to the Lords supper/ communion. This is because many have not yet accepted Yeshua as Messiah. They are not aware of the implications of, and the messianic secrets revealed in the Seder and in the order sequence of the Meal itself.
It is not a sumptuous 5+ course-style banquet, but contains symbols of remembrance of the miracles that the Lord performed for the children of Israel as they were leaving Egypt.
The telling of the Passover story.
The Maggid – מטיף – Hebrew: maggīdh – literally, narrator, messenger, is the highlight of the Seder.
The Seder, which follows a carefully prescribed series of steps, includes a dinner of highly symbolic foods that are prepared on a Seder plate.
There are different versions and some have 14 steps and some 15.
The Sages designed the Passover Seder as 15 steps to make a participant enormously successful and the key to unlocking the code is that Passover is the time when each Jew embarks on a personal journey from slavery to freedom.
The Haggadah, which is pronounced ha-gah-da, is a small book that is used at the Passover table each year.
The Haggadah – הַגָּדָה – means: The telling.
And it’s a fulfillment of the mitzvah – מִצְוָה, to each Israelite.
mitzvah – מִצְוָה
The first use is in Genesis 26:5 where God says that Abraham has “obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments (מִצְוֹתַי mitzvotai), my statutes, and my laws”.
The charge to tell your son, of the Hebrews liberation from slavery in Egypt; as described in the Book of Exodus in the Torah.
“And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying: It is because of that which the LORD did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.” Ex. 13:8).
Ha Laḥma Anya
מָא הָאלַחְ עַנְיָא
‘This is the bread of affliction‘…
(literally: Behold the poor bread)
are the opening words of a declaration in Aramaic, designating the matzah as the bread of affliction and inviting the needy to join the meal.
Ha lachma anya, d’akhla avatana b’ar’a d’mitzrayim.
This is the bread of affliction, which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt.
It ends with:
This year we are here, next year may we be in the Land of Israel. This year we are slaves, next year may we be free men.
The Haggadah – הַגָּדָה – telling;
The purpose of the Haggadah
Ve-higgadta le-vinkha –
And thou shalt tell thy son,
Ex. 13:8,
The outlines of the steps of the Passover Seder.
1Kaddesh (Sanctifcation):The word is derived from the Hebrew root Qof-Dalet-Shin, meaning holy.
Kiddush: (Blessing over wine) Blessed are You, O Lord our God, (Ruler/King or) Sovereign of the universe, creator of the fruit of the vine.
This is a blessing over wine in honor of the holiday.
The first cup, the Kiddush, of wine is drunk, and a second cup is poured.
The 4 cups of wine, known in Hebrew as arba kosot.
2Urechatz (Washing), A washing of the hands without a blessing, in preparation for eating the Karpas.
3 Karpas (Vegetable): A vegetable (usually parsley) is dipped in salt water and eaten. The vegetable symbolizes the lowly origins of the Jewish people; the salt water symbolizes the tears shed as a result of our slavery. Parsley is a good vegetable to use for this purpose, because when you shake off the salt water, it looks like tears.
4Yachatz (Breaking): One of the three matzahs on the table is broken.
Part is returned to the pile, the other part is set aside for the Afikomen.
Matzot that have been placed in a white bag called a matzah tosh are taken out and shown to everyone.
The leader then says.
This Is the lechem oni – the bread of affliction – which our forefathers ate in the land of Egypt.
All who are hungry – let them come and eat. All who are needy – let them come and celebrate Passover with us.
Very significant of Jesus/Yeshuas’ declaration “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:35) To eat these promises is to eat this living bread and live forever (John 6:51).
5 Maggid (The Story): A retelling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt and the first Passover. This begins with the youngest person asking The Four Questions, a set of questions about the proceedings designed to encourage participation in the seder. The Four Questions are also known as Mah Nishtanah. (Why is it different?), which are the first words of the
MahNishtanah, are the first two words in a phrase meaning Why is tonight different from all other nights? usually asked by the youngest guest. Then the seder leader replies by asking what differences they notice. There are variations on the questions, however the youngest person then replies that there are four ways in which they notice a difference about Passover:
On all other nights we eat bread or matzah, while on this night we eat only matzah?
She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim chametz o matzah, halaylah hazeh kulo matzah?
On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables and herbs, but on this night we have to eat bitter herbs?
She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim she’ar yerakot, halaylah hazeh maror?
On all other nights we don’t dip our vegetables in salt water, but on this night we dip them twice?
She-bechol halaylot ain anu matbilin afilu pa’am echat, halaylah hazeh shtei pe’amim?
On all other nights we eat while sitting upright, but on this night we eat reclining?
The fourth “question” refers to the ancient custom of eating while reclining on one elbow. It symbolizes the concept of freedom and refers to the idea that Jews would be able to have a celebratory meal while relaxing together and enjoying each others’ company.
This question became part of The Four Questions after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. Originally the fourth question, mentioned in the Talmud (Mishnah Pesachim 10:4) was: “On all other nights we eat meat which has been roasted, stewed, or boiled, but on this night we eat only roasted meat.”
This original question referred to the practice of sacrificing the Paschal lamb at the Temple, a practice that ceased after the Temple’s destruction. Once the sacrificial system was abandoned the rabbis replaced the fourth question with one about reclining during the Passover seder.
6 Rachtzah (Washing): A second washing of the hands, this time with a blessing, in preparation for eating the matzah.
7Motzi Matzah (Blessings over Grain Products and Matzah): The ha-motzi blessing, a generic blessing for bread or grain products used as a meal, is recited over the matzah. A blessing specific to matzah is recited, and a bit of matzah is eaten.
8Maror (Bitter Herbs): A blessing is recited over a bitter vegetable (usually raw horseradish; sometimes romaine lettuce), and it is eaten. This symbolizes the bitterness of slavery. The maror is eaten with charoses, a mixture of apples, nuts, cinnamon and wine, which symbolizes the mortar used by the Jews in building during their slavery
9Korech (Sandwich): some maror on a piece of matzah is eaten with some charose. The sandwich used to include a piece of the paschal offering (Lamb). As there are no more animal sacrifice, so there is no paschal offering included.
10Shulchan Orech (Dinner): is a simple meal, gefilte fish and matzah ball soup are traditionally eaten.
11Tzafun (Dessert):The piece of matzah set aside earlier is eaten as “dessert,” the last food of the meal. Different families have different traditions relating to the afikomen. Some have the children hide it, while the parents have to either find it or ransom it back. Others have the parents hide it. The idea is to keep the children awake and attentive throughout the pre-meal proceedings, waiting for this part.
12Barech (Grace): The third cup of wine is poured, (the Ge’ullah – Redemption) and grace after meals is recited. This is similar to the grace that would be said on any Sabbath. At the end, a blessing is said over the third cup and it is drunk. The fourth cup is poured, including a cup set aside for the prophet Elijah, who is supposed to herald the Messiah, and is supposed to come on Passover to do this. The door is opened for a while at this point (supposedly for Elijah, but historically because Jews were accused of nonsense like putting the blood of Christian babies in matzah, and we wanted to show our Christian neighbors that we weren’t doing anything unseemly).
13Hallel (Song):Several psalms are recited. Yehallelukha Adonai Eloheinu al Kol Ma’asekha (“All Thy works shall praise Thee”) is a benediction of praise, or Nishmat Kol Ḥai (“The breath of all that lives”), is the Nishmat hymn – Birkat ha-Shir.
A blessing is recited over the last cup of wine and it is drunk.
14Nirtzah (Closing): A simple statement that the seder has been completed, with a wish that next year, Pesach may celebrated in Jerusalem meaning that the Messiah will come within the next year.
For believers in Messiah it is the fulfillment of the Passover lamb by His own sacrifice.
So all the elements have a particular and specific meaning to them and are significant for both the original and spiritually fulfilled Passover thousands of years apart.
The Mysterious hidden Afikomen אפיקומן ; pronounced: ah-fi-co-men.
During the 4th part of the seder meal (called Yachatz – divide), a plate of unleavened bread is lifted up.
On it are three pieces of matzah stacked On top of each other.
The Seder leader takes the middle piece, calls out “Yachatz,” and breaks it in half.
Splitting the matzah is a memorial to the splitting of the sea.
These various understandings of Yachatz underscore that both slavery and salvationare within the broken matzah, thereby highlighting the central theme that salvation can instantly emerge from the most abject situations of suffering.
“lehecm oni”, (“Poor Man’s Bread”), the Gemarah in Maseches Pesachim (115b) derives that the matzah of seder night must be broken: “ma darko shel ani beprusa…just as a poor person eats a broken piece of a loaf, so too matzah must be eaten as a broken piece”.
Afikomen אפיקומן means:
That which comes after!
At the Passover seder table, three matzahs are placed in a stack, inside a special bag called a matzah tosh.
Before it is broken the following is said.
This is the bread of brokenness……
These 3 are said to represent Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The middle one representing Isaac, is broken to recall how he was offered himself in sacrifice in obedience to the will of his father! The binding of Isaac is a clear picture of how Jesus/Yeshua yielded Himself to be sacrificed by God, His Father.
Consider how the Akedah provides a prophetic picture of the Lord Jesus as the Lamb of God – SEH haELOHIM, who takes away the sins of the world. John 1:29.
Both Isaac and Jesus were born miraculously,
both were only begotten son’s,
both were to be sacrificed by their fathers of Mount Moriah;
both were to be resurrected on the third day. (Genesis 22:5; Hebrews 11:17 – 19).
Both willingly took up the means of his execution, both demonstrate that one life can be sacrificed for another –the ram for Isaac and Jesus for all mankind.
Another tradition is that the three matzot represent the people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, respectively. This raises some questions; why would the priests be depicted as broken in this case? Isn’t Jesus/Yeshua the high priest of our confession? (Hebrews 3:1) Didn’t He provide eternal redemption by means of shedding His Blood in the Holy of Holies made without hands? (Hebrews 9:11–12; 10:11–12, 21–23).
Why would the symbolism of the broken priests included in the Passover Seder? Didn’t the prophet Isaiah in chapter 53 foretell that the Messiah would be wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities and by His stripes we are healed?
Could it be a reference to a broken corrupt system that Messiah came to heal in more ways than one?
In the Hebrew mindset the middle of something is it’s heart. LEV. When the middle matzah is broken it’s a reminder to all believers of how the Fathers’ heart must have been broken to see the pain that Jesus/Yeshua endured by taking our sins upon Him at the cross. We looked previously at the matzah and the stripes and the holes in it and their significance.
Remembering that like the unleavened bread, He was pure without any trace of leaven in it, as His body was without any sin. This is the LEV, the HEART of the Passover message It is the LEV – HEART of the gospel.
The larger piece of this matzah is called the afikomen. The smaller half is returned to its place between the other two matzahs, and the larger half is placed in a bag,
or wrapped in a cloth,
and then it is set aside to be eaten as a dessert after the meal. It is in commemoration of the paschal sacrifice. Set aside so it does not get mixed up with the other pieces on the table.
In ancient biblical times, the Passover sacrifice used to be the last thing consumed during the Passover seder during the First and Second Temple eras. The afikomen is a substitute for the Passover sacrifice according to the Mishnah in Pesahim 119a.
The practice of hiding the afikomen was instituted during the Middle Ages by Jewish families to make the seder more entertaining and exciting for children, who can become antsy when sitting through a long ritual meal.
The Afikomen has been part of the Passover since the second Temple times that would’ve been part of the Passover service during the time of Yeshua. The Greek word used in the New Testament is aphikomenos it is a participle that means he is coming that has definite messianic nuances.
Was it symbolic of a divine Trinity?
This is certainly possible as an image of hashilush hakodesh – the three fold/ triune nature of God; having the focus on the broken middle piece of the matzah, which is a picture of suffering Messiah Yeshua Ha Mashiach.
When we consider that this piece is taken and wrapped up and carefully hidden from view only to be discovered at the end of the Passover seder by little children.
This surely is the image of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus/Yeshua from the dead. It is only after partaking of the lamb of God who was slain for our transgressions and sins; do we understand and take hold of the reward given to those to seek for Him.
If so, then that which pointed to the second part of the trinity, is broken and it is even given a name – called by Afikomen.
It was saving the best until last and to be looked forward to, as something special and to be rejoiced over when found and consumed! (Very symbolic!)
The broken matzah wrapped in a cloth or napkin, was also as a remembrance of the way the Israelites left Egypt with their soon-to-be matzahs, as described in the Torah:
‘The people picked up their dough when it was not yet leavened, their leftovers bound in their garments on their shoulders.’
Depending on the family, either the leader usually the head of the household in the group hides the afikomen during the meal or the children at the table “steal” the afikomen and hide it. Not every family ascribes to the ‘stealing’ part so as not to encourage stealing as being acceptable behavior.
If the seder leader hid the afikomen the children at the table must search for it and bring it back. They receive a reward (usually candy, money or a small gift) when they bring it back to the table. Likewise, if the children “stole” the afikomen, the seder leader ransoms it back from them with a reward so that the seder can continue.
This ransom or reward is indicative of Mark 10:45.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Yeshua/Jesus is recorded in Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 referring to Himself as “a ransom for many,”
When it is found they remove the cloth wrapped around it revealing the broken Afikomen. Once the afikomen is returned to the seder table, each guest receives a small portion at least the size of an olive.
This is done after the meal and normal deserts have been eaten so that the last taste of the meal is matzah.
After the broken afikomen is eaten, the Birkas haMazon (grace after meals) is recited and the seder is concluded.
It is only at this point that the Passover is complete!
Although the afikoman represents the Israelites liberation from Egyptian exile.
That redemption, however, was not a complete one, as they are still awaiting the final redemption with the coming of Moshiach.
Setting aside or hiding the larger half of the matzah reminds us that the best, the real redemption, is yet to come, still hidden in the future.
The symbolism is clear as they all would have understood the references to the broken matzah was the action taken by Jesus/Yeshua as He sat with His disciples, taking the middle piece he broke it and said;
This is My Body broken for you.
Then it was wrapped in cloth just as His broken body would be wrapped in a burial cloth not many hours later.
The broken matzah was hidden away just as His body was placed in the tomb hidden from view. Messiah has been hidden from His people for over 2,000 years and many have not found Him yet…
As before stated, the Passover Seder cannot be complete without finding Afikomen and and returned to the table so each guest can eat a piece of it. So Israel as a nation cannot find its completion without the Messiah. This signifies that the Jewish people will search for their missing Messiah, their Afikomen and they will fulfill their destiny as He is revealed to them.
Afikomen is actually a Greek word which as mentioned earlier means that which comes after.
Hebrew: אֲפִיקוֹמָן, based on Greek epikomon [ἐπὶ κῶμον] or epikomion [ἐπικώμιον], meaning “that which comes after” or “dessert”) is a half-piece of matzo which is broken in two during the early stages of the Passover Seder and set aside to be eaten as a dessert after the meal. a word that comes from the Greek word for “dessert.”
It is so called not because it is sweet, but because it is the last item of food eaten at the Passover seder meal.
Zechariah 12:10 Luke 22:19; Romans 11: 25-26.
Messiah is not among His people at this point BUT.. He will be, because…
He is the Afikomen,
the One who comes after,
and He WILL come again.
Similarly as with Passover, so it is with all to whom He comes.
Only in His coming can we find our completion.
When He is found – He is the missing piece/peace/shalom; and He is the one broken for us. The Afikomen of our lives.
The conclusion,
the completion,
for we are complete in Him.
The matzah is the bread of communion, some call it the Eucharist from the Greek word Eucharista. It is in the scripture, however, it has nothing to do with the bread.
Psalm 136, Luke 22:14–23, 1Timothy 6:6–8. It is what He spoke over the bread.
Eucharista means to give thanks or say a blessing and it is what has been the traditional Hebrew Blessing for millennia. The confusion maybe because Jesus/Yeshua said it over the bread and it isnot the bread itself; then tradition, doctrine and dogma take over and we miss the truth of the root meaning.
The Israelites have said this Hebrew Blessing/ Eucharista for a long time and it is called the MOTZI.
HaMotzi Pronounced: ha-MOE-tzee
The traditional HaMotzi blessing is recited before eating bread (or bread stuffs) and is one of the most frequently said of the Hebrew blessings, used for Shabbat, holidays, and other occasions:
That bread was unleavened bread. Unleavened bread is any of a wide variety of breads which are prepared without raising or leavening agents; (ingredients that cause flour to rise); such as yeast, baking soda, baking powder and beaten egg whites.
Known as Matzah within the Jewish community–it represents a symbolic element with great importance. Unleavened breads are generally flat breads; however, not all flat breads are unleavened.
This is probably what Jesus/Yeshua would have said over the unleavened bread.
Hamotzi (Blessing over bread)
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, (Ruler/King or) Sovereign of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
This is an indication that the emphasis is not the bread itself that is the most important it is the blessing of thanks that is.
Luke 12:15, for one’s lifedoes notconsistin the abundance of his possessions.
God is the author and preserver of man’s life; goods are not. But of the place and position and fullness of the giver in the life of the receiving believer. What is important is how much thanks we give for what we have. Spiritual poverty is worse than physical poverty.
In Messiah we are rich and prosperous spiritually because the bread, the Afikomen that He spoke the Eucharista over was the symbol of His suffering and death and He knew it and still gave thanks for it, knowing what He was about to go through.
The Powersecrets of the Eucharista is in it’s meaning for Thanksgiving and those who give thanks in all things, bring the power of God into a curse and turn it into a blessing. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1Timothy 6:6 -8
The hidden Afikoman of eucharista is Messiah the blessing of the one….
who returned from the tomb, and will soon return to us again, the Afikomen will return to complete our Passover seder….the blessing of that which comes after.
Please Do Not leave this page without the surety in your heart that this Passover you have
Messiah our Passover Lamb, our Tamid in your life and heart as the days draw ever closer to the end of the age..Open the Dalet of your heart and let the King of Glory in..
Make sure Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
NOT CERTAIN?
YOU CAN BE..
Its all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are greatly loved and very precious in His sight.
He longs to give you the Shalom He paid the ultimate price for..
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.
In previous posts we have seen that the Hebrew letter Dalet, represents a door, or an opening and a place, (Hakem) of a threshold. It’s a point where one can CROSS from one place or location into another. A doorway or transition can also be called a portal.
It is where we get our English word Port from, where ships come and go to other places and destinations. Many towns have port as part of their names due to their proximity to water. It is also reflected in the French word for the door – la porte.
Sea going vessels have portholes for windows, again representing a connecting barrier and indicating two sides which are separated.
Interesting they are circular, not square and have 3 component parts which are connected into one unit.
Windows also represent a barrier and indicate a change, a threshold, and a place of passing, or looking through to a different Hakem.
Ha Makem’- ‘The Place’-המקום
We are quite familiar with the Exodus story and remember this event is inexorably linked through time to the events at Passover/Pesach. Ex.12: 21-27.
On the night of the Passover, the Hebrews were to put the blood of the Lamb on the wooden beams of their doorways. This was probably the only WAY /portal/in and out of their home, as slaves, they would have had little luxuries.
They would have then entered in through the bloodstained doorway and stayed inside their houses. When they passed through that WAY again, it would be for the last time. It would be to leave Egypt and never return.
It would be to depart from all bondage of that life of slavery and in going through the portal, they entered a new life of freedom.
They were entering a new realm and eventually a new land; with a new identity as the people chosen by the Lord when they accepted the covenant at Sinai. A people set apart – Holy, to the Lord. This is the gospel message! And the type for our lives and us both as individuals and corporately is clear.
The blood was not on the threshold, so they did not tread on it, it was on 3 sides and looked like a door.
The last letter of the alef bet and is the symbol of the cross.
This blood marked the door transforming it into a portal – a spiritual transition point. A supernatural phenomena, enabling them to pass from the old to the new, effective in the spiritual realm for its divine purpose. This was so prophetic as, centuries later there would come the fulfillment of another Pesach, with another lamb, whose blood was shed for the world
and that blood created another supernatural portal.
The DOOR (Dalet) – THE WAY (Derech) back to the Father, spiritual reconciliation restored.
This portal transcended all previous types and shadows of His plan for He is the Dalet. He is the One between 2 realms; spanning the transition zone, the bridge. The Pesach Dalet in time that leads to eternal life.
The spiritual number 4, which is represented by Dalet in Hebrew, means message motion or world.
We should not mistake His death for a martyrs one. According to John 8:37, He came on purpose to die. It was His plan. He was a willing sacrifice, His free will choice to offer His life for ours. The key was in His deaths, reminding us that death leads to life and is not anything to be feared.
We merely exchange this body of flesh for something far better. Death has lost it’s sting of sin if we are truly saved; it’s just a simple transition through a portal in time. And Jesus/Yeshua Messiah is that Dalet.
The cross was a tree, made of wood, some translations say it was the same wood as the lintels of the Hebrews dwellings back in Egypt.
Both were marked with the Blood of a lamb.
The Romans used the cross beams as an execution stake, a most cruel, punishing death. And yet its very use became the fulfillment of God’s perfect plan to redeem all mankind.
Look at the cross from another perspective.
It’s a set of wooden beams just like those that formed the doorway, and marked with the Blood of the Passover Lamb, Messiah Jesus/Yeshua. In a sense, the cross is also a Portal… so the only Way it can truly be understood and known and experienced is BY (X) entering in.
How do we enter in?
BY (X) becoming One/Echad with Him.
Unlike physical doorways into places in the earth realm/kingdom, that take us from one place to another; this doorway, this portal is the WAY to a different realm. It’s a portal leading to a new Kingdom, a new reality and a whole new existence. This door enables us to leave behind our old lives, (just as the Israelites left Egypt,) and enter into a new realm. A new chaim, a new existence, a new reality with a new King and Lord.
The door is narrow, it’s only the width of a beam of wood and we must lay down all we are carrying because the door is not wide enough for burdens to be carried through it.
But it seems like there’s no opening in the cross… that is because it is a spiritual experience. His kingdom and realm is not of this world. It is supernatural, above natural. The only WAY to know this doorway, to experience this portal, is to go through it – through Him.
Those who do, will leave the kingdoms of the world behind and enter in, to the realm of His kingdom of the heavens/shamayim; which spiritually began here, and is our equivalent of entering the promised land through the portal of His cross.
It’s the only WAY to leave what we can never leave.
It’s the only WAY to go where we could never go.
By entering the portal, the Dalet of His cross. He is the door, the portal in time, the Dalet of Pesach.
The Door of the sheep of which He was the Passover Lamb.
A Question of Jonah’s Timing.
Yonah is the name Jonah in Hebrew and means dove. The connection to Jesus/Yeshua is referenced in Matthew 12:40 and can be understood when examined from the Hebraic mindset and the Jewish way of counting days and nights. Sunset always starts the Hebrew day, it’s roots are in Genesis 1.
In Hebrew Weeks is Shavua. [שבוע] A cycle of seven days, mirroring the 7 day period of the book of Genesis in which the world is created.
The names for the days of the week, like those in the creation account, are simply the day number within the week, with Shabbat being the seventh day. Each day of the week runs from sunset to the following sunset and is figured locally.
The Hebrew calendar follows a seven-day weekly cycle and in Hebrew, these names may be abbreviated using the numerical value of the Hebrew letters,
for example יום א׳ Day 1, or Yom Rishon יום ראשון:
Day 1 Yom Rishon – abbr. יום א meaning first day corresponds to Sunday יום ראשון
Yom Sheni – abbr. יום ב meaning second day corresponds to Monday יום שנ
Yom Shlishi – abbr. יום ג׳ meaning third day corresponds to Tuesday יום שלישי
Yom ReviʻI – abbr. יום ד׳ meaning fourth day corresponds to Wednesday יום רביעי
Yom Chamishi – abbr. יום ה׳ meaning fifth day corresponds to Thursday יום חמישי
Yom Shishi – abbr. יום ו׳ meaning sixth day corresponds to Friday יום ששי
Yom Shabbat – abbr. יום ש׳ meaning rest שבת, or more usually Shabbat יום שבת
Also known as Yom Shabbat Kodesh יום שבת קודש (“holy rest day”).
This means that our Friday really begins on Thursday evening at sunset. The 2nd day begins at sunset on our Friday and continues through the daytime of our Saturday. Then our equivalent of Sunday begins at sunset on Saturday and continues through Saturday night and the hours of daylight of Sunday, making the third day.
Because the Jewish system was to count any portion of daylight as a full day, then Friday a.m. through Sun a.m. would have been understood as, and seen as, 3 complete days and nights. Reference to Jonah.
1st Day of the 3 days: Friday (really Day 6 of the week) was sunset on Thurs. night to sunset on Friday (really Day 5 of the week).
2nd Day Saturday (really Day 7 of the week) was from sunset on Friday night to sunset on Saturday night
3rd Day Sunday (really 1st day if the week) was from sunset on Saturday night to sundown on Sunday. Resurrection that day.
He was crucified at 9am on Friday and released His Spirit to the Father at 3pm. His body was prepared for burial and interred at sunset the same day. That was the beginning of the festival of Unleavened Bread. Then on Sunday after sunrise He became the first fruits.
To help explain the hours look at The Roman versus Mosaic Time Clocks
Sundials were used prior to the numbers on a clock face that we are accustomed to.
Venetians and Germans, both under Roman Influence, developed the modern clock. According to authorities, and Roman Catholic Church Archives, (Vatican Library); the first hour of the day began at what we now call 6 o’clock in the evening – directly opposite to the God’s original time clock as described in the Bible! This was likely done by demonic spirits (Eph. 6:112) influencing leaders, in order to spiritually disorient and disempower people.
This causes confusion and made understanding the scriptures harder. God is not the author of confusion, and why would He change that which He originally set in place and said was good? When we read of the 3rd hour, it is really 9 o clock and the 6th hour is 12.
The standard Mosaic Time Clock was in use for many thousands of years and people began their days in the evening according to Genesis 1:5 and John 11:9.
It’s physical orientation was changed upside down and back to front! We know who is responsible for that!
Surely your turning of things upsidedown shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? Isa.24:1
The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upsidedown. Ps. 146:9
Theoretically by reverting back to God’s WAY of keeping time, left and right brain function would improve as so too would people’s spiritual receptivity.
In the Creation Calendar, Hebrew Hours begin at sunrise and sunset.
A Hebrew Hour occurring betweensunsetandsunrise is called a Hebrew Night Hour.
A Hebrew Hour occurring betweensunriseandsunset is called a Hebrew Day Hour.
Sunset occurs and the First Watch begins exactly at the beginning of the first Hebrew Night Hour.
The Second Watch begins exactly at the beginning of thefourth Hebrew Night Hour.
Mid-nightoccurs and the Third Watch begins exactly at the beginning of the seventh Hebrew Night Hour.
The Fourth Watch begins exactly at the beginning of the tenth Hebrew Night Hour, and ends at sunrise at the end of the twelfth Hebrew Night Hour.
Sunrise is always exactly at the beginning of the first Hebrew Day Hour.
Mid-day occurs exactly at the end of the sixth Hebrew Day Hour.
Sunset occurs exactly at the end of the twelfth Hebrew Day Hour.
The duration of a Hebrew Hour varies with the season.
A Hebrew Day Hour is shorter in duration during winterwhen a Hebrew Night Hour is longer in duration.
A Hebrew Day Hour is longer in duration during summer when a Hebrew Night Hour is shorter in duration.
JEWISH TIME DIVISIONS IN THE 1ST CENTURY A.D.
Jesus/Yeshua replied, ‘Are there not 12 hours in a day?’ John 11:9
Why did He say this? Is it in reference to the importance of the Hours, Days, Times and Seasons of which we are to be mindful? They all have a deep meaning and He was not one to waste words, so it must have an importance that we have not fully understood.
A Hebrew Day consists of 12 Hebrew Night Hours and 12 Hebrew Day Hours.
The midpoint of the 12 Hebrew Night Hours is called Mid-Night. The moment of Mid-night occurs exactly halfway between sunset and sunrise separating the 6th and 7th Hebrew Night Hours.
The midpoint of the 12 Hebrew Day Hours is called Mid-day. The moment of Mid-day occurs exactly halfway between sunrise and sunset separating the 6th and 7th Hebrew Day Hours.
Between the moment of sunset at the end of the 12th Day hour and the 1st hour of the Night is called Between the Evenings or evening twilight.
At the last moment of that hour as the night begins is called Twinkling of an eye!
These are the 12 Day hours of a dayand what follows is what took place at each of them. As everything is connected to Messiah and speaks of Him and His fulfillment of Fathers’ plan of redemption, read with that perspective of, type and shadow, in mind and allow Ruach HaKodesh to reveal Himself to us in them.
The numbers on a Hebrew clock are the letters of the alef bet which each have numerical value. This one represents the modern clock with 12 at the top.
FIRST HOUR DAWN-8AM After the priests prepare the altar (Lev 1:7; 6:1-6/8-13; Mishnah: Tamid 1:2), the first male lamb of the Tamidsacrifice is brought out and tied to the altar at dawn (Mishnah: Tamid 3:2-3:3)
Sunrise over mount of Olives.
The twice daily communal sacrifice of the Tamid is the focus of religious life for the covenantpeople (Ex 29:38-42; Num 28:4-8). It is the only sacrifice other than the Feast of First Fruits or the Sabbath that requires a single male lamb for the liturgical service. The Sabbath requires a male lamb in addition to the Tamid lamb for each of the two Sabbath services (Num 28:9-10)
SECOND HOUR 8-9am
THIRD HOUR 9-10AM The incense is offered in the Sanctuary and the first Tamid lamb is sacrificed as the Temple gates open [Mishnah: Tamid 3:7; Edersheim, The Temple, chapter 7,
ROMAN TIME 9-10AM It is the time for the communal “Shacharit” (morning) prayer service (Acts 2:15) at the start of the 3rd hour. Individual morning prayer may be recited until noon (Mishnah: Berakhot 4:1A; Acts 10:9)
FOURTH HOUR 10-11AM
FIFTH HOUR 11-12PM
SIXTH HOUR The second lamb is brought out and tied to the altar at high noon. [Mishnah: Tamid 4:1]
NOON -1PM The second Tamid lamb is given a drink from a gold cup and remains near the altar until the time of sacrifice (Ex 29:41; Mishnah: Tamid 3:4; 4:1G; Josephus, Against Apion, 2.8[105]). Individual afternoon prayer lasts from the sixth hour (noon) to about the eleventh hour (5 PM), the length of the time from when the second lamb is tied near the altar to the conclusion of the afternoon service (Mishnah: Berakhot, 4:1C; Acts 10:9).
SEVENTH HOUR 1-2PM
EIGHTH HOUR 2-3PM
NINTH HOUR 3-4PM The second Tamid lamb is sacrificed [Antiquities of the Jews 14.4.3 (14:65); Philo Special Laws I, XXXV (169)] 3 PM is the second hour of prayer [Acts 3:1; 10:9] “Minchah” (gift-offering); also called the hour of confession.
TENTH HOUR 4-5PM
ELEVENTH HOUR 5-6PM
The afternoon liturgical service is concluded with the burning of the incense (sacrifices of the two lambs is embraced by the burning of the incense, making it a single sacrifice) and the priestly benediction (Mishnah: Tamid, 6:3-7:2; Num 6:24-26).
TWELVETH HOUR 6PM-SUNDOWN
The end of the 3rd watchand the beginning of the 4th watch was signaled by a trumpet call, which occurred at the end of every watch.
This one was known as the cockcrow, as Jesus/Yeshua noted in Mark 13:35: So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming: evening, midnight, cockcrow or dawn.
Matthew 26:34, Luke 22:34, and John 13:38 all record: “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “This very night, before the cockcrow, you will disown me three times.
Cocks crow in the morning not during the night. This is the end of third watch of the night, in the time of Christ and the beginning of the tenth Hebrew Night Hour.
So it would seem He was saying that Peter would deny Him before the start of the tenth Hebrew hour, which was a full 2 hours before sunrise.
In our Lord’s time the Jews had adopted the Greek and Roman division of the night into four watches, each consisting of three hours, the first beginning at six o’clock in the evening (Luke 12:38; Matthew 14:25; Mark 6:48). But the ancient division, known as the first and second cock-crowing, was still retained.
The cock usually crows several times soon after midnight (this is the first crowing), and again at the dawn of day (and this is the second crowing). Mark mentions (14:30) the two cock-crowings.
Roman Horn
Matthew (26:34) alludes to that only which was emphatically the cock-crowing, the second, kok’-kro-ing (alektorophonia):
An indefinite hour of the night between midnight and morning
And is also a symbol of the Resurrection, our Lord being supposed to have risen from the grave at the early cock crowing:
Roosters were not allowed in the city, according to Jewish ritual law. More likely, the Gospels refer to the trumpet call marking the changing of the guard at 3 A.M. This trumpet blast, heard city-wide, was called the cock-crow.
Roman signal horn.
Notice that according to St. Mark, Jesus went to the cross at the third hour, which in Jewish time corresponds to our 9AM [Mark 15:25], and according to the Gospel accounts He gave up His life at the ninth hour, our 3PM.
At the 9th hour during the temple lamb sacrifices, the same words were also shouted.
It is finished!
The Jewish day began at sundown.
sunset over old city
The daytime was divided into 12 seasonal hours, but the day division of hours was focused on the schedule of the Tamid sacrifice.
Twelve-hour night time division.
In Judaism, an hour is defined as (1/12), one twelfth of the time from sunrise to sunset, so, during the winter, an hour can be much less than 60 minutes, and during the summer, it can be much more than 60 minutes. This proportional hour is known as a ‘sha’ah z’manit’ (lit. a timely hour).
The daytime hours are often divided into Sha`oth Zemaniyoth or “Halachic hours” by taking the time between sunrise and sunset or between dawn and nightfall and dividing it into 12 equal hours.
Halachically, a day ends and a new one starts when three stars are visible in the sky.
The time between true sunset and the time when the three stars are visible (known as ‘tzait ha’kochavim’) is known as ‘bein hashmashot’.
The nighttime hours are similarly divided into 12 equal portions, albeit a different amount of time than the “hours” of the daytime.
(Roman night watch division was adopted after Roman occupation began in 63 BC)
Sixth to the ninth hour were the hours of darkness when Messiah was on the cross.
The Roman calendar took precedence with the Julian calendar. Julius Caesar first implemented it in 46 B.C. Since the Roman emperor’s system miscalculated the length of the solar year by 11 minutes, the calendar had since fallen out of sync with the seasons.
The Julian Calendar marked a major change from the Lunar Republican Calendar, being a Solar calendar and the predecessor of the Calendar still in use today. It was not until 1582 AD that Pope Gregory XIII decreed a modification to the Julian calendar, giving us the “Gregorian Calendar” that governs modern time.
He removed 10 days from the calendar!
In reference to Jesus/Yeshua, the year was returned to 0 and separated B.C. from A.D. We are now at 2019 A.D. It is really approx. the year 6019, if we count from Creation to Messiah 4,000+ years and then add 2019!
Gives a whole new meaning to the statement no man knows the day nor the hour.
Some other references to hours
In contrast to Matthew, Mark, Luke and Acts, the book of John, as it now exists in the Greek manuscripts, numbers hours from midnight as the Romans did.
Pilate questioned יהושעthe Messiah at the sixth hour Roman reckoning according to John 19:14 which is the twelfth Hebrew Night Hour.
יהושעthe Messiah sat at Jacob’s well at Sychar at the sixth hour Roman reckoning after a tiresome journey according to John 4:6 which is the twelfth Hebrew Day Hour.
A nobleman travelled the better part of a day from Cana to Capernaum and met יהושעthe Messiah at the seventh hour Roman reckoning according to in John 4:52 which is the first Hebrew Night Hour.
The disciples came to the place יהושעthe Messiah was staying at the tenth hour Roman reckoning and stayed with Him for the rest of that day according to John 1:39. The tenth hour Roman reckoning is the fourth Hebrew Day Hour.
Acts 2:15 Peter speech at pentecost/ Shavuot four these are not drunk as you assume as it is the third hour of the day. 9 AM is the hour of morning prayer how is hour three equal to 9 AM?
John 4:6 it was about sixth hour which was noon 12 o’clock this also fits with the evening morning the first day. John 4:2 1 PM the seventh hour.
Because the clock has been reversed and that was 2000+ years ago and since that time everything has been altered to benefit those under the influence of the god of this world. Primarily to hide the truth and to throw everything out of kilter. The scriptures say he will change the times and seasons, that spirit of antichrist working in the worlds systems. The opposite of and in contrary rebellion to all that which was set in place by the Lord. He is the wrong DOR, an acronym for Direct Opposite Reverse.
For example: The evening and the morning constitutes a day, not morning and evening. The english language goes from left to write instead of right to left and books are red from left to right. This is not the way that the Hebrew language is written and read.
If we follow the scripture in Matthew 20:1–6, then 9 AM is the third hour.
vs.5, six and nine are equal to 12 Noon and 3 P.M.
vs 6. 5 PM is the 11thhour.
So if the day begins at sundown which is 6 P.M. to us, with the original clock that would be 12 PM.
Then 1 AM would begin and two cycles of the clock face for 24 hours would give the 24 hours of the day.
If this is true then what we call ‘anti clockwise’ is actually not anti but correct?
We really should be vigilant because..
Time is running out so…..
Messiah is The Pesach-Dalet in Time; He is The One Between 2 Realms; and the type of Yonah is fulfilled in The Watches of the Night.
Please Do Not leave this page without the surety in your heart that you have Messiah our Passover Lamb, our Tamid in your life and heart as the days draw ever closer to the end of the age..Open the Dalet of your heart and let the King of Glory in..
Make sure Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
NOT CERTAIN?
YOU CAN BE..
Its all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are greatly loved and very precious in His sight.
He longs to give you the Shalom He paid the ultimate price for..
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.
In this case, it refers to the four cups of wine drunk at the Passover/Pesach Seder.
Passover is the name of the celebration of the release of the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage.
It is celebrated with a feast called Seder, the evening meal that teaches of God’s miraculous deliverance described in Exodus.
Jesus/Yeshua and His 12 Disciples and every author of the New Testament celebrated Passover/Pesach.
In the year 196 A.D. the celebration of Passover was replaced with the worship of Ishtar, the Babylonian fertility goddess. The name Ishtar was written in Greek as Istar, due to the fact that there is no ‘sh’, sound in the Greek language. Because the Greek and Latin letters for I, are pronounced EE, Istar became Easter, when spelled with English letters. The celebration of Ishtar brought with it eggs and rabbits– symbols of fertility and reproduction. This was done by the then church leaders, to separate ‘christianity’ from the Hebrew/Jewish roots of our faith and belief in Messiah, to make it easier for heathens to become Christians by letting them retain some of the pagan customs.
Seder is the name of the Passover/Pesach meal.
This meal may be called a feast but it really is a modest meal.
In modern times frequently featuring lamb/roast chicken and although ample, never the over eating many associate with celebration dinners.
The Seder meal, which included ‘the communion’ even prior to Jesus/Yeshua’s death, was observed in every home and in extended families since the Exodus.
Thefour cups of wine, known in Hebrew as, arba kosot, are drunk by each participant at thePassover Sedermeal.
(סדר פסח – Pesach Seder)
Seder means, order, and is a reminder of the Passover meal eaten by the Hebrew people before they were delivered from bondage as Egyptian slaves.
The Passover was the reference to the final plague of the angel of death who had to PASS OVER the homes of the Israelites that had applied the Blood of the sacrificial lamb on their doorposts.
The word SEDER is the same root from which we derive the word ‘siddur’, (prayer book).
The text of the Passover Seder is written in a book called the Haggadah,which means, telling – הַגָּדָה.
A retelling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt and the first Passover.
This begins with the youngest person in the gathering, asking The Four Questions, a set of questions about the proceedings designed to encourage participation in the Seder.
The Four Questions are also known as
Mah Nishtanahנשתנה מה
(Pronounced MAHN-isht-ahn-ah.)
This Hebrew saying originated in a religious context: it’s the beginning of first of the four questions asked during Passover, which asks “How is this night different from all other nights?”
The questions are included in the haggadah as part of the maggid which is designed to satisfy the needs of four different types of people:
the wise son, who wants to know the technical details;
the wicked son, who excludes himself (and learns the penalty for doing so);
the simple son, who needs to know the basics;
and the son who is unable to ask, the one who doesn’t even know enough to know what he needs to know.
At the end of the maggid, a blessing is recited over the second cup of wine and it is drunk.
Maggid: מגיד (a term used to describe two distinct concepts); The Story.
The Passover became communion when Jesus/Yeshua, instituted it at His last Pesach Seder, His ‘last supper.’ Making it the remembrance of Him being THEPesach Lamb (of God) and fulfilling perfectly the meaning of the Passover sacrifice. So communion came out of the SEDER and is still part of every Sabbath meal for an orthodox Jewish home as well as service in the synagogue. In ‘taking communion,’ we are reaffirming our covenant with God, each saying ‘everything I have is yours.’
The Seder that the disciples were to prepare for was to begin after sundown on Nissan 14 which was the Thursday night, ie at sundown at the start of the 6th day of the week, and eaten that same night. Ex. 12:6.
Remember the Hebrew day follows God’s original order in Genesis 1:5..
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
Each day begins at sundown.
John’s text referred to the Seder in 18:28 and 19:14; this was not just any supper it was the Passover Seder Pesach meal פֶּסַח (Pesah, Pesakh pronounced pay-sak).
Every year it served as a reminder to the Israelites that they ate Passover with the blood of the lamb on the door posts then eaten in Egypt at the deliverance of the chosen people from their bondage as slaves and also as a rehearsal of their future coming Messiah.
This is what Jesus/Yeshua was literally about to do, in fulfilling the prophecies concerning Messiah, Son of Joseph, (משיח בן־יוסף, Mashiach ben Yoseph), being, the suffering servant.
He was about to break the bondage of the god of this world and set the people free by the sacrificial shedding of His own Blood.
It may or may not be clear to all that read, that the meal was and is very significant. Within the ‘order’ of how it was eaten, was hidden the secrets of our freedom.
To start the Seder, a cup of wine was raised and a blessing recited to sanctify the table. This was so it can serve as an altar for the evening’s service, (of remembrance.)
This is the first cup and is called the Kiddush.
A silver Kiddush cup.
The Kiddush – from Kadesh, קדש, means the sanctification and is recorded in Luke 22:17.
The first cup is mixed with water and wine. After the mixing occurred, (in a family setting,) the father begins with the formal blessing over the cup. The blessing over the meal is referred to in Luke 22:19 when Jesus/Yeshua raised the bread.
Each blessing He said started with ‘Blessed are you Lord our God King of the universe.”
The blessing over the bread continued with “who brings forth bread from the earth.” Bread in this context means everything we need.
After the blessing, the food is then brought out, which includes unleavened bread, bitter herbs, a bowl of sauce, and the roasted lamb.
This is known as the body in traditional Jewish sources the actual meal had not yet started. Before eating the exodus story is told.
These four cups are named using an excerpt from Exodus 6:
Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you outfrom under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver youfrom slavery to them, and I will redeem youwith an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. Exodus 6:6-7
The main theme of Cup 1 is
I will bring you out
from under the burdens of the Egyptians. This is the promise to remove the children of Israel from their bondage of heavy labor.
Luke 22:17 refers to the cup Jesus/Yeshua drank and He said the blessing in Hebrew /Aramaic as He gave thanks.
A second cup of wine is also drunk during the meal.
Already there is a difference to our traditional communion service, for we only ever have one cup or drink one sip from a communal chalice.
CUP 2
The Cup of Proclamation – the Haggadah cup – also called the cup of Deliverance or Judgment, (from the plagues.)
The second cup would be mixed, but not drunk. The father would “proclaim” what the Lord did for Israel in Egypt. It is at this point the son asks the question – why is this night different from other nights? The son’s question is connected to the drinking of the second cup.
The father would then answer by quoting a specific section from the Scriptures Deuteronomy 26:5-11.
5 “And you shall make response before the Lord your God, ‘A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. 6 And the Egyptians treated us harshly and humiliated us and laid on us hard labor. 7 Then we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors and the Lord heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression.8 So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders.9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey;10 and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, Lord, have given me.” Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him.11 Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.
26:5. A Syrian was my father…That is, Jacob; for though born in Canaan, he was a Syrian by descent, his mother Rebecca, and his grandfather Abraham, being both of Chaldea or Mesopotamia, which in Scripture is comprehended under the name of Syria.
This exchange between the father and the son displays how the Passover meal looks back to the exodus and redemption the Israelites received by God in Egypt.
The father then explains the parts of the meal – unleavened bread, bitter herbs, and the lamb. Explaining the significance of the meal was essentially the center of this part of the meal.
To express their thanksgiving to God, the family would then sing the Hallel, ‘praise’; Psalms 113 and 114.
The Hallel is where our word ‘hallelujah’ comes from.
The main theme of Cup 2 is .. and I will rescue/deliver you from their bondage; as it tells of the exit from Egypt and from the slavery.
Some translations say ‘I shall save’, but deliverance is the primary meaning of the Hebrew.
For believers, this is an interesting parallel that should be in the walk of each disciple. As each receives the promise to be taken out of bondage and receives salvation by faith, the next step should be deliverance from all bondage.
Very few churches come through with deliverance and it has resulted with many churches full of ‘walking wounded’. In Jesus/Yeshua’s ministry it was recorded that at least one third of His time was spent in ministering deliverance, it goes hand in hand with healing and wholeness. This cup is a much needed one and little employed or ‘drunk’ today.
This cup is drunk during the meal and represents our walk with Him while proclaiming the freedom He bought for us. The blessing over the meal is what Jesus/Yeshua would have said in Luke. 22:19. Blessed are you Lord our God, King of the universe Who is bringing forth bread from the earth.
However this is not the end because there is a third cup which is taken after the meal and this is the one that Jesus/Yeshua lifted up as recorded in Luke 22:20.
CUP 3
The Cup of Blessing (for the food, i.e. the Passover sacrifice)
Called the Berakah cup – Cup of Redemption
The third cup would be mixed and this is where the supper officially begins. The family would finally eat the lamb and the unleavened bread. As customs change over time, it’s hard to be certain exactly how this actually was staged, however there was a blessing over the bread, and a serving of a small morsel of bread, and at the end the main course was eaten. Once the meal was completed, the father recited another blessing over the third cup and it was consumed.
The main theme of CUP 3 is I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. Yeshua is the prophetic arm of the Lord the זרוע – Z’roah – strong arm – a roasted shank bone.
The children of Israel and their descendants are His kin, His family and we are grafted into spiritual Israel.
This is the cup Jesus/Yeshua drank in verse 20 when He said that this was the renewed covenant in His Blood – this is the Cup of Redemption and He made it very personal and real as He was literally about to fulfill the prophetic type.
Each time we are ‘taking communion,’ we are renewing our covenant with the King of the universe.
The third cup of wine is poured, and grace after meals is recited. This is similar to the grace that would be said on any Sabbath. At the end, a blessing is said over the third cup and it is drunk.
The fourth cup is poured, including a cup set aside for the prophet Elijah, who is supposed to herald the Messiah, and is supposed to come on Passover to do this. The door is opened for a while at this point (supposedly for Elijah.)
The Seder closes with the fourth cup which is called the cup of Elijah, coming to announce the arrival of Messiah. This cup is not drunk.
A mini Seder is held every Sabbath in Jewish homes.
CUP 4
The Cup of Praise (the hallel cup) –
The remainder of the Hallel Psalms (115-118) would be sung. Psalms 115-118 are known as the Great Hallel. These psalms may not mean much to us today, however it is important to learn their significance, they were well known to Jesus/Yeshua and His Apostles/Disciples for the simple reason they would sing them every year for the Pesach/Passover.
The Hallel Psalms were like a script for the one offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving (Psalm 116). After Psalm 118 was sung, the meal was finished.
It is very pertinent to note that Jesus/Yeshua would have seen His own imminent fate prophetically declared in the Psalms. When He said, He had desired to eat this Passover with them He was saying in effect “My whole life I have eaten the annual Pesach Seder waiting for this specific year and now My life will fulfill the prophetic events in real time.”
The main theme of Cup 4 is: and I will take you to myself for a people and I will bring to you and you will know that I AM the lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
This represents the crossing of the Jordan into the promised land. (Here where God said He would go before them His angel… was it the pre-incarnate Messiah who went before them? In the same Way as He does for us today, as we cross our Jordan and enter into the Promised Land, where He leads and guides us until we complete our walk through this life.)
Spiritually, the fourth cup represents crossing into eternal life. As it is called the cup of Elijah which is poured but not drunk. It can only be drunk after Elijah comes heralding the return of Messiah and the beginning of the Messianic reign. (Some rabbis have taught that there are 5 cups by inserting one after the 3rd cup but before the cup of Elijah.) Traditionally the cup of Elijah announces the Messianic reign but we have not yet had the Messianic reign bringing peace-shalom, to all mankind. So we cannot yet drink the cup of Elijah.
Other pertinent facts about the 4 or is it 5 cups?
The four cups symbolize the Israelites freedom from the four exiles: The Egyptian, Babylonian, and Greek exiles, and the current exile which they hope to be rid of very soon with the coming of Moshiach. The words “cup of wine” are mentioned four times in Pharaoh’s butler ‘s dream (Genesis 40:11 -13).
Other Possible Reasons: There are 4 Cups of Wine at Passover. One view suggests that each cup of wine represents one of the matriarchs: Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah. Therefore the Cup of Elijah is the fifth cup that appears at the seder?
Other examples of the special symbolic significance of the number four in the Haggadah are the Four Questions (“Mah Nishtannah”.) Four Sons, and the four types of food at the seder meal: unleavened bread (matzah), lamb, bitter herbs, and ḥaroset.
The four cups of wine should be drunk in a reclined position, as in Roman times reclining was a sign of freedom. They did not sit up to a table on chairs as many artists have portrayed the setting.
In examining the Passover Seder, here’s some questions to ponder as we dig a little deeper– Did Yeshua/Jesus, finish the meal and how many cups did they drink?
Some possible answers…Firstly, Yeshua /Jesus vowed not to drink of ‘fruit of the vine’ until the coming of the kingdom of God, so was He speaking of the fourth cup?
(Luke 22:18). This announced the fourth cup, the cup of praise for the coming of God’s Kingdom and His return as Messiah the King (בן־דוד משיח, Mashiach ben David).
Second, after the third cup, Yeshua /Jesus and Apostles/Disciples ‘sing a hymn” (Hallel, Psalms sung glorifying God and blessing Israel. Included in these songs are The Hallel Psalms (113-118) which were usually sung both at the end of the meal (Mat. 26:30, Mark 14:26) and during the offering of the Pesach sacrifice) and then they ‘went out,’ however nothing else was drank…. In both Matthew and Marks Gospels they speak of where Yeshua/Jesus makes reference to the fourth cup, but refuses to drink it. Did they leave before the meal was finished?
In Matthew 26:36-46 we are told Yeshua/Jesus and His Apostles/Disciples make their way to the Garden of Gethsemane. Here we read that Yeshua/Jesus prays three times for the cup that He must drink.
He said: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Luke 22:42
Consider this scripture Luke’s narrative of Jesus/Yeshua’s celebration of Pesach right before His death, it becomes apparent that he understood this tradition:
And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Luke 22:7,14-20
Jesus/Yeshua begins the celebration with the cup of blessing (Luke 22:17). The next cup in this text is the third cup, the cup of redemption or blessing after the meal.
So where is the second cup, the cup of plagues? And where is the fourth cup, the cup of praise?
With His first cup, Jesus/Yeshua started the meal (Luke 22:17).
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 1 Cor. 10:16
Jesus/Yeshua spoke of the second cup, the cup of judgment, shortly after the celebration with His disciples. This is the cup He drank on the cross.
The Scriptures mention three “cups” that Jesus faced in connection with His death on the cross. He confronted the cup of God’s wrath in stark reality in the Garden of Gethsemane.
As He looked closely at its contents, He prayed: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Luke 22:42
When Jesus arose from His final period of prayer in this garden, He was committed to drinking this cup completely. This is the judgment that we deserved, the plague He took by dying for us:
The second cup that Jesus confronted was the cup of sedation, a cup that would have a numbing effect upon Him, depriving Him of clarity of mind.
Jewish tradition says that kindhearted women in Jerusalem customarily provided wine mixed with myrrh or another deadening property for condemned prisoners to drink just before they were executed.
Matthew records that as Jesus went to the cross, “They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink” (Matthew 27:34). Mark described the drink as wine mingled with myrrh (Mark 15:23). The drink offered to Jesus was a cheap Roman vinegar wine, which had a drug mixed in to dull the senses.
Is this cup, (or chalice in some translations), the fourth cup, the final cup of the Passover meal?
Between the giving of His body at the Passover/Pesach Seder as the sacrifice and declaring one of the cups as His own Blood, Yeshua/Jesus classifies His body as the New Passover, (Re-newed Covenant).
Once the meal is over, His blood will be literally poured out, and Yeshua/Jesus will be dead within the day as the sacrificial Lamb.
Did He finish the meal in the Upper Room or finish it with His death on the cross? Is this another reason for Him saying, ‘It is finished’?
The other cup in relation to Yeshua/Jesus’ death on the cross is also known as the Cup of Consummation.
However when we look at the final moments of His life on the cross, we notice the reference to “the fruit of the vine.”
Toward the end of His torturous six hours on the cross, Yeshua/Jesus called for another cup, a cup of refreshment. According to John, He said, “I am thirsty” (John 19:28).
The soldiers had a jar of sour wine available for their use. A kind hand took some of the wine, put it on a sponge, and lifted it to His lips.
Jesus “received the sour wine” (John 19:30).
This was the only personal request that Jesus made from the cross, and it was granted by some nameless person beneath the cross who heard His appeal for a sip of something to quench His thirst.
Of the second of these three cups, the one Jesus rejected, Matthew said, “They gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink” (Matthew 27:34). Mark wrote, “They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it” (Mark 15:23). The “gall” mentioned by Matthew must be a figurative term for “bitterness,” while the “myrrh” mentioned by Mark names the specific substance that produced the bitter taste. The myrrh could act as a narcotic, providing some numbness to His mind and body. When Jesus realized what He was being offered, He refused to drink it.
However, in Mark 15:23, does He drink, since the wine is filled myrrh, which would have dulled his sufferings?
Matthew 27:48 states, “a sponge…filled it with vinegar” is lifted up for Him to drink. The most interesting reference comes from John 19:28, which states that Jesus/Yeshua requests a drink and says, “I thirst.” Did He drink of the vinegar given to Him?
It would seem to indicate that He literally drank this cup while hanging on the cross:
During His last hour on the cross, Jesus asked for a drink with the words “I am thirsty.” John said that He made such a request in order to fulfill an Old Testament prophecy (John 19:28). He was no doubt referring to Psalm 69:21b ‘And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.’ The writer of this psalm was describing an awful trial that he was going through, but the Holy Spirit guided his words for a much higher purpose, using them to picture one aspect of Jesus sufferings on the cross.
For then in John 19:30, Yeshua/Jesus says, “It is finished.” When Messiah speaks these words, is He referencing the meal started at the Passover/Pesach Seder and not referring to His life or ministry? Was it there on the cross that Messiah finishes the Pesach/Passover meal, and drank the fourth cup?
Ex 6:6,7; set the pattern for the Seder, each cup representing a promise in those verses. These are referred to as the four expressions of Redemption.
1 Cup of Sanctification (Kiddush: Thanksgiving to the Lord for ‘the fruit of the vine’)
2 Cup of Wrath (Maggid: After reciting the ten plagues; wine is also sprinkled on the table)
3 Cup of Blessing (Birkat Hamazon: After The main meal is consumed; the cup that over-flows)
4 Cup of Praise (Hillel: After the reciting of the last Hallel hymns, the end of the Passover)
The Scriptures likens the cup to our life, with all the sorrows and joys we experience and guides us to “drink to the bottom,” fulfilling the mission God has called us to. The cup of rejection and opposition, betrayal and regret. Like vinegar and gall, pungent and tart, making you wince and recoil. But not only that – for the cup is deceptively deep – there are hopes and joys in there, too.
Matt 20:22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” Berean Study Bible “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” the brothers answered. Berean Literal Bible And Jesus answering, said, “You do not know what you ask for.
‘You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?’
If He were to ask us ‘Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?’ what would be our answer?
One final mysterious question for thought…. Luke 22:17-19 states And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you verse 20.
17 And having taken a cup, having given thanks, he said, `Take this and divide to yourselves, 18 for I say to you that I may not drink of the produce of the vine till the reign of God may come.’ 19 And having taken bread, having given thanks, he brake and gave to them, saying, `This is my body, that for you is being given, this do ye — to remembrance of me.’
Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
17 And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He said, Take this and divideand distribute it among yourselves; 18 For I say to you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine at all until the kingdom of God comes. Amp.
Does this indicate that He took just one of the 4 cups (which one of the cups?) and then told them to divide His portion from His cup!
Very significant… and how did one small cup divide between 12 other men’s cups? Unless, like the loaves and fishes, as they began to divide and distribute it, the wine (symbolic of His poured out Blood,) multiplied, as He had already ‘given thanks‘, just as He had for the feeding of the multitude.
Was there a miracle implied by this verse? That His cup would yield a miraculously never ending supply in His atoning blood, for all that would celebrate Passover with Him?… Just a thought!
My cup is poured out for you is My blood. Jesus/Yeshua’s blood/wine/water mix, was poured out into 12 cups, v.17; if there had been no cups it could not have been poured out. The water and the blood, it is also significant of that which was releasedfrom His body, by the soldiers spear piercing His side.
The Lamb died wearing a crown…
it ended in VICTORY and a perfect place to sing the Hallel-ujah!
Yeshua/Jesus, was the Lamb of God, fit for the Passover/Pesach sacrifice, because John, as a son of Zechariah the High Priest, (Luke 1:3), was legally allowed to declare lambs pure for a Pesach sacrifice.
‘Taking Communion’ came out of this celebration of Passover remembrance and when we take the bread and wine, remember these 4 cups combined into the cup we drink and all the Lord has done for us.
Please don’t leave this page until you have the assurance that you are sealed to the day of redemption by the Blood of Messiah Jesus/Yeshua. Not sure ..you can be… Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him. It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion. You are very precious in His sight. SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW… Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past. I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.
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