SEDER—UP !

For centuries, Jewish families have practiced the Passover Seder. The Passover Seder celebrates God’s faithfulness in freeing the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt. God had commanded His people to retell the story of God’s salvation and deliverance from Egypt. 
Of course, we understand that God's ultimate freedom from slavery to sin and our beautiful salvation was completely accomplished by Christ's atoning work on the cross. 

The boys opted for the "shirtless" Seder. 

“You shall tell your child on that day, saying, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt’” (Exodus 13:8). If you remember the story of the Exodus, Moses had been told by God to go to Pharaoh and tell him to “Let My people go.” But Pharaoh continued to refuse. Eventually, God sent ten different plagues ending with the death of the first-born in all the homes in Egypt that did not have blood covering their door. This story of salvation, where God spared those covered with blood became known as the Passover. 

After Pharaoh and all of Egypt woke to find their first-born dead—as a result of their failure to listen to God—Pharaoh told Moses to take the Israelites and leave. Moses and Israel fled quickly. Pharaoh immediately changed his mind and wanted the Israelites to remain as slaves to Egypt. So Pharaoh’s army pursued them. 

Israel saw God’s salvation and faithfulness again as Israel was pinned up against the Red Sea. God parted the Red Sea and allowed Israel to through on dry land. As Egypt’s army pursued them between the divided sea, after Israel’s last families passed in to safe territory, the waters came crashing down on the army. God had provided salvation again for His people. 

This OT story of God’s salvation points to God’s ultimate salvation from slavery and sin that was brought about by the finished work of Christ on the cross.

Last night our family participated in a Seder with a meal together. You can download or print off this special Easter Faith Talk outline from our church website by clicking here. It's listed as a tab right above the title of the video as "Holy Week Faith Talk." 

Here’s how ours went down:

( And to encourage everyone—our boys were out of control tonight—we got started very late—and this was something we were trying for the first time. Some elements went well even with very playful attitudes. )

We started by having them wash their hands. 

The Scriptures listed on the left side of the page go right along with the Seder plan. You can simply read the section on the right and then go to the matching Scripture on the left edge of the page. 

We didn’t have lamb—but went with pork tenderloin (Neo-Kosher). We simply enjoyed this aspect. God gives us things to simply enjoy. We could have lied to them and told them it was a “sacrificial lamb,” but we passed on the deceitful route for our first Seder. 

We used a simple green vegetable—the Hebrews would call it “green beans,” (pronounced grrieeen beans). They represent spring and new life. 

We had salt water in a glass to symbolize and talk about the slaves’ tears and what that was like for them to live in while in Egypt. Surprisingly, the tears discussion kind of captured their attention. 

We explained more about slavery and how unjust it was because people are made in God’s image. We also made a quick connection to slavery to sin and the type of slavery they experienced in Egypt and how God had promised a future land without slavery. 

I thought we had horseradish at home—but didn’t. We were going to use that as the “bitter herbs” to talk about the bitterness of living in slavery. Since we didn’t have a true bitter herb, we improvised and used some almonds covered with a bitter chocolate covering. It worked perfect. We told them to put their tongue to it (it was very bitter if you barely tasted it). Then we all put it in our mouth and kept it there without chewing it up. It remained bitter for about half a minute. Then when we bit into it—it became sweet as you broke through the chocolate. We used that to show how God takes bitter, painful things in life (slavery, sin, the cross for Jesus), and brings something great and beautiful and redeeming. 

We explained God’s salvation for Israel in the Passover as well as His salvation at parting the Red Sea. We then had some wafers/crackers with sea salt on them to talk about the hasty leaving of Israel once the ten plagues had been unleashed on Egypt. 

We also had red juice to celebrate God’s salvation at four different points in our story. 

(Remember, the key is not exactness in details of food elements—but a focus on being thankful to God in His faithfulness in redemptive history leading up to the ultimate salvation in Christ’s death and resurrection.)

We also read a “blessing” over the boys from Ps. 121:5-8 and prayed. We got this from the small booklet A Father’s Guid to Blessing His Children, by David Michael and Children Desiring God. 

We closed by doing the “Lentil Lights” (I think thats what its called) where you turn out the lights and light seven candles starting on Good Friday. The house is completely dark except for the light from the seven candles. This really grabs the boys attention. We’ve done this one for the last few years and every year I’m amazed at how focused and serious the boys get as we talk about the week leading up to Jesus’ death on that next Friday. Each night you blow out one candle…six remaining, then five, then four, then three, then two, then one. And finally you blow out the last candle on the Friday respectively close to Easter. It’s complete darkness. 

The darkness reminds us how dark this world truly would be if we were left in our sins and if there was no Jesus and no resurrection. The darkness reveals how dark sin really is and how it separates us from God in a way we don’t usually like to look at. Then Saturday night you leave the candles still out. Then Sunday morning, you wake them with all seven candles lit and burning brightly again (or one large candle). He is risen! The true light of the world who reflects His glory throughout the world! His work on the cross sufficient and successful!

Our boys have loved this every year. We let a boy blow out a candle each night. 

Now remember, this started out with a rough crowd! The boys were exceptionally loud, bouncy, and laughing at everything they were saying. They really became focused as we started in on each element of the Seder so I would strongly suggest for others to do this with their family. It can really build up to the beauty of what Christ accomplished on the cross and through His resurrection. 

May your week be consumed with thoughts on this captivating Christ, His cross, and His resurrection!

Sankie P. Lynch

www.nbchurch.info

www.nbfamilies.info

sankie@nbchurch.info