A PASSOVER SEDER

Last night, we attended a Messianic Jewish Passover Seder. The Passover is the feast God instituted in the Old Testament to celebrate the freeing of the Israelites from Egypt's bondage. It's also a profound reminder of our redemption by Jesus--Messiah Yeshua.



Pictured above are some of the elements of Seder we ate (an elaborate "real" meal came later)--1) maror (bitter herbs), a horseradish connoction in the first container reminding us of how bitter life is without redemption; 2) salt water represents the tears the Israelites shed while in slavery; we dipped karpas(parsley) into it which is reminiscent of the hysop brush with which the Israelites applied the blood of the Passover lamb to their doorposts and which represents life and vitality; 3) haroset (nut and apple mixture) which we mixed with the bitter maror and placed on the matzah (unleavened bread), reminding us that even the most bitter of circumstances are sweetened by the hope we have in God.

I've decorated many platters of finger foods with parsley as I've prepared for parties or entertaining, but I've never eaten it. As I chewed, it was bitter but became almost sweet as I swallowed it.

The entire ceremony was very meaningful as we participated in each part. And having our daughter Jennifer with us, who is from Puerto Rico, made it all the more special. One part was called dayeinu which means, "It would have been enough." The leader, John Wilbur, said, "How thankful must we be to God, the All Knowing, All Loving, for all the good He has done for us. For each blessing we give thanks! If God had only delivered us from Egypt, it would have been enough for us. That is, it would have been sufficient. Had he brought us out from Egypt and not executed judgment against them, dayeinu (it would have been enough)."

The concept is, God is so good, He does extra things for us!

I suppose you could apply dayeinu to marriage. What are some extra things He's done for you in your marriage? It can be simple things, such as your spouse making your coffee in the mornings. It can be complex. The point is, be thankful for all God's done for you.



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Now, since the grands are visiting, you didn't think I wouldn't post a pic of them, did you?