Christian seder suppers are growing in popularity–and with good reason. Celebrating Passover and the fulfillment of ancient promises in Jesus Christ is an occasion packed with meaning. How important it is to celebrate both the deliverance from physical bondage of our spiritual forefathers and our greater deliverance from sin and death through the sacrifice of Jesus.
To get a good grasp of why we participate in Christian seders, I wrote this.
And once you’ve decided to go for it, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got everything you need. Here is the master checklist for a Christian seder.
Here’s What Everyone Will Need
Haggadahs: These are the liturgies used throughout the celebration. They contain the readings and songs for the leaders and the participants, and will often indicate specific actions and the meanings of those actions.
Plate with…
Matzoh: Here’s that famous unleavened bread! The matzoh reminds us of the fact that the Isrealites left Egypt in such a hurry, they couldn’t even wait for their bread to rise.
Charoset: It’s a sweet, savory dish made from apples, walnuts, and wine or juice. You’ll need it for the Hillel sandwich to symbolize the sweet joy we have in the Lord.
Horseradish: Known as the maror, the horesradish is the “bitter herb” that symbolized the bitterness of the Hebrews’ slavery in Egypt. On the Hillel sandwich, it mixes with the sweetness of the charoset.
Parsley: Also called the karpas, parsley (or another similar vegetable) will be dipped in salt water. It’s a picture of springtime, or new life and renewal from the Lord. It is dipped into the salt water to emphasize again the suffering and the tears that fell among those in bondage in Egypt.
Salt Water: The salt water, in which the parsley is dipped, represents the tears the Hebrews cried during their slavery. Life is sometimes hard, and the struggle for freedom often begins in suffering.
Candles and Matches: Candles are a simple way to “kindle the festival lights.” They also symbolize the light that God brings into both pain and deliverance.
Grape Juice and Cups: Over the course of the meal, everyone will drink four cups (maybe just sips!)–the cups of sanctification, deliverance, redemption, and promise.
Here’s What the Head Table Will Need
Afikomen: The afikomen is just half a piece of matzoh, which one of the leaders will break off during the early stages of the seder and then hide it in the napkin–often for children to find for a reward.
Cloth Napkin: You’ll want to bring a napkin in which to wrap the afikomen.
Prizes: Come with prizes–a ransom–for the children who find the afikomen.
Lamb Bone: The lamb bone symbolizes the lamb that was slain so its blood could be placed on the doorposts of the Hebrews, so the Angel of Death “passed over” their houses. For Christians, Jesus himself is our lamb who sacrificed himself for our salvation.
Boiled Egg: An egg is both a symbol of mourning (mourning because sacrifices are no longer offered and the Temple no longer stands) and a symbol of God’s grace and our life in Him, which, like an egg, has no beginning or ending.
Leavened Bread and Basket: Remember to bring leavened bread so that, at the start of the seder, it can be collected in a basket and symbolically removed from the room. This action again recalls the fact that the Hebrews had to flee Egypt so quickly, they couldn’t even let their bread rise.
Wet Towels: Early in the seder, everyone will wash their hands with a wet towel, drawing attention to the sacredness of the celebration and the purity called for among God’s people.
Extra Chair: In a Jewish seder, Elijah is awaited, as he is expected to come to announce the coming of the messiah after him. As Christians, we know Elijah has already come, just as the messiah has come. The empty chair represents the hope of Elijah.
In addition to all this, you’ll also need a meal (kosher is traditional) and everything that goes with it: dishes, silverware, serving materials. Really though, the main thing you need in the seder is a perspective of respect and celebration, and an open heart and mind.
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