Will You Marry Me…?
Mark 14: 12-26
The Passover Meal (Seder)
-Passover is the oldest Jewish holiday
-Passover background is found in Exodus 12, 13, and 14
-The purpose of the Passover Seder is to draw the story of the Exodus out of the past and into the present so that each person will feel as though they had come up out of the land of bondage himself/herself.
-There was only one Passover—only one occasion when the blood was applied to the door posts of believing homes—only once that the Lord went through Egypt to smite the firstborn where the blood was not. Exodus 12:14 states that every succeeding Passover was to be a memorial of that first Passover.
-The Passover Seder has a theme of redemption or deliverance.
-“Seder” is the Hebrew word for order...it is an ordered service.
Key elements of the “Seder” meal…
The host, at 4 crucial points, would take a cup...raise it (instructing the others {guests} to do the same...gives thanks...all drink...then the host very methodically explains a little about this particular stage of the meal and what each element involved represents (i.e.—parsley, hand washing, wine, salt water, etc.)...asks 4 questions (to assist all in commemorating and understanding the celebration...then the story of the “Passover” is shared.
*Cup #1—THE CUP OF SANCTIFICATION
-This cup represents the first of four “I wills” in Ex. 6:6-7...“I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians”
*Cup #2—THE CUP OF REJOICING
-This cup represents the second of four “I wills” in Ex. 6:6-7...“I will rid you out of their bondage”
*Cup #3—THE CUP OF REDEMPTION (or Grace)
-This cup represents the third of four “I wills” in Ex. 6:6-7...“I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.”
*Cup #4—THE CUP OF THANKSGIVING
-This cup represents the fourth of four “I wills” in Ex. 6:6-7...“I will take you as my own people”
-1st century
-young Jewish man reached marrying age
-his family selected wife
-2 fathers would meet and negotiate a “bride price” (cost of replacing a daughter—usually very high)
-young man’s father...pour wine...hand it to his son
-son turns to young woman...lift cup—hold it out to her…
-saying—“This cup is a new covenant in my blood, which I offer to you.”—“I love you and I give you my life...will you marry me?”
-the young woman’s choice…
-take cup and return it saying “no”
-take cup and drink—“I accept your offer, and I give you my life and my love in response”
-The Last Supper…
-Jesus and His disciples are celebrating the Passover
-disciples knew the liturgy well
-on the 3rd cup of wine...Jesus
-lifted cup
-gave thanks
-offered it to them (somewhere in here he said these words…“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many…”
-all drank
I Cor. 11:27-29—“Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.”
