I cannot express how awesome it is to read the Scriptures and have your eyes open to what God wants you to do. Ever since last Fall, we have been doing an in-depth study into Biblical Holidays and Festivals and it has been a wonderful experience. It is especially neat to me because since we started this I have been studying the Old Testament and being able to partake in the same festivals and holidays that God’s people did is an experience that I am very glad to do!
We Celebrated Hanukkah back in December and we have also been observing Sabbath and this week we are celebrating Passover. (click the pictures for bigger views)
Yesterday on Nissan 14 of the Jewish calendar, Passover or Pesach started at 6:45pm. There was much preparation that we did for our Passover Seder and it was a lot of work, but the end reward which was the Seder dinner was just amazing to me!
Caleb and I waiting to begin the Pesach service.
Dad lead the “service” of our Seder by reading out of the Haggadah. The Haggadah is the text that sets out the order of the Pesach Seder. Haggadah, meaning “telling,” is a fulfillment of the scriptural commandment to each Jew to “tell your son” about the Jewish liberation from slavery in Egypt, as described in the book of Exodus in the Torah.
I loved looking at all the children just sitting at the table watching and listening to Dad explain what Passover was and why it is important to observe it.
I got to sit by the Dude and we shared the Haggadah and read it together.
The first thing we did for Pesach was light the candles and display the Seder Plate.
Our Seder dinner was: roasted eggs, bitter herbs (horseradish root), Matzah, Charoset, parsley, and salt water.
Then we drink from one of the Four Cups and each one has a blessing. The cups represent four expressions of redemption:
Cup 1 is the Cup of Sancification
Cup 2 is the Cup of Judgement
Cup 3 is the Cup of Redemption
Cup 4 is the Cup of the Kingdom
Dad washed his hands that represents Aaron washing his hands and feet before coming to the altar and also Jesus washing the disciples feet.
After Dad washed, we partook of the Karpas which is the eating of parsley dipped in salt water. The Karpas symbolizes the lowly origin of the people and the tears shed because of slavery.
Next is the Matzah. Matzah is unleavened bread because the Hebrews didn’t have time to wait for the bread to rise as they were leaving Egypt. Leavening is a symbol of sin and the unleavened bread is a symbol of having no sin. It is also a portrait of our Savior, Yeshua. There are Three Matzahs. They each represent Adoniah, Yeshua and the Holy Ghost.
Dad then hid the Afikoman which is Matzah wrapped in linen and hidden like Yeshua was when He was buried.
When the Afikoman was hid, the Littles then asked the Four Questions:
1. Why do we eat only unleavened bread on this night when all other nights we eat either leavened bread or Matzah?
2. Why do we eat only bitter herbs on this night when all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables?
3. Why do we dip our vegetables twice on this night when we do not dip our vegetables even once all other nights?
4. Why do we eat our meals reclining or leaning on this night, when on all other nights we eat our meals sitting?
We then read the Pesach story of Moses and the deliverance of the Hebrews. We also took a look at how Yeshua is our Pesach Lamb and the similarities between Him and the Lamb that the Hebrews used on Pesach.
Then we drank from the Second Cup and said the blessing for this cup. Now we partook of the Matzah and the Bitter Herbs which was horseradish root. The Bitter Herbs represent the bitterness of slavery and also of our sins. I would not recommend eating a big bite of the horseradish, your ears and toes will be on fire if you do… take my advice from experience! 
When we finished the Matzah and Bitter Herbs, we then ate the Charoset. The Charoset represents the mortar used by the Israelites in Egypt and how the sweetness of Yeshua can overcome the bitterness of our sin.
Now we ate a wonderful dinner of steak, mashed potatoes, salad and corn and when we were finished the children looked for the Afikoman.
Next, we all sat down at the table and drank the Third Cup.
After we drank it, we all sang Amazing Grace together instead of Dayenu, because we don’t know that song… yet! Next year, we will sing it tho.
When Amazing Grace was over, we read about the Fourth Cup. This cup is not drunk, because when Yeshua partook in His last Pesach, the Fourth Cup was left over when Yeshua went to the Garden of Gethsemane. This Fourth Cup reminds us that Yeshua didn’t drink this cup as He was on the cross dying. We wait to drink this cup til we are with our Savior in Heaven.
To close our Pesach Seder service, you say: ” Lehshahna Hahbahah Berushalawyim” which says, ” Next Year in Jerusalem“.
As we finished our Pesach service, I was about in tears realizing the importance of celebrating Pesach because our Savior, Yeshua is just beyond words! I am so thankful for His sacrifice and love for us to give Himself and become our sin, so we can be redeemed!
THANK YOU YESHUA for your life, death, sacrifice and resurrection, so that one day I can spend eternity with you!
No, we aren’t Jewish, but we have been studying the Bible and we are commanded to observe the festivals and holidays of the Bible. Yeshua did not abstain from them and He did not “free” us from observing them.
Matthew 5:17-20
Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete.
Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah — not until everything that must happen has happened.
So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P’rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
If Yeshua celebrated the holidays and festivals, why don’t we? Search the Scriptures and be open to what God wants to show you! 
Shalom to you!
©AmandaDixon2009
Related Articles
Tags: Aaron the Priest, Afikoman, altar, Amazing Grace, Bible, Biblical Holidays, bitter herbs, bondage, Caleb, Charoset, Cup of Judgement, Cup of Redemption, Cup of Sancification, Cup of the Kingdom, Dad, Dayenu, Deliverance, Egypt, Exodus, festivals, God, Haggadah, Hanukkah, Hebrews, hidden in linen, holidays, horseradish, Hymn, Israelites, Jesus, Jew, Jewish, Karpas, Matt Dixon, Matthew 5:17-20, Matzah, Messiah, Moses, Nissan, Old Testament, parsley, Passover, Passover Seder dinner, Pesach, roasted eggs, root, Sabbath, salt water, Savior, Scriptures, Seder, Seder Plate, slavery, song, The Dude, The Four Cups, The Four Questions, Torah, unleavened bread, washing hands, Why do we dip our vegetables twice on this night when we do not dip our vegetables even once all other nights?, Why do we eat only bitter herbs on this night when all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables?, Why do we eat only unleavened bread on this night when all other nights we eat either leavened bread or Matzah?, Why do we eat our meals reclining or leaning on this night, word, Yeshua
April 9th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
That was very interesting. We do not celebrate this night. But next year I will try to talk my Mom to do it. Thank you, for sharing this with us.
Blessings,
Miss Alli
Miss Allis last article is Set-Apart Femininity Has Come!
[Reply]
April 9th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
How wonderful!
You said that the Afikoman is wrapped and hidden. But, what is it?
What is Charoset?
Anas last article is Stamped Cross Stitch Kit – Home and Hearts
[Reply]
April 9th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
The Afikoman is half of one of the Three Matzahs. The Three Matzahs represent Adoniah, Yeshua and the Holy Ghost.
Charoset is apples, nuts, honey, cinnamon and wine.
[Reply]
April 9th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Thank you, Amanda, for summing that all up and sharing it. It was a wonderful time of preparation, learning and worship as we read His story and realized that this was God’s plan from way back when the Israelites were in bondage to Egypt.
Jesus – Yeshua was going to be their Deliverer from the bondage of sin as Moses was the deliverer from the bondage to the Egyptians.
What a beautiful testimony for our children to learn!! Our lives have definitely been enriched. I went to bed knowing that on this night 2000y ago, our Saviour was pressing God in the Garden, seeking His will, then afterward being beaten, questioned and kept up all night, only to be crucified today.
I woke up with the thoughts of his sacrifice for our sins.
What a blessing. What a true blessing of the Scriptures.
The Law was truly meant to keep us safe and teach us about God (as our laws are meant to keep us safe also). Our hope does not rest in the Law, but in Jesus, but, through the Law – Torah, we realize our sinfulness and God’s provisions and Love for us.
Paul said this in the NT. That without the Torah, he would not have known his sin.
Keep learning!
Love you!
Mom
[Reply]
April 9th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Thanks Amanda! That’s so neat how the Trinity is represented. I didn’t know that. I think I learn something new from the Dixons everyday.
Anas last article is Stamped Cross Stitch Kit – Home and Hearts
[Reply]
April 9th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
How sweetly wonderful!! I’m so excited that ya’ll did the Passover…wish I could meet ya’lls someday. ^_^
HUGS!!
Miss Torias last article is Bundled in Prayer
[Reply]
April 9th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Wonderful post about your Seder! We wanted to start that this year (as I had done it before marriage) but we moved last week and everything was just too rushed. I loved seeing the pictures of what you did and how special with the items from your great Grandmother’s. Thank you for sharing.
[Reply]
April 9th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
How very interesting!! Thanks for taking the time to explain all of that!! We were just talking about it at our dinner table to night and your post cleared up some things I was wondering about!!
Love and hugs,
Ellie
Miss Ellies last article is Time to say Goodbye!
[Reply]
April 9th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
How neat! I remember celebrating Passover several years ago–it would be neat to do it again : )
Love,
Jessica
[Reply]
April 9th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
I really enjoyed this! Thanks for posting it.
Roses last article is Great Quotes
[Reply]
April 10th, 2009 at 2:14 am
Hi Amanda, isn’t this supposed tob e celebrated on Resurrection Day? –
I loved reading your post and seeing your photos of your meal and time together for the passover meal
Hugs
Page
Pages last article is Saturdays Musings
[Reply]
April 10th, 2009 at 3:16 am
Hi Amanda, ignore my comment above about passover being on a Sunday – silly me I wasnt thinking – too early in the morning I guess :lol
Pages last article is Saturdays Musings
[Reply]
April 10th, 2009 at 7:44 am
How cool
My mom went to one a year ago 
[Reply]
April 10th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
I wish we had studied this in time to do it this year, but we are going to begin studying the Biblical holidays and observing them as well. Thanks for sharing this, I enjoyed it!
[Reply]
April 11th, 2009 at 1:22 am
Yes it was a lovely time!
Sabbath actually starts at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday.
Here is a good link for info on Shabbat: http://biblicalholidays.com/sabbath.htm
[Reply]
April 11th, 2009 at 7:24 am
This is our first year celebrating Passover. We have a home church and meet on Saturday, so we decided to do it today (Saturday). Next year, I think we’ll be better prepared and will actually do this on Nisan 14th.
[Reply]
April 11th, 2009 at 10:56 am
[...] Related Articles and sites: Timeline of Passover Week during Jesus’ time Yeshua Has Risen! Torah Portions Biblical Holidays Celebrating Pesach: An Old Feast and New Importance [...]
April 13th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Amanda, thank for your twitter link to this page. I’ll add your link to our family Passover story at http://infertilitymom.blogspot.com/2009/04/our-family-passover.html in just a few minutes.
Jenni (homeschool graduate and homeschooling Mommy)
Jenni Saake, author, Hannah’s Hopes last article is Our Family Passover
[Reply]
May 16th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!
I can only figure out how powerful and heart-warming was that Pesach! Thanks for describing it and for the photos.
This post was truly a great encouragement for me in my journey to reestablish God’s ancient paths (including God-ordained holy feasts (Leviticus 23)) in the modern culture I live in.
I thank and praise Adonai for all your family, especially your dad. It’s wonderful to see how God has been releasing His blessings to you. Wow!
You are right! Yeshua didn’t abolish the Laws, but rather He accomplished them all in a deeper level.
Adonai mevarech ve shomer otach!
(Adonai bless you and protect you!)
In Yeshua’s name,
Leandro
P.S.: thanks for commenting on my blog
Leandros last article is O propósito de se vestir
[Reply]
June 18th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
[...] Related Articles and sites: Timeline of Passover Week during Jesus’ time Yeshua Has Risen! Torah Portions Biblical Holidays Celebrating Pesach: An Old Feast and New Importance [...]
December 7th, 2009 at 12:02 am
[...] soon for that.) I can practically make anything to eat from scratch – bread, dinner, a large holy day meal, treats and just regular ‘ready-made’ stuff you would get in a box from the store. [...]