Passover’s Third Cup of the Covenant

The Third Cup of the New Covenant

“And when He had taken a cup and offered the bracha, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I tell you that I will never drink of the fruit of the vine from now on, until the kingdom of God comes. And when He had taken matzah and offered the bracha, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you. Do this in memory of Me.” In the same way, He took the cup after the meal, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.” Luke 22: 17-20 TLV

We have been on a journey through the cups of Passover.  Luke, having investigated thoroughly Yeshua’s Passover meal, reveals two of the cups. A cup of sanctification, which began the meal and the cup after the meal, symbolic of the New Covenant.

Since the second century, Jewish communities have recounted the story of Passover’s redemption with four generous cups. How they made their way into Passover, alongside the sacrificed lamb, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread, is a mystery. However, the earliest historical source for multiple cups at the Passover meal are Jewish Gospels of Yeshua!

For a few moments we want to focus on that third cup, the cup after the meal.  That cup that has become central to the Jewish Passover Seder is the very cup that Yeshua held out to His Jewish disciples, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the removal of sins.” Matthew 26: 27-28 TLV

This cup buried within the liturgy of Israel is brought once a year, and then carefully tucked away.  To fully grasp the power of this cup we need to see it in the context of that Passover night in Jerusalem, when Yeshua’s hands extended its message to the house of Israel. To do that, I need to tell you how another hidden cup within ancient Israel, brought reconciliation.

Brought Back by the Cup

Scripture tells us how that a cup was used to reconcile Israel’s twelve sons. Like Yeshua, one of Jacob’s sons was despised, rejected, and sold to the nations for silver. Reuben, the oldest brother was wracked with guilt. Judah was estranged from the family. And Benjamin, the youngest, lived in the shadow of the one he thought was dead, but lived.

How would Joseph bring them back?  When the famine came, the brothers went down to Egypt. Not recognizing this was their brother, Joseph placed his own personal cup within Benjamin’s grain satchel.  He then sent his servant to arrest the brothers, search for and ultimately have them answer to Joseph for the cup. In this story I see many parallels to Yeshua.

Passover’s third cup of reconciliation has gone unnoticed in the sack of Israel’s liturgy for almost two-thousand years, but it is the cup of salvation and the covenant!  For centuries, Israel has sung over this cup at the Seder table the Psalmists joyous words, “I will lift up the cup of salvation, and call on the Name of Adonai.” Psalm 116: 13 TLV Sadly, many do not know that this is the very cup that speaks of Yeshua, the Savior of Israel!

Many Christians skip the Pascha (suffering) of Pesach (Passover) on the way to the resurrection celebration.  They too have often not recognized Passover’s cup of salvation in their Jewish friends’ hands.  It was Joseph’s servant, a Gentile, who revealed Joseph’s cup to his brothers. But Joseph didn’t hide the cup to simply bring his brothers into his presence; he brought them to his banqueting table!

Brought to His Banqueting Table

The Lord also invites believers to come to His banqueting table with the offering of His cup of the Covenant.

“In the same way, He also took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in memory of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” I Corinthians 11: 25-26 TLV

Archeologist have found ancient churches throughout the Holy Land.  Often within the strata of remains, ancient stone tables for the Lord’s Supper are found.  While it is impossible to separate the Communion from Passover, these ancient tables testify that one does not need to wait until Passover to come to the Messiah.  Messiah bids the hungry and thirsty even now.

Beyond I Corinthians 11: 23-34, what blessings might a Jewish believer in the first centuries have spoken over the cup of the covenant?  The Didache, an ancient book of discipleship, written by Jewish believers in the late First Century, preserves just such an ancient blessing.

 

 

 

First, as regards the cup:

We give Thee thanks, O our Father, for the holy vine of Your son David, which Thou made known unto us through Your Son Jesus;

Yours is the glory for ever and ever.

 

Then as regards the broken bread:

We give Thee thanks, O our Father, for the life and knowledge which Thou didst make known unto us through Thy Son Jesus;

Thine is the glory for ever and ever.[1]

This beautiful blessing over the wine connected the fruit of the vine from which they were drinking, to the holy vine of David and Messiah.  As David was called God’s son, Yeshua, is the Son of God.  Through this cup of thanksgiving, we become partakers of the vine. Only by remaining in Him, can we bear fruit.

Conclusion

Yeshua’s cup of the New Covenant is our invitation to reconciliation, as invited guests to the meal of Messiah. Joseph spared nothing for his meal of reconciliation.

“…Benjamin’s portion was five times larger than any of their portions. Yet they drank and made merry with him.” Genesis 43: 34 TLV

In Passover’s four cups we see a message of overflowing abundance and generosity.  No one should ever fear that the blood of Messiah is insufficient to atone for their sin. In abundance the “cup of salvation” has been poured.   In abundance the broken bread is multiplied. As it is said,

Ho, everyone who thirsts,
come to the water,
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost!

Isaiah 55: 1 TLV

May you know that overflowing cup of the new Covenant, and may the Lord open the door for you to reveal that message to the hungry and thirsty today.

Our upcoming final teaching in this series we will look at the fourth cup of Messiah’s coming again.

[1] Didache, 9:2-7 Adapted from J.B. Lightfoot’s translation