“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

Byzantine Era Communion Table found in Israel

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

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“When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.” Acts 12:3-5 NIV

Was Peter’s nighttime rescue from prison during Passover a coincidence or a pattern of Passover miracles woven through the Bible?  Passover remembers the midnight deliverance and exodus of Israel from Egypt.  Since the Second Century, it has been a tradition to ask on Passover, “Why is this night different from all other nights?”   Like Peter, you may be facing one of your darkest nights, but be encouraged, Passover reminds us that God shows up in the midnight hour.  For a moment we want to examine the freedom, the watching, and the atoning work of Passover night.

I. The Night of our Freedom

“So Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt.…” Exodus 11:4 ESV

Peter was imprisoned in the night he should have reclined in freedom. Passover’s message speaks powerfully to every generation. The same One who lead Israel out of Egypt, still leads His people through the dark night to safety.  Passover is known today as “Z’man Cheruteinu” (the Time of Our Freedom / Deliverance). Israel’s deliverance came in the “Midnight Hour” when darkness had reached its max. Their rescue reverberates through the ages, finding fulfillment again and again.  As one Sage of Israel said, “In Nisan (Passover’s month) we were redeemed, in Nisan we will be redeemed again!”

At Passover Israel came out of Egypt. (Exodus 12) At Passover Joshua crossed the Jordan meeting the Captain of the Armies of the LORD.  (Joshua 5:10-15) Tradition says it was Passover when Gideon was commissioned by the Angel of the Lord.[1] And at Passover, Mordechai was set to be crucified on the tree, but the tables were turned – in that night, the king could not sleep![2]  (Esther 5, 6)

But the greatest Passover deliverance came in Jerusalem two-thousand years ago, as Yeshua revealed the New Covenant! Perhaps that is the reason Peter in his prison cell could sleep without fear.  Yeshua, the Messiah, won His greatest deliverance for all people on Passover night. Peter’s heart was at ease knowing God was in control.

Just as Israel’s captivity was broken in that night, so Peter’s chains fell.  As Israel followed the Angel of the Lord within the pillar of fire beyond the gates of Egypt, so Peter followed as the angel of God passed four squads of soldiers to the gates of the city. And just as Israel witnessed the Red Sea part on its own, so Peter saw the locked iron gate open of its own accord setting him free. But there is another reason this night is not like other nights. Scripture calls it a “Night of Watching”.

II. The Night of our Watching

“It was a night of watching by the Lord, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.” Exodus 12:42 ESV

Passover is called a “night of watching, (leil shimurim) meaning to keep. guard, and protect.  In Hebrew, it is also somewhat mysterious, as the word for “watching(s)” is written in plural form to match the plural “generation(s)”.  In other words, this is a night for all generations to come to watch.  Yeshua said,“I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” Luke 22: 15 ESV The weight of watching over that night felt its greatest measure when Yeshua took His disciples to watch with Him on that night. (Matt. 26:41) He continued watching and praying until his sweat became as drops of blood. (Luke 22: 44)

The Night of Watching Continued

On the night Peter was arrested, many of the women disciples also watched in prayer for his release.  According to several Church historians, for hundred years after Yeshua’s death and resurrection, the Churches of Asia Minor, of whom John was the Apostle, continued to keep the 14^th of Nisan, the date of Passover, anticipating the “Parousia”, the Lord’s appearing. Jerome, the 4^th Century Church Father tells us they fasted until after midnight, listening for the cry, “Behold the bridegroom comes!”[3] (Mat. 25:6) Only after midnight, had He not come on that Passover, would they break the fast to eat the Passover meal.  Finally, this night is not like all other nights for it is the Lord’s Passover.

III. The Night of our Passover

“For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.” Exodus 12: 23 ESV

The word Passover is as mysterious as the plural word for watching. Often translated as skipping or passing-over, Pesach also means to cover. Sometimes it is used as a noun to refer to the lamb itself.

The message of Passover is that we need a covering.  Not only did the lamb’s blood cover the lintel, the LORD stood over Israel’s bloodstained doors covering their firstborn, not allowing the destroying angel to enter and strike!

I was once asked by a Rabbi, “Why do Christians speak of Yeshua’s death at Passover as an atonement for sin when Yom Kippur is the “Day of Atonement”, NOT Passover? I reminded him that though the Hebrew word Pesach  means to pass-over something, it also means to shield and cover something. That is the very picture the book of Exodus describes. Adonai covered the homes where He saw the blood, to prevent the destroying angel from entering.  Isaiah similarly used this Hebrew verb to describe Adonai’s protective covering over Jerusalem! As one ancient Rabbi connected Passover to covering by saying, “Establish this month for me and you, that when I see the blood of the Pesach (lamb), I am atoning over you.” Exodus Rabbah 15:2 (Author’s Translation)

Conclusion

Yeshua’s blood is our atonement for sin. Nisan is our month of redemption. Passover is our time of freedom, and the midnight hour is our time to watch.  I believe we are truly in the last days. Like those first generations of Jewish followers of Yeshua who prayed through much of Passover night in anticipation of His coming, we need to be on alert.

The Passover parallels are clear to see.  One day, at the midnight hour, the cry will go forth, “the Bridegroom is coming”.  One like Moses, the Messiah raised from among His brothers, will come on the clouds of heaven to take His people through the waters above the waters.  There, on the other side, we will sing the Song of Moses and of the Lamb. Even so Come Lord.

Maran Ata!

[1] Rabbi Morris Silverman, The Passover Haggadah, “You shall say: This is the offering of Passover” Pg. 60-61. 1975.

[2] “In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur….” Esther 3:7 ESV “Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written.…” Esther 3:12.   These Nisan events followed in quick succession. Mordecai mourning was quickly told to Esther setting in motion the three days of fasting – all during the Passover! Eleven months later, in the month of Adar, the Jewish people defended themselves against the evil decree, establishing the Feast of Purim.

[3] Jerome and Thomas P. Scheck, St. Jerome: Commentary on Matthew (Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 2008), 283.

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