"Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed."
- Isaiah 53:4,5
Easter and Holy Week is one of my favorite times of the year. We really try (although not always as successfully as we'd like in the busyness of life) to take time to build family traditions and focus on these amazing events throughout the week (really throughout the year, but with even more emphasis to stop and reflect during this time).
A few years ago, Doug & I had experienced our first Maundy Thursday with our Bible Study group in California. We washed feet and had a wonderful Passover meal together. It was a good time and helped cement a lot of truth of the Gospel and symbolism of the tradition.
We've wanted to start the tradition with our family. I'm sure it will develop more each year. Although the Last Supper and Passover should have been yesterday, we had it tonight. We invited Doug's Aunt Helen to join us. It was nice. The kids really enjoyed it, too.
Our Seder Plate
(thanks, Jody, for the hook up of where to get it!)
Doug explained all the parts of the plate and what they symbolized.
Lamb Shank Bone - represents the lamb that was originally slain on the first Passover.
It reminds us of the substitutionary death and the shed blood of the lamb that was needed to
secure the redemption of God's people.
(except I only had a chicken bone, because our lamb was boneless, but we got the point)
(Hebrews 9:22)
Hard Boiled Egg - represents Pharoah's hard heart in resisting to let God's people go.
(Exodus 8:32)
Bitter Herbs (horseradish) - reminder of the cruel and bitter time of slavery under Pharaoh in Egypt.
(Exodus 1:13-14)
Charoseth (sweet apple & nut mix) - symbol of the mortar and bricks that the Jewish people were forced to make in order to build Pharaoh's cities.
(Exodus 1:11)
Karpas (green vegetable, usually parsley) - symbolic of hyssop that was used to apply the blood of the lamb to the doorposts of the house. This was dipped in saltwater (in the wine glass in pic) which represents tears shed in Egypt during time of slavery.
(Exodus 12:22)
And I made Matzah (unleavened bread) with sprouted wheat flour, which represents the unleavened bread that was eaten in the homes of Israel during the first Passover night in Egypt.
(Exodus 12:8)
We had grilled leg of lamb, grilled asparagus, butternut squash pie, Charoseth & Matzah.
Bible reading in the 21st Century :)
Doug reading the Good Friday account in the Bible on his iPad.
We also sang this great song together --
Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree!
'Tis the Christ by man rejected;
Yes, my soul, 'tis He, 'tis He!
'Tis the long-expected prophet,
David's Son, yet David's Lord;
By His Son, God now has spoken
Tis the true and faithful Word.
Tell me, ye who hear him groaning,
Was there ever grief like his?
Friends thro' fear his cause disowning,
Foes insulting his distress;
Many hands were raised to wound him,
None would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced him
Was the stroke that Justice gave.
Ye who think of sin but lightly,
Nor suppose the evil great
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the sacrifice appointed,
See who bears the awful load;
'tis the Word, the Lord's Anointed,
Son of Man and Son of God.
Here we have a firm foundation,
Here the refuge of the lost;
Christ's the Rock of our salvation,
His the name of which we boast.
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded,
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on him their hope have built.
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