Pesach Part Seven

After the third cup, the three matzah are displayed. They are representative of G-ds Redemptive plan for his people otherwise known as the Tanahk, the scriptures, the Old Testament. The first matzah is the Torah, the first five books of the bible, second is the Nevi'im, the prophets and the third is the Ketuvim, the writings. It is written that the Torah, Nevi'im and the Ketuvim always point to the G-d.

We are also told to break the middle piece, Nevi’im in two. The first piece of these two matzah is the Afrikomen, which is wrapped in a cloth and hidden away. This will be search for by the children on the Shabbat following the Shabbat after Pesach, which is the Feast of First Fruits. This represents the gift of freedom and salvation for future generations and the promise of the Messiah.

The second piece is then held up and presented as the substitute for the lamb of God. The leader says, "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away our sins." We normally break the matzah and pass it around for everyone to eat.

I tried my best to describe this section of the ceremony without any comment. However, you can't go through this part without getting goosebumps. It doesn't need any comment. But I will from here to the end.

During the ceremonial seder meal, Matzah, unleaven bread is used in place of the sacrificial lamb. Rabbinical law requires matzah to be without leaven, striped, bruised and pierced. Nothing in any Jewish writing tell us the reason for these requirements except for the “without leaven”. This is to show that the Passover lamb is to be perfect, without sin. However, Isaiah 53 tells us:

“…he was pierced for our transgressions, he was broken for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

We now know that this was to point to the death and resurrection of the future Messiah. The lamb of God would have a two-fold appearance, first to die for and rise in triumph over sin, the second to come in glory as King.

Also, please notice the cloth that holds the three pieces of Matzah. It is called the unity cloth. This is representative of the power of God, the fabric that holds all things together. There are three sections. Can we say the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

The breaking of the Matzah has always sent chills down my spine and tears from my eyes. Chills, because it points to one person, the one who fulfilled the Nevi'im, the prophecies, Y'shua ha Mashiach, Jesus Christ. Tears because of our Jewish brothers and sisters who remain blinded to the Messiah.

However, as Saul (Paul) said in Romans 11:25-26:

"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved."

Our Judaic brothers and sisters will come to know the Messiah and I rejoice in that future uncovering.

Finally, remember the piece of Nevi'im, which was wrapped up and put away? It is to represent the coming Messiah. It is to be unwrapped on the Shabbat after the Shabbat after Pesach, which is always Sunday, the Feast of First Fruits. It was the third day, Sunday, after his death on the altar of G-d, that Y'shua rose victoriously as King on the Feast of First Fruits.

Isn't G-d amazing? His Word always points to Yeshua, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.