Barukh atah Adonai eloheynu melekh ha’olam asher kidshanu bidevaro vetzivanu al akhilat maror. (Blessed are you, O lord our God, ruler of the universe, who has set us apart by his Word and commanded us to eat bitter herbs.)
We eat various kinds of vegetables on other nights, but on Passover we eat only maror (bitter herbs). It is a reminder of the bitter life those who fled Egypt faced.
When we partake of this bitter portion, we allow its harsh taste bring stinging tears of sorrow to our eyes, the very same our ancestors would have shed in their time. We think of our blessed hope as they would have and remember the promise Yeshua has for those who follow him.
“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will shepherd them, will lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” Revelation of Yeshua to Yochanan (Rev) 7:17
This promise reminds us that even in the most bitter of circumstances, life can be sweetened by the hope we have in God. We eat Charoset to remember how the children of Israel toiled to make cities for Pharaoh, working with brick and clay. Charoset is also delicious, it's a sweet mixture of chopped apples, honey, nuts, spices and wine. It's customary during Seder to put Maror and Charoset on a Matzah and eat them together.
“...the Egyptians came to dread the people of Israel and worked them relentlessly, making their lives bitter with hard labor -- digging clay, making bricks, all kinds of field work…” Exodus 1:12-14
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” Psalm 119:103
As we reflect on these Seder elements, it shows us a perfect example of not only the trials that we go through in life and the sweet hope that sustains us through Messiah, but it also represents the hard labor of building something. We believe that the Lord is asking us all to prepare our Temple (Body) so that it is ready for His return. There will be difficult moments in doing this, but it will also be moments so sweet that we can partake in through the promises Scripture gives us.
“Our heart rejoices in Him, because we trusted in His holy name.” Psalms 27:14
After the Seder meal we experience the Afikomen, which is considered the “dessert” and final food eaten at Passover. It's a piece of Matzah that is divided up, just as the Passover Lamb was from the time of the exodus until the destruction of the Temple. It is said that the taste of the Afikomen should linger in our mouths. Traditionally, someone at the Seder table is responsible for breaking and wrapping up a portion of the divided Matzah (the Afikomen) that they will hide somewhere during the Celebration. The Children will then go look for it, and whoever finds it will receive a reward (usually candy or money). Once the Afikomen is found, we eat it together meditating on the broken body of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is a beautiful representation of our Messiah who was wrapped and hidden away after His crucifixion, but then resurrected in all His power and glory! There are so many ways that Passover points to Yeshua, but this is definitely one of the most beautiful symbolic traditions.
“It was then that Messiah added the words, “”This is my body, which is being given for you; do this in memory of me.” - Luke 22:19
Finally we come to the Beitzah, a roasted egg symbolizing a sacrificial lamb offering made in the Temple. The sacrifice living in us now is God's holy spirit. It strengthens us & matures our faith until we rest in glorified bodies forever with our King. Just as we handle the egg with great care, we must have reverence for God's spirit within us and live lives that glorify him.
"Or don’t you know that your body is a temple for the Ruach HaKodesh who lives inside you, whom you received from God? The fact is, you don’t belong to yourselves; for you were bought at a price. So use your bodies to glorify God." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
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