Passover Celebration

John 13: 1-20

^"1Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ²During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, ³Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, ⁴rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. ⁵Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

⁶He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand."

⁸Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me."

⁹Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!"

¹⁰Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you." ¹¹ For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "Not all of you are clean."¹²When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. ¹⁴If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

¹⁵For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. ¹⁶Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. ¹⁸ I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, 'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.' ¹⁹ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. ²⁰Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."

Our Passover Meal

We sit on the floor like Jesus and his disciples would have...

Unless you've had back surgery, and in that case, you get to sit in the kiddie rocker and hold the kiddie.

Mrs. Lula got her inspiration for the passover meal years ago from this book.

"Let's Make a Memory" by Gloria Gaither and Shirley Dobson
You can find it on Amazon here.

It gives a very graspable explanation of the Jewish Passover and what it means for us as Christians. It also tells the symbolism for each of the foods on the "table." Although, since we are not jewish, we do not adhere to the strict kosher policies of the actual jewish feasts (hence the ritz crackers and delicious Publix cross cake :) ) But we do take time to stop and remember how God delivered His people from the Egyptians and how Jesus was the Passover Lamb and ponder what it was like when he washed his disciples feet and ate the passover meal with them, even the one he knew had betrayed him and would eventually be instrumental in sending him to die on the cross. It's a wonderful, rich tradtition and wonderful way to remember that Easter isn't about bunnies.. but the Lamb!