Passover & Four Decades

We had a Seder dinner here the night before last. It was the seventh Seder we've hosted. We also celebrated Matt's fortieth birthday that night. Even though our family will attend our church's Seder meal tonight, Matt requested that we have our own Passover celebration here as well. So we did--after all, he was the birthday boy.
We had a lovely evening with Matt's parents and another homeschooling family with whom we've become friends. Each year, we pray about who to invite to our Seder. We try to invite those who have never attended a Seder. We also try to include families with children, as the Passover Seder was instituted by God not only to remind His people of His faithfulness, but also to teach future generations of His faithfulness. And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” Ex. 12:26-27
My friend who attended our Seder on Tuesday night was especially delighted to be invited. She was invited to Martha Zimmerman's Passover Seder one year when she was in high school, but turned down the invitation. She has regretted that decision ever since, but Tuesday night she was finally able to experience a Messianic Seder and she loved it.
The girls and I prepared our usual menu of matzoh ball soup, beef brisket, apple kugel and fruit salad. My friend brought roasted vegetables and Matt's mom brought the haroset (apple mixture signifying the mortar the Israelites used to make bricks in their captivity). I made the desserts I traditionally serve--Martha Zimmerman's Passover cake and chocolate covered matzoh. In honor of Matt's birthday, I stretched my culinary skills and also made a flourless chocolate torte with raspberry coulis.

After dinner, I gave Matt his birthday present, a bell engraved with the following : "The Macduffs, est. 1993, Eccl. 12:13" Our old bell broke, so Matt has been wanting to replace it. The new bell is very nice and will be more than adequate (it's quite loud) for calling the kids to dinner and family worship time.
After singing "Happy Birthday," we resumed the evening with the children looking for and finding the afikomen. We then proceeded to the third cup, with which Jesus instituted communion. We ended the evening by saying in unison the traditional saying, "Next year, in Jerusalem!" This was especially poignant to me this year, as we studied Isaiah chapter 60 this week in Bible Study Fellowship, which details Jesus' millennial reign. Only God could have orchestrated the timing so beautifully. Pretty cool.
Tonight we'll attend our church's Seder meal. Once again, I'll be providing the matzoh ball soup and the girls will help to serve the meal. I'll be reminded once again of God's gracious provision of a Redeemer for His people--and for me. No amount of working or striving towards righteousness could ever be enough to earn my salvation. "There is no one righteous, not even one." Rom. 3:10. When I should have been left for dead, the Lord Himself became my Passover Lamb, so that I wouldn't have to take the punishment of which I am so deserving. Praise be to Jesus!

related post: 2009 Seder