Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) is a spring festival which lasts for eight days. This year it falls on 19 April (14th Nisan) at about 8.00 pm. It is celebrated to remind us that God ‘Passed Over’ the houses of Israel (Ex. 12 v. 27) when the first-born of Egypt were smitten because Pharaoh refused to carry out God’s command to set Israel free. At this festival only unleaven bread is eaten (Matzos) because the Hebrews had no time to let the bread rise with yeast. Before 8.00 pm on 19 April, all food in the house which might contain yeast is buried and even different crockery is used, in case this has been contaminated with leaven.

On this night, and again, on the 20th, a service is held in the home called a ‘Seder’. Here the whole story of the affliction and the escape is retold. God said that all Jews must celebrate this festival to remember that their freedom was given to them by God, and all he has given to us. We remember also recent programmes, holocaust, Spanish Inquisition, thus enabling us, in bringing the past into the present, to escape from Egypt ourselves.

The story is read from the Haggadah (the oldest book in Judaism) meaning telling (Ex. 13 v. 8 ...... and thou shalt tell thy son in that day saying "It is because of that which the Lord did for me when I came forth out of Egypt").

The Seder service begins with father washing his hands. He picks up a sprig of parsley which has been dipped in salt water to remind us of the tears of affliction and slavery. He point to other articles on the table: three pieces of Matzos, (the top and bottom piece are to remind us of the double ration of manna given to us in our wanderings. The middle piece is the ‘Aphikoman’ - Greek for desert - the bread of the affliction). A second is a baked egg as a festival offering, and there is a lamb shank as a sacrificial Paschal Lamb.

The youngest child then asks four questions of his father, (they are always the same questions) about the meaning of the Passover. Father answers each in very great length - always the same answers. Briefly to the first "Why do we eat Matzos rather than bread?" He tells us of the bread of affliction; to "Why do we dip our finger in a goblet of wine twice when normally we do not even do it once?" is to remember the plagues (each is listed) and the sadness of the shedding of blood of the Egyptians. To "Why do we eat bitter herbs?" (horseradish) is to remember the bitter suffering of our ancestors, and, "Why do we eat our food leaning?" is to remind us that we had to be ready to leave Egypt at a moments notice.

This part of the service can take about an hour. The rest consists of story telling , singing hymns of praise and reminders of what great scholars of the past have done.

The cup of wine is now blessed and the upper and lower pieces of Matzos are eaten like a sandwich of horseradish - all are given a piece. Finally the Aphikoman is eaten, grace is said and a third cup of wine is blessed and drunk. In the middle of the table is a cup of wine, not touched; it is for Elijah, who will bring in the age of the Messiah.

Now the best part takes place. The meal - all of those present, friends, relations, the lonely and the poor join in a wonderful spread, prepared by my mother over many days. I was always convinced that the service and meal in my house were the best in the world.

When at 29, I committed my life to my saviour, I realised the close connection between Passover and Easter - the clues were obvious. This enhanced the Easter story and gave it more meaning for, after all, this was the very service Jesus himself was presiding over. In the Old Testament, the embryo of the New is hidden and Jesus took all the rich symbolism of the Passover and applied it to himself.

The egg of a new sacrifice offering is giving us new life; the Passover lamb, spilling his blood to deliver people once and for all from the angel of death. Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed for us, so let us celebrate not with the bread of sin (i.e., leaven) but with the unleaven bread of purity and truth. (1 Cor. Ch. v.17)

Passover - a deliverance from slavery;

Easter - a delivery to a new life;

The wine - His blood shed for us;

Matzos - His body broken for us;

A new and greater love - God’s saving love in Christ for all mankind.

All this rendered down to the very essence of life’s meaning, Jesus dying on a cross - Jesus the Saviour risen.

Rosetta Wilson