REFLECTIONS ON PASSOVER AND PASSION WEEK
By J.C.Cordova, D.Min., LCSW
Again the Judeo-Christian tradition is about to celebrate Passover and Passion Week. This year Passover
begins at sundown on the 14th day of Nissan, corresponding with the 2nd day of April. Passion Week
begins Sunday April 1 and extends to the 8th, the day of celebration when Jesus was raised from the dead.
Both celebrations are intended to remind believers of the mighty acts of God on behalf of the people.
Exodus 11 and 12 give the account of the origin of Passover, Pesach, (Hebrew pass by, spare). During the
last plague, the angel of death passed over Egypt, killing the first-born of every household and sparing the
lives of dwellers in houses marked by the blood of the lambs Hebrew families killed for a last meal in Egypt
before departing. Passover memorializes God’s deliverance of the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt.
Central to the Passover celebration is the Seder meal. The Seder is a long, elaborate meal full of
meaningful symbolism portraying a love story, the love of God at work freeing, leading and protecting his
people. The slavery to freedom celebration in the Seder plate includes six main items reminding adults of
the sad episode of the Egyptian slavery period and teaching children the importance of upholding a strong
commitment to the God of Israel even in the face of brutal aggression: 1) Matzah or unleavened bread
identifies participants with the history of Israel; 2) Maror or bitter herbs or vegetables is symbolic of the
bitterness of the Egyptian slavery (Num. 9:11); 3) Charoset or a grounded mixture of almonds, apple,
cinnamon and wine stands for the clay used by Hebrews to make bricks for use in building Egyptian
structures; 4) Karpas or vegetables dipped in salt water are a reminder of the dipping of hyssop in the
blood of the paschal lamb to mark the lintel and the doorposts of Hebrew dwellings in Egypt for the angel of
death to skip over those houses (Exodus 12:22); 5) Chazeret or bitter vegetables, lettuce, radish or the
green cover of some bitter herb or vegetable represents the bitter Egyptian slavery; 6) Zeroa or shank
bone is symbolic of the paschal lamb (Ex. 12:2); and 7) Beitzah or egg signifies grief over the sadness of
the Hebrew tragedy in Egypt.
As the goodness of God in redeeming Israel is re-told seeking a re-affirmation of the people’s trust in the
Almighty, the four promises of God to Moses are reconsidered: 1) I am the LORD and I will bring you out
from under the bondage; 2) I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment; 3) I
will take you for my people; 4) I will be your God (Exodus 6:6-7). The final thought expressed by the
presiding leader over the Seder meal, be it in the synagogue or the homes of the believers, is “Next year in
Jerusalem.” This is a declaration of hope in the faithfulness of God to his people. For God will gather Israel
in the Holy Land for the arrival of the Messiah.
Passion Week is the culmination of the ministry of Jesus as the Christ. Jesus vision was to return Israel to
the faith of Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samuel and the prophets, moving the people away from the
observation of religious exercises toward a more authentic fellowship with God and others. Matthew tells us
that “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching.., proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every
disease and every sickness among the people” (4:23). Then, Jesus went to Judea, where he continued his
mission (19:1-2). Healing in the holistic form of body, mind, emotions and spirit was Jesus passion right on
to the end of his life, going back and forth between Judea and Galilee.
Then came Passover. Matthew described the event taking place in preparation for and during the Seder
meal:
On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to
make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?" He said, ‘Go into the city to a certain man, and
say to him, The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my
disciples.'" So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal....
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the
disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave
it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out
for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Mat 26:17-19, 26-28 ).
The great design of God unfolds in this last Seder of Jesus. The Messiah rides into Jerusalem on a donkey
on a mission of peace. He comes to redeem Israel and to save the Gentiles. Redemption will be completed
in a mighty act of atonement, where God presents an offering unto himself as payment for the sin of the
world.
Then, came the climax of the climax. Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Although many idealists have
come and gone, no doubt leaving life better because of their work on behalf of humanity, Jesus is the only
public figure speaking on behalf of God, raised from the dead by the Almighty and given prominence to
continue his work through his followers. With the resurrection of Jesus, God validated our Lord’s ministry
and his mediation on our behalf. Alleluia!