Jewish Feasts - Jesus in the Seder Meal (Part 2)

Scripture References: Exodus 6:6-7, Jeremiah 31:31-34

If we are to get a good understanding of something in the Bible, it’s very important to do some research and find out where else that something is used throughout God’s Word. Where was the first time it was used? Where else is it talked about and why? Are there different meanings to that said something? Today, that said something is “cup”.

When we look at what a “cup” represents/symbolizes in scripture, we get a wide range of meanings. For example, the cup is often used as a symbol of God’s judgement/wrath, cup of fury, cup of judgement, cup of trembling, etc... Then, when we look at some other passages, it’s called the cup of salvation, so the cup can represent wrath, redemption, judgement, and blessing.

Regarding Passover, you know what’s interesting, a cup is never mentioned regarding Passover in the Old Testament. However, at some point in history, cups were introduced to the Passover Meal, and it completely makes sense. During the Passover, God poured out His judgement over the Egyptians and spared/delivered the Israelite's.

The only time we hear of cups being used during a Passover Meal is in the New Testament, when Jesus and the Disciples were having their Passover meal. The only thing we do know about the cups being introduced, is that it was instituted prior to Jesus, and He followed/kept the tradition.

As mentioned in a previous email, there are four cups of wine during a Seder meal. These are very important because they set the flow for the meal. For the Jew, the four cups of wine remind them of the four promises, the four “I will” statements, the Lord made with them in Exodus 6:6-7. During the meal, red wine is used to symbolize the blood of the Passover lamb. There are several names for the cups and I tried to put them all down below.

As a reminder, here are the four cups:

The Cup of Sanctification – “I will bring you out from under the burden of the Egyptians.”

The Cup of Plagues/Judgement/Deliverance – “I will rescue you from their bondage.”

The Cup of Redemption/Blessing – “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.”

The Cup of Praise/Elijah – “I will take you as My people.”

For us, these cups also represent our deliverance. Jesus fulfilled these four cups during His ministry.

Sanctification – John 17:19

Deliverance – John 8:32

Redemption – Galatians 4:4-5 (This is the cup we drink during communion)

Praise – John 15:11

When we look at the Passover Meal, in the Gospels, we only see two cups (Luke 22:17,20). Jesus raised a cup two times, and both were to make an important statement about Himself. One of the cups mentioned “the cup taken after the supper”, which traditionally is the third cup. Jesus called this cup “the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you”. Jesus doesn’t just say things because He thinks it sounds good. He was referencing a promise made back in Jeremiah 31:31-34. The original Passover, wasn’t complete, it was actually broken (vs 32). Jesus was saying that this new covenant would be poured from the cup of salvation in His blood. The “cup of Redemption” stood for way more than the escape out of Egypt, what the Jews consider as a reminder of the past, God was using as a plan/purpose for ages to come.

Going back to the Last Supper, in Matthew 26:25, Jesus makes the following statement: “Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.” Some claim that He was referring to the fourth cup of the Seder Meal, being the Cup of Praise. Some will say that this particular cup has not been fulfilled since He will drink this cup with us at the marriage supper. I think it is very interesting idea and I can see why they think it. However, be careful adding in things if we don’t really know for sure. All Jesus said is that He wasn’t going to drink wine again until He drinks it anew in the Kingdom of God.

Before I wrap up, I want to talk about one more cup that Jesus mentioned. Any idea which one I am referring too? (Luke 22:42). While Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He cried out to His Father, “take this cup from me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”. Jesus, in His humanity, was wishing that this cup of judgment, which EVERYONE deserved, except Him, since EVERYONE has broken God’s covenant, would pass over Him. But He knew, the fourth cup, the Cup of Blessing, could not be poured, unless He drank from the cup of Judgement for all Humanity.