Thank you for sharing. Do you have a reference from rabbinic literature about a “Seder Kittan”?

It’s traditional nowadays to have two Passover Seder meals on successive nights. But I can’t see how that could have been possible when the Passover was a pilgrim feast, not a family observance. People traveled for days and spent a lot of money to buy a lamb to bring to the Temple. The lambs were sacrificed all together and then roasted for hours for one festive meal. I can imagine that rabbis might study the feast observance beforehand with their disciples, but I can’t see how they could actually celebrate it.

Just want to ask:A day starts at sunset. So, does it mean that 14th Nisan start 18h00 that night, in other words, the Wednesday was the 13th, and on 18h00 Wednesday it changed to be the 14th of Nisan ? So it is the Sedar meal,Passover (which was like a Shabbath?)on the 14th,Feast of Unleavened bread the 15th ,which was Friday, Shabbath the 16th, and Jesus rose sometime after 18h00 on that first Sunday ?? And when does the ‘Feast of Firstfruit’ start?
Thank you once again!!
Shalom!

Me thinks the author bends scripture a little too much to fit Jewish practice to be satisfactory to many of her Evangelical readers.

I found a superb series of Passover articles that discuss and answer each of your questions at Derek Leman’s blog. The post most pertinent to your question here is at this link:

http://derek4messiah.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/passover-and-the-last-supper-part-3/

Another great resource is Dr. Steve Notley’s article “Jesus and the Essene Passover” at jerusalemperspective.com.

Leman’s article above points out several facts about John’s gospel that make it very unlikely that even he was suggesting that they ate the Last Supper the night before Passover. The other three gospels make it very plain that they ate a Seder meal, like when Jesus said, “I eagerly desire to eat this Passover with you” in Luke 22:15.

Leman also addresses your desire to line up Jesus’ actions to literally fulfill God’s timing. Passover, don’t forget, lasted over the 24 hour period after the Seder meal was eaten. He points out that Jesus died at the time of the national Passover sacrifice in the Temple, the “chagigah.”

It’s important not to override the plain reading of the text to force it to coincide with the way we think prophecy should play out. Now, as I read Jesus’ death as occurring in the wee hours after the Passover meal, I see exactly how it fits into prophecy.

The night of Passover was called “a night of vigil” because their expectation was that God would carry out his final redemption of his people at that time, just as he did when he redeemed Israel from Egypt. That’s why the cup of Elijah is poured, because Elijah would herald the Messiah.

And look what happened – on the first Passover, the Angel of Death redeemed Israel by bringing the death of Egypt’s firstborn sons. On that very same night in the Gospels we see the redemption of all believers because of the death of God’s firstborn son.

You are probably aware of this gentleman’s work already, but here are some possible theories that may resolve this:

http://doig.net/NTC21.htm

Shalom

A short answer to your question is that evidence throughout the gospels supports the conclusion that Jesus did celebrate the Passover meal with his disciples. I want to explain more thoroughly with some references. Be looking for a post on that soon.

Lois

I appreciate so much the view from an Jewish perspective on our faith. Thank you and keep up the good work!

I wonder whether we are correct in calling the supper which Jesus ate with His disciples (what we usually call the Last Supper) the Seder supper of Passover.

Some rationale:

1. Both Matthew’s and Mark’s account seems to have some confusing details claiming it was the “first day of Unleavened Bread” which usually begins the day after Passover. Consequently, how could the Passover meal be prepared if this time had already passed?
2. Luke helps us understand a little better with his stating that the day was the day on which the lambs were sacrificed, namely Nisan 14. (Luke 22:7ff) This suggests that we are prior to the eating of the Passover seder.
3. John gives us some interesting detail which rolls the clock back a bit in chapter 18: “They themselves (religious leaders seeking Jesus’ condemnation) did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.” This is after Jesus’ arrest, after the “Last Supper”, and the religious leaders are careful not to contaminate themselves so that they can eat the Passover, which is still coming!
4. Yes, the Feast of the Passover was at hand, but how can we rationalize the different accounts other than to suggest that the meal which Jesus ate with His talmidim was a meal prior to the Passover seder due to the fact that He, like all the Passover lambs, was slaughtered on the 14th of Nisan and buried late that day, prior to sundown because the Passover was approaching.
5. As I understand, we have in the Passover rituals practiced annually on the Temple Mount for hundreds of years, were rehearsals which were precisely reflected in the death of Jesus – at the same time of day, with the same words, and with the unique aspect of covering the sins of all who would believe.

Blessings on your work and I look forward to your continued writing!

Dr. David Sloss