“Then they shall eat the flesh on that night roasted in the fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.” (Exodus 12:8).

Passover

This concerns the eating of the Passover meal (pesach seder). Three items are mentioned. (1) Bitter herbs are mentioned. Why are they to be bitter? This would serve as a reminder of the bitter experience they had in Egypt (cf. Exodus 1:13-14). What were these bitter herbs? “According to the Mishnah, these particular herbs consisted of lettuce, chicory, pepperwort, endives, and dandelion” (Coy D. Roper, editor Eddie Cloer, Truth for Today Commentary, Exodus, p. 189 – ref. Mishnah Pesahim 2.6). Horseradish is also used by many Jews (Ask the Expert: What Counts as Maror? myjewishlearning.com). (2) Unleavened bread is mentioned. Why is it to be unleavened? They would depart in haste (Exodus 12:11, 39). There would be no time to leaven. This would be a reminder of how they departed (Deuteronomy 16:3). (3) A roasted lamb is mentioned. It is not to be eaten raw, and it is not to be boiled (Exodus 12:8-9). Why is it to be roasted and not boiled or prepared some other way? We are not told. Some have suggested that this is about the speed of preparation (Dennis Prager, The Rational Bible, Exodus, p. 130). Some think that this may have to do with removal of blood (ibid). Others have suggested that the stakes used in roasting formed a cross (James Burton Coffman, Exodus, p. 149 – ref. Justin Martyr). We are not told the reason. However, the eating of this meal would serve as a reminder of the Passover (Exodus 12:25-28).

The drink for this meal is not specified in the instructions for the Passover. We know that Jesus and His disciples drank of “the fruit of the vine,” i.e. grape juice (Matthew 26:27-29; Mark 14:23-25). There is an ancient Jewish tradition of drinking four cups on the Passover. Each cup is drank remembering four promises found in Exodus 6:6-7: (1) The Cup of Sanctification, “I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians”; (2) The Cup of Plagues / Deliverance, “I will rescue you from bondage”; (3) The Cup of Redemption / Blessing, “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgment”; (4) The Cup of Praise / Hope / Acceptance, “I will take you as My people, and I will be your God.”

Lord’s Supper

Jesus used items from the Passover meal to institute the Lord’s Supper. He gave new meaning to these items. (1) He used bread. He said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” (Matthew 26:26). (2) He used the fruit of the vine. He said, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:27-28). He took this cup after supper (Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25). The third and fourth cup are drank after supper in Jewish tradition. Jesus probably instituted the Lord’s Supper using the third cup, the cup of Redemption. [Some think that the drinking of it new in the Kingdom (Matthew 26:29) completes the four cups. Maybe.].

Arguments have occurred over whether, or not, the elements became the literal body and blood of Jesus. Consider these points: (1) The items used in the Passover meal were full of symbolism. It was about remembering what had happened (Deuteronomy 16:3; Exodus 12:8 cf. 1:13-14). (2) The Lord’s Supper is about remembering. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25). (3) After Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, he said, “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom.” (Matthew 26:29). It is still referred to as “the fruit of the vine.”

This is about remembering. The Passover meal was about remembering what was done for them (Exodus 12:25-28). May we always partake of the Lord’s Supper remembering what was done for us (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).