Lessons from Passover - A Family Ceremony
What special household jobs does each member of your family have?
The Passover meal was (and is) a family activity. The purpose of the meal is to pass on those lessons which God had taught his people in the past to the next generation. "Do not forget the things your eyes have seen.... Teach them to your children and to their children after them" (Deuteronomy 4:9).
During the Passover meal, family members have their parts, or roles, to carry out. The women prepare the meal. The mother or matriarch of the family lights the candles on the table to begin the meal. The candles remind us that God's Word is a light for our path and Jesus is the true light of the world.
The father leads the family prayers and teaches during the meal. At the Passover a place is set for the Unseen Guest. A cup of wine is poured for Elijah, the forerunner of the Messiah. During the meal the door is opened to see if God has kept his promise yet. The evening involves the whole family in excited anticipation.
There are four children's parts, or roles, in the regular Passover meal: the simple child, the wicked child, the wise child, and the shy child. Children take on roles and ask questions. Their questions allow the leader to teach the things God did to rescue them from Egypt. Since the shy child doesn't know what to ask, the family asks the final question together, which allows the leader to tell the whole story of the Passover rescue.
Worship is still a family experience. God wants us to tell our children about his love and all the things he has done to rescue us from sin and death. God still wants families to hear about the fall into sin, the promise of the Savior, Jesus' birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection.
How can all the members of your family have a part in worship tomorrow?
PRAYER SUGGESTION: Thank God for the Bible's picture stories, which help us understand his love.
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.