With Passover/ Maundy Thursday upon us, I feel live the Lord has taken me on a wild goose chase through the bible and other media to learn more about its significance. In order to spare you all of my rabbit trail thoughts, I wanted to share what has stood out most to me, which is the meanings of the 4 cups of the Passover/ last super meal. In the OT the four cup meanings are taken from Ex. 6:6:7, however, there is so much from the NT and the existence of the Messiah that brings even more fulfillment/deeper meaning.
Cup 1: Sanctification “ I will bring you out “ Isreal has always had a great calling. Isaiah 42:6 Calls them a light to the nations. It’s through their bloodline Christ was born. Jesus also promises in John 17:19 “ And for their sake, I sanctify myself that they also may be sanctified in truth”
Cup 2: Deliverance “I will save you” God delivered the Israelites from the bonds of slavery, however it is through his son we are saved. John 14: 6 “ I am the way, the truth, and the life no one comes to the Father except through me”
Cup 3: Redemption (Blessing) “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm” This cup is the cup where Jesus instructs the disciples to partake in communion Luke 22:20 “ The cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant (Jer 31) in my blood” Galatians 4:4-5 “but when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those who were under the law, that we may receive adoption as sons”
Cup 4: Praise “ I will take you as my people” John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you and that you may be full.”
In diving deep into this OT tradition, I’m amazed how Christ is/ has been in it since the very beginning. Christ’s death fulfilled the symbolism of the Passover meal. This was the eternal plan of God all along that Jesus would drink from the cup of judgment so that blessing would come. The cross appeared to be the end but the resurrection announced a new beginning/ new covenant. My prayer is that we would never lose sight of this, that we would not take it lightly. Resurrection calls for applause, praise, and song.
