“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.”

“While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.” Jesus was thought to be a ghost when he appeared, but his intention was to convince them that he was a living presence, not an apparition kindled by their sadness or fear. During their last meal together, he had told them that he was anxious to eat with them, but it could not be until the Passover was “fulfilled in the Kingdom of G_d.” Since then he had died and descended and risen. He had been dragged and beaten. He had been crucified and offered a sedative of myrrh and wine. But he had not eaten. Jesus appeared among them and tried to offer comfort in their misery, and likely was happy with their warm reception, but he was hungry.

He was clearly under a Divine authority, but he was in human form and needed something to eat. And he wished to eat with his friends. By the time of Jesus’ life, the Hebrew tradition of Passover had likely evolved multiple times, but the remembrance was that G_d did these things for us. We too should remember and tell others, at minimum on the night of Passover. The learned priests were at odds for centuries, on how many cups of wine should be consumed at the Seder of Passover. Four cups or five were the point of contention. A cup consumed at each of mention of the promises of redemption given to Moses from Exodus: “I will take you out,” “I will deliver you,” “I will redeem you,” and “I will acquire you.” In addition to these four expressions, the Hebrew scripture also uses a fifth expression of Redemption: “I will bring you into the land.” The last expression had been attributed to the arrival of the Messiah. So, the argument was four cups of wine or five. The only collaborative decision was four cups for the faithful, but a filled fifth cup set upon the Passover table for Elijah. Elijah at the return, will decide if the fifth cup shall be consumed.

Tradition suggests that this fifth cup is the one which Jesus offers for the twelve to consume in his last supper covenant. Elijah had been taken in his full body into heaven, and it was presumed that in that form Elijah would return. The twelve, while maybe a little skeptical, took the cup and divided among them, they drank. Skeptical perhaps, because their friend had not eaten the Passover meal, yet now Jesus offered the fifth cup of wine, which none had ever seen consumed in their lifetimes.

This same Jesus from that night now appears to them after his death and is ready to eat with them, the Kingdom of G_d was fulfilled. An exodus, the beginning of the process was completed by our redemption through Jesus, the Messiah, and Him risen from the dead. Our Seder does not simply look back to the past on one weekend a year. Looking back at a resurrection, we must also look forward to our continual redemption. We must always make room at our table for another place setting, a cup and bread, and fish for the living presence of Jesus, the Messiah. As much as we revive the celebration of “was,” we must prepare our table for the banquet which is to come. Not only will he bring us into the land as promised, but into the mansions of His Father’s house. Jesus will come, and he may be hungry, therefore prepare.

Pax,
jbt