Pictured in this post is a single piece of handmade "shmura matzo" and three pieces of the more common matzah.
During the modern Passover celebration there is an old Jewish tradition of putting aside 3 whole matzot. The center matzah is broken into two parts and the larger half is removed, wrapped in a napkin. That half-piece of matza gets "stolen" and hidden during the Seder ceremony only to be found later. That piece of matzah is called the "Afikoman."
Based on the Mishnah in Pesahim 119b, the Afikoman is a substitute for the Passover lamb that was slaughtered for the blood on the doorposts and was eaten at the Passover meal. The lamb had to be fully consumed. After it was the Hebrews rushed out the bloody door to be born as the Nation of the Children of Israel and begin the Exodus to the Promised Land.
There would be many trials and tribulations along the way. The first generation of Israelites would die in the desert because of their lack of faith. Not even Moses was aloud to go into the Promised Land because he "struck" the Rock when God told him to "speak" to it. To this day, on Yom Kippur we are atoning for the sin the "golden calf." God would have destroyed us all if Moses hadn't interceeded for the Hebrews.
Since the destruction of the Temple and the discontinuation of the Korban Pesach (sacraficial lamb), Jews eat the afikomen piece of matzah to finish the Passover Seder meal.
There are various interpretations for the tradition of the Afikoman as it is played out today but surprisingly the actual origin and intention of this custom is not known.
The Passover has great significance to those who believe in Yeshua, better known as Jesus. The "bread" (a cracker) and wine shared are important symbols to both Jews and Christians. So one might wonder if there any parallels concerning the Afikoman tradition?
Parallels between the Jewish tradition of the Afikoman and the Crucifixion:
- Yeshua offered his body as a substitute Passover lamb to free people from slavery.
- Yeshua was scourged, striped and pierced. Matzah looks scourged/striped and pierced.
- Yeshua was crucified inbetween two criminals. The Afikoman is in the middle of two other matzot.
- Yeshua's body was wrapped in a burial schroud and hidden away in a tomb after the crucifixion. The Afikoman is wrapped in a napkin and hidden away.
- Like the Afikoman which is found and is the "desert" at the end the Passover, Yeshua is found. He is the "Good News."
- Even the fact that the Afikoman is found by children is relevant because a child's testimony, like the women who found the tomb empty, were not believable.
Surely anyone can appreciate why believers in Salvation, the English meaning of Jesus's Hebrew name Yeshua, can see the parallels between the two Passover events. There are so many passages in the Old Testament that point to the New Testament. Thus the expression, "The New Testament revealed what the Old Testament concealed."
The word Seder means order. With 613 Mitzvot, one thing is sure, we worship a God of Order. Heaven knows I fail miserably at keeping God's commandments.
When is the right time and what is the right way to "atone" for our disobedience? The Book of Jonah is read on the Jewish Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. There is a lesson to be had about Atonement from that book. God knew Jonah would flee. God chose Jonah to make a point. And when Jonah declared to the Ninevites what God told him to say, they heard God, not Jonah.
None of us know when our days are over. If we did, would we repent like the Ninevites?
After the Passover, Jews start "counting the omer," each day for seven shabbats, seven 7's until Shavuot, when the law/logos is received on Sinai. The Revelation on Sinai coincides to the day with Christian's PENTECOST holiday!
(I'm reminded of Yeshua's teaching in Capernium ... a hard teaching.)
Today, 18 Nisan 5784, is 3 days of the Omer.
