Passover Cup

Passover is a popular Jewish festival, which has many significant customs and traditional symbols associated with it. Celebrated as a festival that commemorates the liberation of Israelite slaves from the cruel Egyptians, Passover has high religious significance associated with it. Falling on the 15th day of the month of Nisan, this seven-eight day festival is rich with many rituals and traditions. One of the main traditions of the festival is the Seder meal, which is organized at every Jewish household and follows a customary pattern. It begins with 'Haggadah' (which means 'telling', 'portraying'), a religious textbook, to guide the proceedings, based on four 'cups'. Passover cup is one of the essential symbols of Seder, also known as the Feast of Redemption. However, in the original Passover story, there is no mention of the whatsoever of a cup. In fact, the only biblical mention of a cup in connection with Passover is found in the New Testament. Go through the next section of this article to find more information on Passover Cups and their significance.

Four Cups Of Passover - The Tradition
New Testament has mentioned the 'Pesach Cup' at the time when Jesus celebrated feast with his disciples. He raised a cup at least twice during the meal to make important statements about himself. Jewish tradition has a very little story to tell about these cups. They believe that during Seder, it should be filled with red wine to remind us of the blood of the Passover lamb. Every year, during the Pesach, it is necessary to consume four "cups" of wine during the Seder meal. There is difference of opinion as to what these cups actually symbolize.

Significance Of Passover Cups
The First Cup
This is regarded as the "cup of sanctification" that represents the first 'I Will' of God - his promise to free Israelites off from the slavery under the Egyptians. It is believed that the Messiah lifted the cup to remind people of this promise of God. Every person attending this ritual should focus their attention to the incident when God freed His people, keeping his promise.

The Second Cup
Known as the "cup of judgment", it is filled with wine and people dip their fingers into the cup making a drop of liquid fall on their saucer for ten times, reducing the fullness of the cup of joy. While dipping fingers people remember the death of Messiah and consider that his blood would spill in Calvary within hours. People drink this cup of wine after going through a section of the Seder and recognize that it was no one else, but God who affected the salvation of the people of Israel.

The Third Cup
Known as "the cup of redemption," this cup is filled after the supper. It is believed that Messiah lifted this cup and said "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood."

The Fourth Cup
Also known as the "Cup of Praise or Restoration," it is believed that Messiah said that he would drink this cup of wine in the new kingdom of God and would not take it until then. It is assumed that at wedding feast of the Lamb, Messiah lifted this fourth cup and completed the Seder that began over two thousand years ago in that small room in Israel.

The Words From Lord
It is believed that when the Lord spoke these words to Moses, he told him about the plan by which he would redeem the people of Israel. In other words, he was telling Moses how he is going to redeem his elect to become his children. Let us have a look at the God's word associated with each cup of wine:

Mentioned above were the beliefs and rituals associated with Passover Seder. Each cup of wine is associated with God's words and hence, has tremendous importance in this festival. Hope you are now educated with the significance of the Passover Cups.