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Shalom to everyone ahead of the wonderful Passover, in the name of Yahweh the Father and the Lord Yahushua (Jesus). I wanted to share some historical facts about Israel at the time of the Lord Yahushua and a prophecy that was fulfilled “undercover”. The wondeful message of the afikoman. It’s also timely as well, with Passover excitingly just around the corner! The Basics The Jews have an order of things they do during Passover. This will involve prayers, readings, role play and eating patterns. This pattern of events is called the Passover-Seder. It is still followed precisely by religious Jews of today. Strangely, the Passover-Seder isn't in the Torah. The actual observance of Passover is very simple. But the Seder itself isn’t mentioned or even alluded to until, arguably, the Lord’s last Passover with His disciples. So when did the Passover-Seder start? It’s thought to have began with the Babylonian exiles who returned to Jerusalem. There is a possibility that the prophet Erza was involved. There’s even a possibility it may even be pre-exile. Either way, at the time the Lord walked in Jerusalem, this practice would have been known and it seems like He didn’t disapprove of it. I want to speak about just one element of the Passover-Seder: the afikoman. It's a symbol of the Lord Yahushua that will be portrayed in every religious Jewish home in a few days time! The Afikoman - “That which comes after” In the Seder, you have three pieces of unleavened bread wrapped together with white cloth and separated individually within. You can see pictures here if you can’t visualise it. At the set time in the Seder, the middle piece of unleavened bread is removed. This is the afikoman. Then: The afikoman is broken into two pieces. One piece of the afikoman is put back with the two unbroken pieces. The other piece is wrapped into a white cloth separately and hidden somewhere. After a time, the children are free to joyfully seek the afikoman When the afikoman is found, it is divided equally among everyone. The Interpretation Here we have a depiction on the Messiah himself in the afikoman. I’m sure you noticed the significance but let’s be sure we noticed everything: Three pieces of unleavened bread wrapped together with white cloth and separated individually within. Here is the Mystery of the Trinity. Yahweh Elohim - Father, Son and Spirit. Distinct and yet unified as one. “Hear O Israel, Yahweh our Elohim. Yahweh is One” ~ Deuteronomy 6:4 The middle unleavened bread is removed. This is the afikoman. The Son came from the Father, to save us. The afikoman is broken into two pieces. The Son was sacrificed for us. To save us from our sins, in Yahweh’s endless love and mercy. One piece of the Afikoman is put back with the two unbroken pieces. The Son’s spirit returned to the Father. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” ~ Luke 23:46 The other piece is wrapped into a white cloth separately and hidden somewhere. Yet, the Son’s body died and was wrapped in linen and buried. After a time, the children are free to joyfully seek the afikoman After 3 days, the Son rose again and He left the tomb! Now, some can’t see that and, interestingly, in the Seder they are depicted as the adults. Those who are old and set in their ways. It’s the children who find the Afikoman. “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” ~ Matthew 18:3. When the afikoman is found, it is divided equally among the everyone. Those who find the Son, follow Him and live by Him, and there is enough for all. “And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” ~ John 6:35. Messianic Insight Thinking about the idea the the Lord Yahushua carrying out His last Passover with His disciples, you could think “well, where was the child amongst them to search for the afikoman?”. True, but weren’t the majority of them as little children in heart? Not many could have be classed as “stuck in their way” adults. I bet John found it! It probably was even a fun moment they shared. Was the returned afikoman the very piece that the Lord split equally among everyone to share? I think so. It truly shows the fulfilment of the afikoman beautifully when the true Afikoman reveals it’s interpretation. The fact that this Gospel-in-role-play will be in every religious Jewish house in a few days time is incredible. What do they think of the afikoman? Well, amazingly they don’t really know what it’s meaning is. The practice has stayed with them but the knowledge has departed. Of course they do have interpretations, but they seem to vary, which is strange from a religion dedicated to specificity. For those who have good relationships with our Jewish brothers and sisters, I hope you find an intriguing way to start up a conversation about the Afikoman. It’s a great way to give the Gospel in no time at all. Imagine how the Father could stir the heart of them at their following Passover! Although, we must remember that a loving, patient and humble approach is better than a boastful, rushed and arrogant one. I have been guilty of this myself many times. Summary If you will blessed enough to share a Passover-Seder with others, I hope you study every other element of the Seder with your mind on Messiah. It’s an ordained way to celebrate how we were set free from our old lives as slaves to sin. Yes, the Seder itself isn’t within the Torah, but it’s like a class and a party combined. It’s a pretty cool way to spend the evening. However you choose to celebrate Passover when twilight of the 14th Nisan arrives, I hope join me in praise and thanksgiving to Almighty Yahweh Elohim, who freed us from our own “Egypt”! HalleluYah and “Yahweh shall reign forever and ever” ~ Exodus 15:18 Love & Shalom