Passover - The Cup of Betrothal

As we celebrate Passover and the Resurrection of Jesus, let’s look at how these two are intimately linked; a portrait of what has already been fulfilled and a prophetic picture of what is yet to come.

PESACH literally means to “pass over” and is a celebration of freedom and liberation from slavery. For the ancient Hebrew people, it was a feast to commemorate the Lord’s great delivery from bondage in Egypt. For the Christian it is a fulfillment of the coming of the true Passover Lamb of God who came to set us free from the bondage of sin.

Pesach illustrates the meaning of “am kodesh” - a holy people. There is much that could be described in how this feast is celebrated, and I encourage you to do this study if you haven’t already. I’d like to take a few moments to focus in on one component of the Passover dinner.

The Passover table is beautifully set and each home is considered a sanctuary for God’s presence. Among the many things present at the Seder table, I’d like to focus in on fourth “kiddush cup” that is at each place setting.

There are four cups at each setting:

First Cup –“ Cup of Sanctification (I will free you - literally salvation)”

Second Cup –“ Cup of Deliverance – I will deliver you”

Third Cup – “ I will redeem you”

Fourth Cup – “I will take you – Cup of Betrothal”

I think as you read through these descriptions, it is becoming very clear that the Passover Seder is a “type and shadow” of Messiah Jesus. Those of us who have come into faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One, see that He is the Father’s Paschal Lamb. We “pass over” from slavery into freedom, bondage to blessing, darkness to light, death to life! We are redeemed from hell into the promise of heaven – sanctified and set apart for Abba’s Kingdom purposes. The leaven is purged out of our earthly temple (body) and our sins are forgiven. Just as the sins of the people were passed onto the little, innocent Passover lamb, “our iniquities were laid on Him”

His hands will forever bear the marks where the nails pierced Him, to remind us that He paid the price required for our freedom and restoration. He died in our place, at precisely the ninth hour when the Paschal Lamb was being sacrificed in the temple. The prophet Isaiah (59:15-16) wrote “ Then the Lord saw it and it displeased Him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore HIS OWN ARM BROUGHT SALVATION FOR HIM, AND HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSENESS; IT SUSTAINED HIM.”

It’s easy to lose a very humbling and profound truth when we take a look at Passover. We can get into the study, the type and shadows, the patterns, the fulfillment of the prophet’s words over the centuries. What we sometimes overlook is the pure expression of the Father’s love for us.

If my time was unlimited, I would look at each element of the Passover and illustrate its significance to us, but today, we will just look at the fourth cup of the Seder – the Cup of Betrothal.

On the night Jesus was betrayed, He celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples. He drank from the four cups mentioned, and when He picked up and drank from the fourth cup – the cup of betrothal, He said “In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:20)

To appreciate the beauty of this, we need to understand the four aspects of the wedding customs in ancient Israel:

1. Betrothal - A prospective bridegroom would come to a prospective bride’s home carrying four items (along with some wine):

a. Ketubah – A Marriage Contract – These are promises made by the bridegroom, signed by two witnesses.

b. Bride Price – The Dowry. In effect he purchased the bride – IT COST HIM SOMETHING.

c. Bridal Gift – A TOKEN OF PROMISE. This had to be something of value – many times it was “semedi” – ten gold coins on a necklace, worn on the bride’s forehead.

d. Betrothal Cup (Cup of the Covenant) The bridegroom then offered the prospective bride a cup of wine. If she drank it, she was married, awaiting the day of actual consummation.

2. Separation

Then the happy bridegroom would leave – for an undetermined amount of time (usually up to one year.) He would go back to his father’s house and begin to build a room as an addition to his father’s house – for he and his wife to dwell in after marriage. He was not free to go and retrieve his bride until his father gave his approval of the dwelling he had built. He would then get permission to go and retrieve his bride.

During the bridegroom’s absence, the bride’s duty was to prepare for the day of her wedding. She was separated, sanctified and the days of her preparation included learning how to be a good wife. She also used this time to prepare her wedding garments. (If you would like an extra blessing, do a study on how the word “garments” is used in the Bible.)

3. Marriage

When the father gave permission, the bridegroom would gather his entourage and GO WITHOUT WARNING to the bride’s house and physically get his bride! This would often be around midnight. He would shout loudly that he was there, take her out of the house to the wedding feast that HAD ALREADY BEEN PREPARED BY HIS FATHER.

4. Consummation

A typical Jewish wedding feast lasted for one week – seven days. This was called “fulfilling her week.

Yeshua, our bridegroom, fulfilled all the requirements of the ancient Jewish wedding except for the last part – consummation.

He negotiated with Father God for us (John 17:12).

He brought his Ketubah (his written Word); (John 1:1-3).

He paid the “bride price” with His own precious blood. (John 12:24-27).

He gave us a gift (Holy Spirit) by which we are sealed until the day of our final redemption. (John 7:39, 14:16, 26, 16:13, Eph 4:30)

And lastly, He offered us to drink of His Cup of Betrothal – the Cup of the Covenant. (1 Cor 12:25-26).

Each time we partake of the Communion Table, we are remembering Him until He comes, and we are also renewing our vows to Him, and to the Cup of His Covenant – the Cup of Betrothal. Those of us who drink the cup in like manner, are awaiting our bridegroom’s return. We are expectant – looking for His return to take us to be with Him.

Family, we are in our “days of preparation”; exchanging our old worldly habits, lifestyles and desires, as our desire grows only for Him. We await His return!

I will never look at the Passover Meal or the “Last Supper” in quite the same way. Jesus knew He faced imminent death. He knew that within hours, He would pay the ultimate price, giving Himself freely to be the Passover Lamb of God. But what was on His mind was HIS BRIDE. He used the love language of betrothal and marriage to show us what He was doing FOR us, and what He would be doing IN us.

We are His betrothed. We have been separated unto Him and are preparing our garments so we will be a bride that can be presented to HIM without spot or wrinkle! “The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say, "Come!" Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes, take the free gift of the water of life.” Rev 22:17

My beloved spoke and said to me, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.” Song of Solomon 2:10. We await this day, our Bridegroom and King!