Jesus our Passover Lamb

Passover-Pesach(passing-over)

This is my favorite Biblical holiday, celebrating all Jesus did for us by dying of the cross for our sins.  It is crucial that the kids have this down as their foundation.  Passover happened when God sent down the 10 plagues upon Egypt.  The tenth and last plague was the death of the first born.  However, those who had the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of their homes, the death angel passed-over their homes and all inside, and they were saved.  In the same manner, we are all deserving of death because of our sins.  But we are covered by the blood of The Lamb, Jesus Christ, and we are saved from death.

Here are some wonderful things to do to instill the deep meaning of Passover in our kids:

1.       Participate in a Seder.  Either a community seder or have a simple one in your home. 

If you are in the Twin Cities area visit www.cornerfringe.com for info on our Passover Seder.
Here is a Haggadah or the "telling" of Passover. It's a step by step message of Passover to "tell" in your home during your seder dinner. http://www.cbnw.org/events/aec/content/2007/messianicHaggadah.pdf

2.       Make unleavened bread or Matzah.  The Israelites left Egypt so fast they had no time to bake bread.
Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour for dusting*(no-self rising flour)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour*
• 1/3 cup water, or more if needed
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or as needed (optional)
• 1 teaspoon olive oil, or as needed (optional)

Directions

1.                     Move an oven rack near the top of oven and preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Preheat a heavy baking sheet in the oven.
2.                      Dust a clean work surface and a rolling pin with 1 teaspoon flour, or as needed. Place 1 cup of flour into a mixing bowl; set a timer for about 16 minutes (18 minutes maximum). Start the timer; pour the water, about 1 tablespoon at a time, into the flour. Stir the water and flour together with a fork until the dough forms a rough ball, remove the dough to the prepared work surface, knead rapidly and firmly until smooth, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
3.                     Divide the dough into four equal pieces; cut each piece in half again to get 8 pieces total. Swiftly roll each piece into a ball. Roll each piece of dough out into a 5-inch pancake, dusting the top and rolling pin with flour as needed. Gradually roll the pancakes out to a size of about 8 inches, increasing the size of each by about 1 inch, then letting the dough rest for a few seconds before rolling again to the finished size. Roll from the center out. The bread rounds should be very thin. Using a fork, quickly pierce each bread about 25 times, all over, to prevent rising. The holes should go completely through the bread. Flip the bread over, and pierce each piece another 25 times with the fork.
4.                     With at least 5 minutes left on the timer, remove the hot baking sheet from the preheated oven, and place the rounds onto the baking sheet. Place the baking sheet onto the rack near the top of the oven, and bake for 2 minutes; turn the breads over and bake an additional 2 minutes, until the matzot are lightly browned and crisp.
5.                     Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Lightly anoint each matzah with olive oil, using a brush, and sprinkle generously with salt.               

**Matzah has incredible symbolism of Yeshua/Jesus.  Matzah is unleavened(without sin), striped, pierced and bruised.  Just as Jesus is without sin, striped, pierced and bruised for our sins.

3.       Recreate the 10 plagues
 a. Blood Plague:  Bowl of clean water and add red food coloring
 b. Frog Plague: Toss out plastic frogs
 c. Lice Plague: rice
 d. Fly Plague: raisins
 e. Dead animals plague: stuffed animals on their backs
 f. Boils Plague- red sticker circles and stick on kids
 g. Hail plague-toss out ping-pong balls
 h. Locust plague- clothes pins painted/colored green
 i. Darkness Plague- cover windows and turn off lights
 j. Death of first born-  Picture of doorframe with the blood of the Lamb on it for proctection form death.  All who were covered by the blood were saved!

4.       Sing Dayenu--Here is a fun version of the song http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media_cdo/aid/255530/jewish/Dayenu.htm

5.       Make charoset--this tastes so good with the matzah! Charoset represents the sweetness of Jesus' salvation!!
Ingredients

•                     6 apples - peeled, cored and chopped
•                     1 cup finely chopped walnuts
•                     1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•                     1 teaspoon white sugar
•                     3 1/2 teaspoons honey
•  

Directions

1.                     Place the apples and walnuts into a large bowl. Mix together the cinnamon and sugar; sprinkle over the apples. Stir in the honey. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until serving.

6.       Passover Lamb craft-Here is one of several lamb crafts. This one is from www.mybiblecrafts.com

Paper Plate Lamb Craft
		Lamb craft patterns
		Small paper plates
		Construction paper scraps (optional)
		Cotton balls (for age 3+)
		Crayons, non-toxic markers, dot markers
		Clear Tape
		White school glue
		Scissors (Adult only)

7.       Seder plate craft-I love this sedar plate from www.parentdish.com

Since I work with younger kids--here is simpler version
you will need:
-carboard cake platters you can pick up at a craft store
-have all the words pre- printed , along with symbols like Star of David
-have them color the words, cut them out and the symbols and glue onto plate
-cupcake liners
-

8.       Make Seder name cards or napkin holders for your special seder dinner

9.       Make a matzah bag
-16in long and 8 in wide cloth cutouts
-fabric glue
-fabric markers

fold the cloth in half so now it is 8x8. Glue the sides, leaving the top open. Let it dry. Have kids decorate their bag with the fabric markers