How to Have Your First Messianic Seder Supper

A step-by-step guide for Christian families who want to honor Jesus through a Passover meal.

This was our first time trying a Christian Seder. It felt new. A little unfamiliar. Slightly overwhelming.

But the goal wasn’t perfection—it was presence.

The Messianic Seder (or Christian Seder) is a beautiful way to connect Jesus to the Passover story, helping kids and adults see how God has always been in the business of rescue. Here’s how we did ours—

Lighting the Candles — Jesus, Our Light

To start the meal, our daughters each lit a candle.

John 8:12 — “Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”

Cup 1: The Cup of Promises

A small cup of grape juice reminds us of God’s promise to bring His people out of slavery.

Exodus 6:6 — “I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.”

We read the story of the ten plagues from a children’s Bible. God saw. God heard. God kept His promise.

Washing Hands — A Clean Heart

We each washed our hands using warm cloths (individually—because germs).

Psalm 24:3–4 — “Who may stand in His holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart.”

Parsley in Salt Water — Bitterness and Life

We didn’t have parsley, so we used what we had—lettuce and dipped it into the salt water. The salt water symbolized the tears and hardship of slavery.

Exodus 1:14 — “They made their lives bitter with hard labor.”

Breaking the Matzah — Jesus Was Broken

No matzah? No problem—we used plain crackers. We broke one piece and wrapped part in a napkin to hide for later. This is part of the Seder tradition.

Luke 22:19 — “Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it… ‘This is my body, given for you.’”

Just like Jesus was hidden in the tomb, this “bread” would be found later. I hid a piece of the "matzah" in a napkin for each of the girls to find.

Telling the Story — A God Who Rescues

We read the first Passover story (Exodus 12) and then connected it to Jesus.

Exodus 12:13 — “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.”

John 1:29 — “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Cup 2: The Cup of Freedom

God not only saves—He frees.

Exodus 6:6 — “I will free you from being slaves…”

We talked about what enslaves us today—fear, shame, sin—and how Jesus breaks those chains.

Bitter Herbs — The Taste of Sin

We didn’t have bitter herbs, so we used cinnamon. It still packed a punch.

Romans 6:23 — “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Charoset — Sweetness in the Struggle

Charoset is a sweet mixture of apples and nuts, symbolizing the mortar used by the slaves—and the sweetness God brings even in hardship. (FYI the charoset was not our favorite and I will probably make different apple salad in the future.)

Quick Charoset Recipe:

• 1 apple, finely chopped

• ¼ cup chopped walnuts

• A sprinkle of cinnamon

• A splash of grape juice or honey

  
  

Romans 8:28-29 — “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him… to be conformed to the image of His Son."

God never wastes our pain.

The Meal — A Feast of Remembering

We’re not exactly a lamb family, so we had chicken and veggies instead. It wasn’t about the perfect food—it was about giving Jesus our attention.

Finding the Afikomen — The Risen Savior

Time to find the hidden matzah (afikomen)! This was a favorite of both girls. They searched all over the house.

Luke 24:6 — “He is not here; He has risen!”

Cup 3: The Cup of Redemption

The blood of Jesus, poured out for us.

Luke 22:20 — “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.”

We took communion here—just as Jesus did with His disciples.

Cup 4: The Cup of Praise

We closed in thankfulness. Each of us shared one thing we were grateful for.

Psalm 106:1 — “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”

Washing Feet — A Family Tradition

As in years past, we ended our evening by washing each other’s feet.

A New Tradition, Rooted in the Old

We’re still learning. But just like foot washing, this felt meaningful. Our girls are growing up and we’re giving them something to hold onto—something deeper than candy or eggs. We’re giving them Jesus.