Thursday, March 24, 2016
By LINDA M. LINONIS
HUBBARD
Igor Bagirov of Beth-El Russian Messianic Missionary Ministries of Cleveland reminded those attending a Seder at Corner House Christian Church that without Judaism, there would not be Christianity.
Jesus was a Jew and participated in the rich heritage of the faith, which included celebrating Passover.
Bagirov led a Seder Wednesday night at the church at 6954 Chestnut Ridge Road. It was a special feature of Wonders of Wednesdays (WOW), a program for youth and adults.
Members of the nondenominational church followed a program, which noted that “Seder” means “order” in Hebrew and the service follows a certain procedure. The Seder recalls the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and liberation from slavery. Jesus celebrated a Passover meal with his disciples the night before he was crucified. Christians know that as the Last Supper.
Today is known as Holy or Maundy Thursday in Christianity. Some churches may recall the Last Supper with a special meal and service that includes foot washing. Maundy refers to the ceremony of washing the feet of the poor and commemorating Jesus’ washing of His disciples’ feet at the Last Supper.
Easter or Paschal Triduum begins tonight and ends Easter Sunday evening. The observance recalls the passion, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus in the canonical Gospels. In the Catholic church, the Easter Triduum is seen liturgically as one day, unfolding the unity of Christ’s Paschal mystery.
Bagirov’s mother was Jewish and his father, Shiite Muslim. He observed Muslim holidays growing up, he said. He and his wife, Tatiana, were Russian citizens, then moved to Israel, then Canada, where they converted to Christianity, then came to the United States about 19 years ago.
Pastor David T. Coxson said he saw the Seder as a learning experience for members.
He noted in the past, the church has had a Seder, and it was a positive event.
Church members Herbert Good and Jerry Coxson played guitars and sang an opening song with the pastor about Jehovah.
In this Seder, Bible passages about Jesus were incorporated.
When the candles were blessed as the Seder began, it was noted that the candles, lighted by a woman, represented creation and redemption. It was noted that a woman gave birth to the light of the world, and reference is found in John 8:12.
The Seder also includes the ceremonial washing of hands, which is referenced in Psalms 24:3-4.
The Seder includes the following foods, which are rich in symbolism. They are: karpas, fresh greens such as parsley to remind participants that Passover occurs in the spring, is dipped in saltwater to recall tears shed by Israelite slaves; maror, bitter herbs such as horseradish to reflect the bitterness of slavery in Egypt; charoset, a sweet mixture with apples, symbolic of the clay the Israelites used to make bricks for the pharaoh; shank bone, the roasted bone of the sacrificial lamb brought to the temple in Jerusalem as an offering to God; roasted (hard-boiled) egg, symbolic of an offering brought to the temple in honor of a holiday; matzah, unleavened bread representing Jesus, who was without sin; and four cups of grape juice to remind participants of four of God’s promises of freedom to the Jewish people.
Carol Morrow, a lifelong church member, said, “The Seder is a moving experience. The symbolism from Judaism is beautiful.”
Good, a 34-year member, agreed.
“It’s interesting to learn about the Passover.”