Thursday 18 July 2024

Psalm 22:1-18

Background
The story of God’s liberation of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt (and their subsequent journey through the wilderness and deliverance into the land promised to their ancestors) lies at the heart of Israel’s self-understanding. References to the Exodus experience are scattered throughout the rest of the Bible. The story is retold and reclaimed each year by the Jewish community through the festival of Pesach (or Passover), the origins of which lie in today’s passage.

The story holds great significance for Christians, too. Early Christians being baptised would recall the story of the people of Israel passing through the sea to new life beyond Egypt. The stories of Jesus draw frequently on themes and imagery from Exodus. Jesus is referred to as the ‘Passover lamb’ (eg 1 Corinthians 5:7, 11:25). You may well hear in a Methodist communion service the words "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" (The Methodist Worship Book, p. 171).

The story of liberation from slavery in Egypt is both for Jewish people and Christians at the heart of our shared identity as God’s delivered people.

However, a word of caution. There have been conversations in recent years about the importance of honouring Passover as a sacred Jewish festival (and not seeking to appropriate it for Christian purposes). Some Christians, in the past, have held Seder meals – the Passover ritual meal observed by Jewish families involving readings, stories, songs and symbolic foods such as matzah, and four cups of wine. As the Last Supper is often interpreted as having been a Passover meal, some Christians have held Seders as a way of connecting with the experience of Jesus and his disciples. This is problematic for several reasons. First, the way Jesus celebrated the Passover (before the destruction of the Temple) would have looked radically different from how it is celebrated today. And second, ‘Christian Seders’ run the risk of both appropriating modern Jewish customs and rituals, and of promoting the notion that Christianity has replaced Judaism (‘Supersessionism’).

The Council of Christians and Jews, however, encourages Christians to consider attending a Jewish Seder as a respectful guest, or inviting a Jewish person to speak to your community about how they celebrate the Sabbath each week.

You can find out more in this helpful resource from CCJ.

To Ponder:

• Have you ever attended a Seder? If so, what struck you? If not, would you consider attending one as a guest?
• What does the story of Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt mean to you? Have you had personal experiences of being ‘set free’ by the power of God that resonate with this story?

Bible notes author: The Revd Naomi Oates
Naomi is a Methodist minister, currently serving in four churches in the North Kent Circuit. When not being rugby-tackled by her two toddlers, she enjoys cycling, baking and reading Golden Age detective fiction (although not all at the same time).