Prayers for the Celebration of Passover
The Hebrew Passover meal, also known as a Seder meal, is always celebrated on the 15th day of Nissan on the Hebrew calendar. Since the modern calendar is different from the Hebrew one, it seems like Passover is celebrated on different days each year, but it is always celebrated on the 15th day of Nissan whenever that falls on the modern calendar.
The traditional Passover meal includes four cups of wine or grape juice, vegetables dipped in saltwater, flat cracker-like bread called matzah, bitter herbs, and a mixture of nuts, apples, and pears. Stories are told and hymns are sung throughout the celebratory evening.
Passover is an extremely significant event for all believers. Let’s look at why it is so significant, and then I will share 5 Passover prayers to lift up to God throughout this celebration.
Significance of Passover in the Old Testament
The first Passover, described in Exodus 12, took place while the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt. God instructed them to sacrifice a flawless one-year-old male lamb or goat and mark their doorframes with its blood for protection. That night, the Lord struck down every firstborn male in Egypt but spared those in marked homes. The Israelites ate the roasted meat with bitter greens and unleavened bread before Pharaoh finally released them from 430 years of slavery.
To commemorate their deliverance, God commanded the Israelites to celebrate Passover annually. For seven days, they were to eat only unleavened bread and remove all yeast from their homes. The first and seventh days were holy assemblies with no work allowed except food preparation. This festival served as a reminder of their liberation, with parents retelling the story to future generations.
Passover Celebration at The Last Supper
Years later, on the night before Jesus’s crucifixion, Jesus celebrated Passover with His disciples (John 13). Ceremonial washing of hands is a fixture of Jewish celebrations. Jesus took this further and knelt down to wash all of His disciples’ feet. They didn’t understand but He told them, “Unless I wash you, you don’t belong to Me.” Jesus also told them that He was giving them an example to follow. Serving other people is a mandate to live by and God blesses those who follow His example.
Also, during the Passover meal (Matthew 26:17-30), Jesus took some of the bread, blessed it, broke it into pieces, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it. It is my body.” Then He took a cup of wine, gave thanks, passed it to them, and said, “Each of you drink. This is my blood, and it confirms the covenant between God and His people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.”
Here are five Passover prayers to truly appreciate this ritual and give glory to the work that God has done through the sacrificing of his Son:
Prayers to Begin Passover Seder
Blessing Over Wine: Kiddush Benediction Prayer
Kiddush means sanctification. You need to set this meal apart from regular meals. It is a special meal to glorify God.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has chosen us from all peoples, exalting us and sanctifying us with Your commandments. In love, You have given us this festival of Matzot, the season of our freedom, a holy convocation, a memorial of the Exodus from Egypt. You have sanctified us and granted us heritage among the nations, blessing us with sacred times of joy and celebration.
Blessed are You, Lord, who sanctifies Israel and the festivals.
(Drink the first cup of wine as part of the Passover Seder.)
Blessing Over Washing Hands: Al Netilat Yadayim
Before eating matzah, participants perform the ritual washing of hands and recite:
Hebrew: "Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al netilat yadayim."
English: "Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us regarding the washing of hands."
Blessing Over the Matzah: HaMotzi Lechem Min Ha'aretz
After washing hands, before eating the matzah, the following blessing is recited:
Hebrew: "Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech ha’olam, haMotzi lechem min ha’aretz."
English: "Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth."
Blessing Over Eating Matzah: Al Achilat Matzah
Since matzah is the special unleavened bread of Passover, an additional blessing is often recited before eating it:
Hebrew: Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al achilat matzah.
English: "Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us concerning the eating of matzah."
A Prayer to Appreciate Passover
In the middle of the Passover celebration, the children ask many questions because they are wondering why this night is different from other nights. The Haggadah is read, which is the story of the Exodus from Egypt or the journey from slavery to freedom. One generation talks about the faithfulness of God to the next generation.
The traditional Passover meal also includes a hard-boiled egg dipped in saltwater. This is a symbol of mourning and reminds them that this meal lacks a sacrificial lamb. This is a tradition of the Old Testament by people looking forward to God’s salvation. But now we are living under the New Testament where Jesus became that sacrificial Lamb.
Dear God, thank you that the sacrifice and blood of a male lamb with no defect allowed You to pass over the Israelite homes as you cursed the Egyptians. That sacrifice helps me to see the specialness of Jesus’s sacrifice even clearer. He was the spotless Lamb of God that willingly sacrificed Himself to atone for my many sins. I could never earn your mercy, forgiveness, and grace, but I was given it freely. Amen.
A Prayer to Bless This Passover
Dear Jesus, thank you for celebrating Passover over 2,000 years ago on the night before your crucifixion. Thank you that your body was broken for me. And your blood was poured out for me. I don’t take this lightly. It was an incredible gift of sacrifice and forgiveness. You were broken so that I could be made whole. May deep gratitude overflow my heart for what You have done. Amen.
A Passover Prayer of Gratitude of Being Washed Clean from Sin
After the Passover meal, a cup is filled with wine for the Prophet Elijah and a door is opened to invite him inside. Tradition says that the Prophet Elijah will usher in the coming of the Messiah. Then John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah and ushered in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 11:13-14). His message was repent and be baptized and therefore cleansed of your sin.
Dear Lord, before You cleansed me, I had to live with the stain of my sin. A stain that could never be removed by human effort. I lived under the curse of shame, remorse, and regret. But even worse than that, sometimes I lived under the folly of relishing in my sin. But then You washed me of all sin—past, present, and future. Now, Your Spirit within me leads me to repent and teaches me how to live in order to glorify You and Your ways. I am truly free because you have cleansed me. Amen.
A Prayer to Conclude the Passover Celebration
Just as Jesus took the bread, broke it, blessed it, and gave it, may I be broken of my pride so that my life can be a blessing and given for others. To the glory of God. Amen.
The response at the end of each Passover meal is the Hallel, which means praise. Psalm 118:21 summarizes this praise:
I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory!
God indeed gives us victory when we humble ourselves under His mighty hand. Make a point to lift up these Passover prayers this year and remember how powerful God’s victory is still!
Photo Credit: Wavebreakmedia
Originally published February 24, 2022.
