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Synagogue
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The story of the Synagogue and the upper room can be found in the Gospel of Luke 4:16-30. It is also told through the Godly Play volume four, lesson eleven. This story is about the disciples last supper with Jesus in the upper room. For follow-up activities you could present a children friendly Passover meal (the Seder).
So what was the upper room and what happened at that the last supper? For many years Jesus shared a typical Seder meal with His disciples. Then when Jesus’ last days were eminent, He shared the meal one more time in a new way. The twelve traveled to the upper room in a modest residence in Jerusalem to partake in this simple supper. This time the meal turned into a remembrance of Jesus’ faith journey here on earth with his followers.
Historians say that traditional meal would include:
Some scholars suggest that the Last Supper-Passover connection was created in part by early Christians who want to connect Jesus’ martyrdom to the redemption of the Jews from Egypt. This symbolic moment dovetails perfectly with the figure of the Passover lamb, which ancient Jews sacrificed to commemorate their salvation from slavery in Egypt.
We can share this rich history with our children by hosting a mini-Seder meal. Maybe it could look like more like appetizers for a typical meal. It might be fun to include a menu of; horseradish, apple sauce, parsley dipped in salt water, a chicken drumette, boiled egg, matzah and juice.
This tradition represents a story of flight, candle-lit prayers over enemies that were vanquished and unleavened bread and wine to help us remember the grace Jesus offered to all people.
So what was the upper room and what happened at that the last supper? For many years Jesus shared a typical Seder meal with His disciples. Then when Jesus’ last days were eminent, He shared the meal one more time in a new way. The twelve traveled to the upper room in a modest residence in Jerusalem to partake in this simple supper. This time the meal turned into a remembrance of Jesus’ faith journey here on earth with his followers.
Historians say that traditional meal would include:
- Maror- bitter herbs; such as horseradish
- Charoset- sweet mixture of nuts, apples and cinnamon; such as apple sauce
- Karpas- vegetables dipped in salt water
- Zeroah- roasted meat such as lamb or chicken
- Beitzah- roasted eggs
- Matzot- a stack of flat bread such as matzah
- Wine- for children we would offer grape juice
Some scholars suggest that the Last Supper-Passover connection was created in part by early Christians who want to connect Jesus’ martyrdom to the redemption of the Jews from Egypt. This symbolic moment dovetails perfectly with the figure of the Passover lamb, which ancient Jews sacrificed to commemorate their salvation from slavery in Egypt.
We can share this rich history with our children by hosting a mini-Seder meal. Maybe it could look like more like appetizers for a typical meal. It might be fun to include a menu of; horseradish, apple sauce, parsley dipped in salt water, a chicken drumette, boiled egg, matzah and juice.
This tradition represents a story of flight, candle-lit prayers over enemies that were vanquished and unleavened bread and wine to help us remember the grace Jesus offered to all people.