What do the four cups of wine represent at Passover?
Passover (Pesach) begins tonight! As part of our Seder meal (Seder is a Hebrew word that means “order”), we’re going to drink four cups of wine or grape juice that represent four promises God gave to Moses in Exodus 6:6-7.
Therefore say to the children of Israel: I am Adonai, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will deliver you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you to Myself as a people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am Adonai your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
—Exodus 6:6–7
The four cups represent the four promises of God:
I WILL bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. (Sanctification)
I WILL free you from being slaves. (Affliction)
I WILL redeem you with an outstretched arm. (Redemption)
I WILL take you as My own people (Praise)
And I WILL be your God (First four are believed, Fifth promise is assumed)
1. The First Cup: The Cup of Sanctification
The first cup is the cup of sanctification or the Kiddush cup. As God sanctifies us—He sets us apart from our old ways and continues His work in hearts to shape us into people that bear His name to the world.
It is no surprise that our Sanctification is so important to God that celebrating it is the first thing we do together. It is the first of four cups we drink.
In fact, this is also the same cup this is also the same cup we drink every Shabbat to set apart a day for rest. The first day of the Jewish festivals as a reminder of God’s creation of the world.
And so as we begin Passover, we raise the first cup with grateful hearts as we celebrate the way that God’s gift of sanctification is at work in our lives.
2. The Second Cup: The Cup of Affliction
When Pharaoh defied God’s repeated commands to release the Jewish people, he invited curses upon himself and his people. With the second cup we remember each of the ten plagues that God used against Pharaoh to show His power and convince Him to release His people from slavery and bondage.
These ten plagues also served as a judgement against each of the gods that the ancient Egyptians served. God was showing Himself powerful and all mighty against the no-gods of that day.
As I was reflecting on Passover this year, it also struck me that these afflictions can also be seen as a reminder of how God gives us many chances to listen to his voice—if only we would be willing! He gave Pharaoh not one, two, or three chance, but 10 chances to turn from his prideful rebellion again the King of the Universe and to obey his commands.
How often does God continue to work this way in our own lives? Patient, long-suffering, full of loving kindness and repeated chances to follow His ways.
A full cup is also the symbol of complete joy. Joy in God’s mighty deliverance to His children. Joy in the new life He’s given us through Yeshua!
But this is the Cup of Affliction (or Plagues). So as part of the Passover Seder, we dip our pinky into the cup of wine and remove a drop of wine and let it fall to our plate—one for each of the ten plagues.
3. The Third Cup: The Cup of Redemption
After the Passover meal, we refill our cups for the third time and celebrate the cup of redemption from the promise where God said that he would redeem His people.
As followers of Yeshua, we also recognize the intimate connection to Jesus at the Last Supper where He revealed Himself as Messiah. This third cup of the new covenant is the same cup of redemption we partake of at Passover.
He did the same with the cup after the meal, saying, "This cup is the New Covenant, ratified by my blood, which is being poured out for you.
—Luke 22:20
We who knew no sin, became sin in our place. He poured out his blood on our behalf as he died on the cross, sealing the new covenant. Doing through his blood, what could never have been accomplished through the blood of bulls and goats.
And so with this, we drink the cup of redemption, we turn our minds on the sacrifice of Yeshua whose atoning death can bring salvation to all who believe!
4. The Fourth Cup: The Cup of Praise
With the fourth and final cup, we raise our glasses and celebrate with praise, the God who saves and delivers. The King of the Universe who’s name is great above all other names. Who keeps His promises to us and who rules the world with mighty justice towards His people!
How can I repay Adonai for all His bounties to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation, and call on the Name of Adonai. I will fulfill my vows to Adonai in the presence of all His people.
—Psalm 116:12–14
As we drink this cup, we read passages from Psalms 113–118 as well as Psalms 136 and celebrate God’s lovingkindness (chesed) that endures forever. We remind ourselves of His greatness with shouts of praise around the altar of our tables. We remember the body of Messiah broken for us and his atoning blood poured out for our salvation.
I will not die, but live, and proclaim what Adonai has done! Adonai has chastened me hard, but has not given me over to death.
Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and praise Adonai. This is the gate of Adonai—the righteous will enter through it. I give You thanks, because You have answered me and have become my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone. It is from Adonai: it is marvelous in our eyes! This is the day that Adonai has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Hoshia-na! Please, Adonai, save now! We beseech You, Adonai, prosper us! Baruch haba b’Shem Adonai—Blessed is He who comes in the Name of Adonai. We bless you from the House of Adonai.
—Psalms 118:17–26
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his lovingkindness continues forever!
Conclusion
This brings us to the end of the Fours Cups of Passover. Tonight we will celebrate these promises of redemption by drinking from our cups four times. It’s easy to relegate this tradition to a story from ancient history, and an ancient people disconnected from our daily lives.
But we repeat the Exodus story throughout our own lives:
What is it that he's brought you out and delivered you from?
What was that that has kept you stuck and bound?
How have you seen God’s redemption so clearly in your life?
Sometimes it’s easy to miss, but He is always present—working in the details of our lives. His promises are just as true in our lives today as they were thousands of years ago.
May we always remember the faithfulness and lovingkindness of the God we follow!
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For a deeper dive into the significance of the Four Cups at a Passover Seder meal and their connection for Christians to Jesus as Messiah, checkout Episode 9 of the Ancient Way Podcast.
