Mark 14:16

they made ready the passover This preparation would include the provision of the unleavened cakes, of the bitter herbs, the four or five cups of red wine mixed with water, of everything, in short, necessary for the meal. At this point it may be well to try to realise the manner in which the Passover was celebrated amongst the Jews in the time of our Lord. (i) With the Passover, by Divine ordinance, there had always been eaten two or three flat cakes of unleavened bread (Exodus 12:18), and the rites of the feast by immemorial usage had been regulated according to the succession of four cups of red wine always mixed with water (Psalms 16:5; Psalms 23:5; Psalms 116:13). These were placed before the master of the house where the Paschal Feast was celebrated, or the most eminent guest, who was called the Celebrant, the President, or Proclaimer of the Feast. (ii) After those assembled had reclined, he took one of the Four Cups, known as the "Cup of Consecration," in his right hand, and pronounced the benediction over the wine and the feast, saying, "Blessed be Thou, Jehovah, our God, Thou King of the universe, Who hast created the fruit of the vine," He then tasted the Cup and passed it round. (iii) Water was then brought in, and he washed, followed by the rest, the hands being dipped in water. (iv) The table was then set out with the bitter herbs, such as lettuce, endive, succory, and horehound, the sauce called Charoseth, and the Passover lamb. (v) The Celebrant then once more blessed God for the fruits of the earth, and taking a portion of the bitter herbs, dipped it in the charoseth, and ate a piece of it of "the size of an olive," and his example was followed by the rest. (vi) The Haggadahor "shewing forth" (1 Corinthians 11:26) now commenced, and the Celebrant declared the circumstances of the delivery from Egypt, as commanded by the Law (Exodus 12:27; Exodus 13:8). (vii) Then the second Cup of wine was filled, and a child or proselyte inquired, "What mean ye by this service?" (Exodus 12:26), to which reply was made according to a prescribed formula or liturgy. The first part of the "Hallel," Psalms 113, 114, was then sung, and the second Cup was solemnly drunk. (viii) The Celebrant now washed his hands again, and taking two of the unleavened cakes, broke one of them, and pronounced the thanksgiving in these words, "Blessed be Thou, O Lord our God, Thou King of the universe, Who bringest forth fruit out of the earth." Then he distributed a portion to each, and all wrapping some bitter herbs round their portion dipped it in the charosethand ate it. (ix) The flesh of the lamb was now eaten, and the Master of the house, lifting up his hands, gave thanks over the third Cup of wine, known as the "Cup of Blessing," and handed it round to each person. (x) After thanking for the food of which they had partaken and for their redemption from Egypt, a fourth Cup, known as the "Cup of Joy," was filled and drunk, and the remainder of the Hallel (Psalms 115-118) was sung. See Buxtorf, de Cœna Domini;Lightfoot, Temple Service;Edersheim, pp. 206 209.