Passover

We believe in and love God because God sacrificed Himself to save us. In exchange, the least we can do is remember God. According to the Bible, the way to remember God is to observe the Passover.

History of the Passover

God first gave the command to celebrate the Passover to the Israelites in order to protect them from the plague of the death of the firstborn and to free them from slavery.

While the Israelites were still in the land of Egypt, the LORD gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron . . . “These are your instructions for eating this meal: Be fully dressed, wear your sandals, and carry your walking stick in your hand. Eat the meal with urgency, for this is the LORD’s Passover. On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. . . . But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. . . . This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the LORD. This is a law for all time.”
Exodus 12:1-14 (NLT)

God said that keeping the Passover is a law for all time for those who belong to God. By celebrating the Passover, we come to remember God’s great love and concern for His people, His power of protection, and His promise to deliver His people to the promised land.

Passover in the New Testament 

As an eternal law, we can also see the command to keep the Passover given in the New Testament.

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” . . . So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
Matthew 26:17-19

While celebrating the Passover 2,000 years ago, God again let us know that this celebration is the way to remember Him.

They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” . . . And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
Luke 22:13-20

Christ celebrated the Passover not by sacrificing a lamb, but by giving His body and blood through bread and wine. He also mentioned that we must celebrate this New Covenant Passover to remember Him: His sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and the salvation of our souls.

Shadow and Reality of the Passover

While many think that the Passover is only an Old Testament celebration, the Bible shows us, as Christians living today, we, too, must celebrate the Passover. In fact, the book of Hebrews explains that God established the Passover in the Old Testament as a way to testify about the life and works of Christ in the New Testament.

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.
Hebrews 10:1

The love God demonstrated through the Old Testament Passover is just a shadow of His love contained in the New Testament Passover. God Himself came to this earth in human likeness to take away our sins and died on the cross as the Passover lamb. And He included us in His redemption work by allowing us to eat His flesh and drink His blood through the Passover.

For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed for us.
1 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)

Celebrate the New Covenant Passover to Remember Christ

 
Apostle Paul, the apostle of apostles, continued to remind the Early Church—and us, as well—about the importance of observing the Passover and remembering all Christ has done for us.

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed [Passover night], took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Only by celebrating the Passover can we proclaim the immense love Christ has for all mankind. By remembering His heart and His sacrifice, we can live a life pleasing to God. The World Mission Society Church of God celebrates the New Covenant Passover in accordance with all the teachings of the Bible. Please visit your nearest Church of God to continue learning about the Passover and all of God’s promises associated with celebrating it.