The Passover and God’s Promise
The New Covenant Passover is the core of the Bible and an essential feast that grants God’s people protection from disasters, the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
The Passover originated when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. God instructed them to celebrate the Passover on the 14th day of the first month (according to the sacred calendar) by sacrificing a lamb and putting its blood on the tops and sides of their doorframes (Ex 12:1–13). To those who celebrated the Passover as God commanded, God promised protection from the plague of death and freedom from slavery.
“‘On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.’”
Just as God promised, that very night, He sent the plague of the death of the firstborn throughout all of Egypt. However, God protected those who kept the Passover following His instructions. And God also told His people to continue keeping the Passover year after year.
“‘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.’”
The New Covenant Passover
Though God established the Passover in the Old Testament, Jesus set the example of continuing to celebrate the Passover even in the New Testament. But instead of keeping it by slaughtering a lamb, He celebrated the Passover with bread and wine. The night before He was crucified, He promised His flesh and blood through the Passover bread and wine, establishing the New Covenant Passover (Lk 22:7–20).
“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.’”
“‘Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.’”
John 6:54
The apostles of the Early Church continued celebrating the New Covenant Passover according to Christ’s example (1Co 11:23–26) until its abolishment at the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325. However, the Bible says that God will come a second time to bring salvation by restoring the Passover (Heb 9:28; Isa 25:6–9).
The World Mission Society Church of God is the only church that keeps the New Covenant Passover in the same way Jesus and the disciples kept it 2,000 years ago.
