Instructions for Keeping the New
Covenant Passover
If you are
eligible to take the PASSOVER, but unable to meet with one of God’s congregations at
the prescribed time, you may observe it at the second Passover 30 days later (Numbers
9:11), or in your own home in the first month of the sacred year, just after sundown on
the beginning of the 14th of Nisan (1 Cor 11:23) alone or with other eligible
members. The Passover may be kept at home
when it is not possible for a member to observe it in a formal ceremony.
In advance of
the Passover, purchase or prepare a small amount of unleavened bread. Jewish Matzoth, or Matzos, may be purchased at
many grocery stores. The requirement for the
bread to be used in the Passover service is that it be “Unleavened.”
(On products
such as Rye Krisp or any other unleavened bread, be sure to check the ingredients on the
side of the package). You may make some flat
cakes, made without any leavening agent (no yeast, soda, baking powder, etc.). Also have ready a small amount of natural, red
wine. Grape juice was never used at Passover
by Jesus, ancient Israel or the original pure New Testament Church. Be sure you obtain a natural, unfortified wine. Alcoholic content will be between 10 percent and
13 percent. Wines containing 19 percent to 20
percent are fortified with grape brandy and should not be used.
Be prepared to
observe the sacred ordinance in the early evening, soon after dark. Be sure the room is prepared very neatly, and
clean. Have a small amount of the unleavened
bread and very small glasses of wine (one for each person) prepared on a tray or table. Place not more than a tablespoon of wine in each
small glass, and prior to the ordinance have these emblems covered with an immaculate
white napkin.
As the time to
begin approaches, let those who will participate in the solemn observance of the New
Testament Passover ordinance come quietly and solemnly into the room prepared. Let the head of the family or leading male conduct
the brief and solemn service. No unconverted,
or unbaptized individual may participate. There
should be no visiting, talking, laughing, joking or unnecessary conversation prior to,
during or after the service. You are meeting
on the most solemn and serious occasion of the entire year.
All should come into the room reverently.
(Unbaptized children may certainly watch and learn from the proceedings, but
should not participate.)
Begin the
service without prayer. This service is a
very sobering occasion because we are reflecting on the suffering and death of Jesus
Christ. It is also, however, a most
encouraging service because it reveals the love of God for His people. We are given this
annual reminder of the glorious victory over sin that is ours because of the sacrifice of
the only begotten Son of God.
By participating
in this service, you are expressing your faith in Christ’s death on your behalf, and
renewing your commitment to let Jesus Christ live His life in you.
After everyone
is seated and a small welcome address is given concerning the meaning of the New Covenant
and why one renews his commitment everyear with the Father and His son Jesus Christ, the
following scriptures should be read:
1 Corinthians 11:23-30
John 6:32-58—(Read all). Both eating
and drinking are directly associated with eternal life.
Read John 13:1-17: Then, if two or more people are participating, wash
one another’s feet. (Washpans and clean
towels should be provided before starting the service.)
If four or more people, two or more of each sex, the men may retire to a
different room for this part of the service. If
one person is observing it alone, this part of the ordinance must, out of necessity, be
omitted.
Then the pans,
towels and water are removed and the room should be in neat order again.
The Bread
Matthew 26:26-30
1 Corinthians 10:16-17. We become one Body
by all partaking of the bread of life, Jesus Christ.
Christ lives His life in us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit,
making us part of the ONE BODY OF CHRIST – HIS CHURCH, THE BEGOTTEN FAMILY OF GOD. The small piece of unleavened bread we eat
symbolizes Jesus’ body that was broken and beaten for our sins.
Isaiah 53:5 … “with his stripes
we are healed.” Jesus’ body was
beaten, and he suffered a severe bruising and affliction in order that our physical and
spiritual health would be cleansed and healed. We
look to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith for our healing on a regular
basis and often claim this promise many times throughout our physical lives. Many of God’s people have truly experienced
such physical and spiritual healings throughout their lives many times. This is indeed an additional blessing to be
claimed at this service as well as recognizing that Jesus’ shed blood and broken body
has forgiven our sins for all eternity. When
we are born into the family of God, as spirit beings, as children of God we will be
cleansed permanently. Jesus suffered in order
that we will someday be like him. (James
5:14-16; 1 John 3:2-3)
1 Pet 2:20-24. Eating this unleavened bread at the Passover
service demonstrates our total COMMITMENT TO GOD AND HIS WAY OF LIFE.
The Prayer over the Bread
Remove the
napkin from the bread and pray over it, asking God to bless it as a symbol of Christ’s
body, broken for us. This prayer should
include the fact that Christ suffered for us and we must be willing to suffer as He did
for righteousness’ sake. Jesus’
stripes are for our healing, both physical and spiritual.
“By His Stripes…” are we healed.
Thank God for His love and all His
mercies and benefits toward us. Ask God to
give us His mind and attitude of service, as members of the Body of Christ, through a
continual “outpouring” of His Holy Spirit in each of his truly converted sons
and daughters.
Then break the
bread into small bits. After being served,
each person should quietly and solemnly eat the small piece of bread…reflecting on
what Jesus did not only for all of mankind, but for us as individuals.
The Wine
Matthew 26:27-28
Luke 22:17-22
John 19:23-37
Hebrews 9:11-15; 22,27-28;10:10-12
1 John 1:7 (Ephesians 1:7 &
Colossians 1:20-22 if desired.)
Mark 15:34-38
The Prayer over the Wine
Then uncover and
pray over the wine, giving thanks and asking God to bless it to this sacred use as the
symbol of Christ’s blood, shed for the remission of our sins. Thank God for giving us His only Son to die for
us, washing us clean that we might be reconciled to God.
Thank Him for Christ’s willingness to submit to His Father’s will,
even to death. Each member should take a
glass and quietly and reverently drink it. Replace
the glass on the tray or table, cover them and the unused bread again with the napkin.
After the bread
and wine are covered, the leader will read aloud portions from John 13:18 on through the
17th chapter of John. Since it is
rather long, the leader may, in advance of the service, mark certain portions of these
chapters to be read instead of reading all of it.
When the
scripture reading is finished, sing a hymn and dismiss, quietly leaving the room without
conversation.
This service may
be observed, if necessary, by one person alone (man or woman), or by two, or more. If two or more, the foot washing should be
included.
When the service
has ended, and the people have left the room, the one in charge should discard any portion
of the bread and wine left over that was taken into the room for the service and that had
been blessed. Only such wine or bread
actually taken into the room for the service, and prayed over during the service, need be
discarded. None of this bread or wine ought
to be consumed for any other purpose after the service. Dispose of the bread and wine completely to
prevent any further use.
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