“The Lord’s Supper”, “The Last Supper”, “Eucharist”, “Sacrament” or the “Holy Communion”—these are some of the common names people use to describe the bread and wine that Jesus and His disciples had before He was crucified on the cross. Biblically, it is called the Passover of the New Covenant.
There are different traditions with regards to the breaking of bread and drinking of wine. Do we use biscuits or tortilla for bread and Ribena as the wine? Do we consume both bread and Ribena, or only the bread? When should we celebrate the Passover—is it once a month, once a week, or every day? Many people do not question this. Some think that there is no difference and it does not matter. However, what is the origin and the will of God behind the ceremony of the Passover? What is God’s expectation for us? Let’s examine what God teaches us through the Bible.
1. Origin of the Passover in the Old Testament times
Let us begin by looking at the Passover in the Old Testament.
Exodus 12:5-14 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, … Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the door frames of the houses where they eat the lambs… Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover … 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 … celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.
Leviticus 23:4-5 These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times: The Lord’s Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.
The first Passover was observed in the time of Moses. A year-old lamb without defect was burned and the blood of the lamb was put on the sides of the door frames. By doing that, the last plague, which was the killing of the firstborn, would “pass over” the Israelites. After keeping the Passover, the Israelites were set free from the land of slavery, Egypt. God then commanded the Israelites to commemorate this feast as a lasting ordinance.
2. Jesus came to fulfill the prophecy of the Bible; He came as the Lamb
The lambs used in the Passover ceremony allow us to understand the meaning of the Passover. In the New Testament times, we can understand the deeper meaning of the Passover lamb through the words of Jesus. Jesus said He came to fulfil the law of the Old Testament. What does that mean?
Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.
Jesus fulfilled the law as He came with the role of a sacrificial lamb. In the verse Exodus 12:5-14, we saw that the lambs were sacrificed for the Passover ceremony. This was a reflection that Jesus was to come as a sacrificial offering.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
John the Baptist testified that Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
3. Jesus kept the Passover of the New Covenant with His disciples
Jesus explained that the blessings of His sacrifice were contained in the Passover ceremony.
Matthew 26:17-19, 26-28 … the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He replied, “… I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. When evening came, … While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and …, saying “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
This is the scene when Jesus kept the Passover of the New Covenant with His disciples. In the Old Testament, lambs were sacrificed as offerings. However, in the New Testament time, Jesus came as the reality of the Passover lamb. Jesus took bread and wine, which symbolised His flesh and blood sacrificed on the cross.
Mark 14:12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
An important thing to note: Jesus and His disciples kept the feast on the Passover day which was the fourteenth day of the first month, at twilight, according to the sacred calendar. As Jesus came to fulfil the law, He waited for the appointed time to keep the Passover ceremony. Clearly, there is an appointed day and time to keep the Passover.
4. The Passover contains the blessings of the forgiveness of sins
What blessings are contained in the Passover of the New Covenant established by Jesus?
Matthew 26:28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
In the Old Testament times, the Israelites were set free from the land of slavery in Egypt after keeping the Passover. As we receive the forgiveness of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus, we are set free from sin and death after we keep the Passover in the New Testament times.
5. In remembrance of Me
Some argue that they keep the Holy Communion or Last Supper every day, once a week or once a month in order to remember Jesus’ sacrifice by quoting 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, 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.
Some may misunderstand that as Apostle Paul mentioned the word “whenever“, they could keep it whenever they can. However if we examine the passage carefully, we should not miss out the words on the night he was betrayed. This night is the Passover night. Certainly we should take part in the bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus, but there is no indication that it should be celebrated every day, once a week, or once a month. Apostle Paul mentioned “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you“, we can be sure Apostle Paul must have followed the teachings of Jesus in the regulations concerning the Passover.
An extra note:
The language here might be confusing to some, resulting in misinterpretation.
Here is how we can be clear about it. Looking at the words, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup,” we can see that Apostle Paul was referring to the bread and wine of the Passover ceremony. This simply means that whenever they ate the bread and drank the wine of the Passover ceremony, they should remember Jesus.
It clearly does not mean that they could keep the ceremony whenever they wanted to.
1 Corinthians 11:27-29 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
Do you want to remember Jesus’ sacrifice and receive the forgiveness of sin? Let us keep the Passover according to the teachings of the Bible, on the fourteenth day of the first month according to the sacred calendar, at twilight. Let us not stick to our own thoughts, but follow God who leads us to salvation (Isaiah 55:8-9). Today, only the World Mission Society Church of God keeps the Passover of the New Covenant. Come to the Church of God and receive the blessings from God!
The Passover is God’s commandment which contains love and sacrifice of God for sinners.
Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong restored the Passover of the new covenant according to the prophecy of the Bible. We can receive the eternal life through the Passover. We must keep it and preach the gospels to people.
I also face many people insist Holy communion and Passover is same. But this content makes my thought clear. Furthermore, I can confidently explain them why it is different. Thank you for the essential info. 🙂
There is not Holy communion in the Bible. Only the Passover is commandment of God which God Himself established in each ages. So only those who keep the Passvoer can recieve the blessing of eternal life by God.
Thru the Passover of the New Covenant which was established by Jesus 2,000 yrs ago. We can receive the forgiveness of our sins and salvation in WMSCOG.
There are so many things we do for our salvation but what if they are made not by God but by men? Passover is one of them and we can clearly find the evidence through the Bible. If we want to get redemption, we should listen to God’s voice through the Bible.
When we keep the Passovee according to God’s teaching, not man’s teaching, we can receive God’s promise, eternal life.
Passover is the day when God promised to save us. I hope many people will keep it and be saved.
I was taught the Passover is just the law of the Old Testament before. I didn’t know “The Last Supper” is the Passover of the New Covenant and Jesus commanded us to keep it even in the New Testament times.
Only the bread of wine having on the Passover feast celebrated in the evening of the 14th day of the first month in sacred calendar becomes God’s flesh and blood giving us the forgiveness of sin,namely eternal life. It is the New Covenant between God and God’s ppl. So we should wait the day and the time according to the example of Christ.
God’s teachings can never be replaced with man’s teachings. God’s teachings bring life~
What date and month is the Passover meal be celebrated? It mentioned 14th day of the first month. What month is it January 14?
Hey! Good question ^^ apparently internationally we are currently using the Gregorian/Solar calendar to remember our dates and seasons.
However, the Passover stated on the 14th of the first month refers to the Sacred Calendar of the Hebrews. Thus the dates fall differently between March to April every year.
Interesting how you were able to draw the connection between the Passover of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, but the point about the Jesus fulfilling the role of a *sacrificial lamb* was only briefly mentioned and then weakly supported by a verse stating that Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. I understand the importance of brevity, perhaps it could applied in other parts of the article.
And the Leviticus verse placed at the top might apply a greater effect if placed closer to where it mentions the significance of the time when Jesus kept the Passover.
The conclusion answers what the Passover is and does not go on to explain what the Holy Communion is, I would be even more pursuaded by the article if both sides were presented on equal grounds. But that requires doubling the length of the article.
Still, the esscense of the article is undeniably true to the Bible. Insightful.
I agree that Passover Meal is an annual celebration. However in 1 Corinthians 11:17-20, it’s clearly stated that “whenever they come together as a church” 3 times.
I supposed the Corinthians church gathered together once a week ? And Paul did not say they should celebrate the Lord’s supper annually. He rebuked them for their disorderliness and lack of reverence for what it symbolises.
On the same night He was betrayed meant to tell us how precise our God is. It happened exactly as Jesus had told them when He celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples. Can you imagine after that celebration, Jesus was not betrayed ?
So it’s meant to convey that and not to tell the Corinthians church to celebrate it annually instead of when they come together as a church.
Please enlighten me if incorrect. I’m very keen to learn why Paul condone weekly celebration of the Lord’s supper when it was clearly a part of the annual Passover meal.
Did the Lord’s supper become a different meal from the Passover meal ?
The Lord’s Supper means the Passover meal!
The Lord’s Supper in Corinthians 11:17~20 is about the Passover meal, not a daily meal!
In verse 23~25, Apostle Paul mentioned the Passover of the new covenant, which was established before the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
As the Bible says, the Passover should be kept holy at the appointed time(Numbers 9:2~3).
Church members gathered to celebrate the Passover. But, some members, who were hungry and with little understanding, were among them. They regarded the bread and wind just as physical food. So they ate the bread and wine, which were prepared for the Passover ceremony, without waiting for its appointed time.
Look 11:27~29!
Apostle Paul rebuked these people as follows:
“Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord
~ Anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself!”
Paul did not condone weekly celebration of the Lord’s supper. The day when he rebuked them for their lack of reverence was the Passover. What is called ‘Holy Communion’ kept once a week or once a month is a wrong teaching by Man’s tradition. Paul taught us to keep the Passover on the night Jesus was betrayed annually forever.
Your Church is not the only one keeping the Passover today. It is good that you do, and once a year on the same night Jesus was betrayed. I have kept the Passover annually since 1989, with various Church of God groups.
Thank you for article and making it clear.
Passover is only the way we can receive forgiveness of sins. I give all thanks and praise to our Elohim God for bringing back the New Covenant Passover, salvation.
By remembering his sacrifice, I’ll keep the Passover!
If you keep the Passover of the new covenant, you will receive the forgiveness of sins(Matthew 26:17~28). There is no way to be saved from the slavery of death except
through Passover.
Thanks to God Elohim that we can know the true Passover!
Amen. Thanks to father and mother to allow Passover.
Only through the new covenant, we can put on a new self.
The World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG) keeps the Passover of the new covenant just as Jesus taught. In this age, Christ restored the Passover of new covenant to lead us to the kingdom of heaven according to the Bible.
Amen!! It’s totally different between holy communion and the Passover. Passover is the teaching of our God in this age again for our salvation in WMSCOG!!
Truly, God’s will is for us to receive the forgiveness of sins through the Passover and enter the kingdom of heaven. Let us then keep the Passover according God’s teachings shown clearly in the bible, instead of following traditions of men~
Before coming to the WMSCOG, I always keep the Holy Communion faithfully in my previous church. However, I was shocked when I studied about the Passover in the WMSCOG!!! Only through keeping the Passover that Jesus establish at the appointed time and date can we receive God’s blessings!!! I am so thankful to have realise this… Truly give thanks to God for leading me to this truth!!!
I never known and kept this Passover in my church for 7years. Just curious how come this WMSCOG discovered about this Passover? and keep it as the Bible still..? amazing!
The reason why WMSCOG keep the Passover is because the Second Coming Christ has already come to this earth according to the prophecies of the Bible and restore it. The Passover was abolished in history at the Council of Nicea in AD325 and ever since that time, no one kept the Passover. Without the Passover, we can neither receive the forgiveness of sins or eternal life. Come to the WMSCOG and see for yourself!! ☺️
I truly give thanks to Elohim God for letting us know the true Passover, the way to salvation and eternal life. It amazed me how the Passover has been restored. This was already prophesied in the bible and I could see it with my own eyes. We really need to open our spiritual eyes to see the fulfillment of the prophecies and only follow the teachings of Jesus Christ himself. I hope many other people will too realize the Passover and value of salvation and come back to God Elohim.
I haven’t heard about the Passover of the New covenant until I come to World Mission Society of God . Also many promises are given through of the New covenant . (John 6:53-54)
哦😯明白了！原来上帝的圣餐就是逾越节啊！有指定的时间和日期！而不是遵守每一天、一星期一次或一月一次的啊！而且遵守越越节不仅有使罪得赦免的祝福，还有着能够越过灾殃应许啊😱！
Amen 🙏
通过这篇文章，我领悟到遵守上帝诫命的价值和重要性。不能再愚昧地跟随人设立的传统和习惯，最终失去上帝通过诫命所赐予的祝福与应许。
Passover is the first truth I have heard from Church of God, World Mission Society. For a long time, I did not understand why churches conducted bread and wine ceremony. Even born Christians can only gave me a simple answer like the ‘holy communion’ is to commemorate Jesus’ sacrifice for mankind on the cross. No one ever mentioned about the bread and wine ceremony is actually the ‘Passover’. And this Passover ceremony is God’s commandment to be kept as an everlasting covenant. Thanks to Elohim God to let me know the hidden secret of Passover and blessed me to participate in this Feast of God as well.
Passover is the first truth I have heard from Church of God, World Mission Society. For a long time, I did not understand why churches conducted bread and wine ceremony. Even born Christians can only gave me a simple answer like the ‘holy communion’ is to commemorate Jesus’ sacrifice for mankind on the cross. No one ever mentioned that the bread and wine ceremony is actually ‘passover’. And this passover ceremony is God’s commandment to be kept as an everlasting covenant. Thanks to Elohim God to let me know the hidden secret of passover and bless me to participate in this Feast of God as well.
Yeah,it’s so clear that Jesus only promised on 14th day of the first month in the sacred calendar as the Passover through which we can receive the forgiveness of sins. I am glad that i have learnt about the Passover through the World Mission Society Church of God.
Everything is so clear when i studied the Bible at the WMSCOG in Singapore.
I was shocked by the fact that the truths were changed by man in history and many Christians are not aware of this.
I am really blessed to be in the Church that teaches what Jesus taught 2000yrs ago.❤
I was very confused too… I thought that Passover can be kept anytime. However, after studying at the World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG) in Singapore, I come to learn that
1. Passover has to be held once a year – 14 day of the 1st month
2. Passover bread and wine must be held in the evening
3. Passover can only be done after “feet washing ceremony.”
Truly there’s no other church that kept the Passover of the new covenant in the world except the WMSCOG!
I used to think that it was the same… at least now I know. Thanks to Elohim God!
I remember when I first studied the Bible at the World Mission Society Church of God, I was surprised to know about the Passover. I asked Missionary about the holy communion and she explained the history of Christianity to me. At that time I felt that my spiritual thirst was finally quenched 🙂 Please come and study the Bible with us and judge for yourself 🙂
I see that the timing of once a year is a very important criteria for us to observe the Passover. As long as it is written in the bible I want to keep it accordingly. The Church of God teaches this very fact. I want to go this church to keep Passover according to bible.
Many people were confused with the Passover that Jesus kept and establish. These points can really help us to see clearly what Jesus wants us to keep. Thanks God! Definitely going to keep the Passover with the world mission society church of God. ^^
I am so happy to come across this website. While checking the bible, I realize that there is no word like Holy Communion or Eucharist, Sacrament. Little did I know that Jesus have called it as the Passover of the new covenant in the bible.
Looking at the bible carefully, the very words of Jesus who have named it as the Passover. I am so happy to know this from my friend who is right now attending the world mission society church of God. I am so looking forward to my bible study there!!! 🙂
I give thanks to God for allowing me members from World Mission Society Church of God to allow me to understand the importance of Passover. So that when I know when I keep it, we can receive the promise from Jesus Christ 🙂
Yeah ^^ The truth has been so clear to us. Jesus has set example for us (John 13:15)
So that we know the way of eternal life and enter Kingdom of Heaven ^^
Amen! Let us keep the Passover that Jesus established, according to the regulations in the Bible, so that we may receive abundant blessings and enter the eternal Kingdom of Heaven! 🙂