Receive Eternal Life Through the New Covenant Passover

I bet not many know the last will of Jesus though there are numerous Christians. Then, what is the last will of God who came in the flesh for our salvation? You can find the answer “Passover” @ Church of God.

The last will of Jesus, Passover

Passover_wmscog

Jesus came to the earth and taught us so many lessons such as “Love one another”, “Serve, each other” for three years. All His teachings are given to us for eternal life. As the Bible prophesied, He did His work for three years and He went back to Heaven. Just before He died, Jesus made His disciples prepare as His last work in this world.
When we imagine our last day, we can understand how important and valuable thing He ordered to prepare as His last work. What on earth is it?

Mt 26:17~19 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?” He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. 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.

Lk 22:14~15 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.

What He commanded as His last will is the Passover. The Bible testified Jesus eagerly desired to keep it. As Jesus ordered, disciples prepared the Passover and they kept it together on the last night when Jesus was on the earth. So, the Passover is painted as Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. After keeping the Passover, Jesus finished His life on the Cross. Therefore, the Passover was the last will of Jesus in this world.

Passover of the New Covenant by Early Church of God

However, this Passover doesn’t indicate Jewish feast. There are two kinds of Passover in the Bible. One is Old Covenant and the other is New Covenant. Old Covenant Passover is celebrated by Jews from the old testament times with the Lamb’s sacrifice. This is Passover known well until now. But Passover ordered by Jesus at early Church of God is not exactly same with it.

Jesus kept the Passover in different ways from Jews in spite of the same date. The Passover is the 14th day of the 1st month in the sacred calendar. While Jews kept the Passover with the lamb, Jesus and His disciples did it with the bread and wine. Jesus grant us the new covenant Passover in the new testament time.

Lk 22:20 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.

So, all disciples and apostles taught by Jesus had kept the Passover while living as Jesus did(with the bread and wine).

1Co 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.

After Jesus’ ascension, apostles still kept the Passover according to Jesus’ last will. Apostle Paul clearly said that Passover is that he received from the Lord. So, it is certain that Passover is the truth of Early Church.

Why did God want us to keep the Passover?

The ultimate goal of God’s coming is to give us eternal life.

Jn 6:54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.

God really wanted us to receive eternal life. He even gives His flesh and blood. We can see His firm will.
How can we take God’s flesh and blood?

Mt 26:26~28 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, 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.

God gave us eternal life through His flesh and blood. And He made the visible way to take invisible His flesh and blood in this world. It is Passover. In other words, there’s no way to receive eternal life except the Passover. It is the reason why Jesus eagerly desire to celebrate the Passover with His disciples. Therefore, keeping the Passover is to follow God’s last will.

Passover of the New Covenant by Zion

However, Passover was abolished in 325 A.D at the Council of Nicaea and the way to eternal life disappeared by degrees.

Isa 25:6~8 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.

Here, God held a banquet of aged wine to swallow up death forever. In the Bible, Passover is the only wine which makes us live forever. But wine is aged. It means wine was not used for a long time. The Bible prophesied that Passover would have been abolished by satan. But it also prophesied the Passover would be restored so that the way for God’s people to receive eternal life would be opened again.

By the way, there is a important question. The Bible said God will hold a banquet of life ‘On this mountain’. Where is it? Let’s see above verse.

Isa 24:23 for the Lord Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders—with great glory.

Eventually, Passover is given in Zion. It means that only church keeping the Passover can be Zion where God gives eternal life, though there are so many churches.

Then is there any church keeping the Passover in this age? Since the Bible prophesied, God surely gives Passover in Zion.

There is only one church which keeps the Passover in the whole world. It is World Mission Society Church of God(WMSCOG). Therefore, it is clear that WMSCOG is Zion made by God.

Only through the Passover of the New Covenant being celebrated in the World Mission Society Church of God can we receive eternal life. I hope more people know the last will of God who eagerly desire to give us eternal life and keep the Passover together!

References : Receive Eternal Life Through the New Covenant Passover @ Church of God Philippines