The Passover―Participating in eternal life by eating the bread and drinking the wine

In the evening of March 25th, the 14th day of the first month in the sacred calendar, the Sacred Assembly of the Passover was held by the Church of God, in the New Jerusalem Temple and in all the 2,200 Zions in 170 countries around the world. The Church of God is the only church that keeps the Passover in obedience to the teachings of the Bible.

ⓒ 2013 WATV

The Passover originated from the Exodus of the Israelites in the Old Testament times 3,500 years ago. The Israelites, who had been slaves in Egypt, were protected from disasters through the blood of the lambs, and were set free from their slavery which had lasted for over 400 years. That day was the Passover. God commanded them to celebrate that day as a lasting ordinance (Ex 12:1-14). In the New Testament times, Jesus made a covenant the day before He was crucified, and promised that the Passover bread and wine would be His flesh and blood. Through this, humankind who was in slavery to sin and death was greatly blessed to enter eternal life by eating the Passover bread and wine representing Jesus’ flesh and blood.

ⓒ 2013 WATV

The Sacred Assembly of the Passover began in the New Jerusalem Temple at 6 p.m. with the feet-washing ceremony. General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol explained that Jesus carried out the feet-washing ceremony before taking the bread and Church News wine of the Passover in Mark’s upper room 2,000 years ago, and he said, “To participate in the feet-washing ceremony is the way to follow Jesus’ example of humility and serving others. This is a very important ceremony that confirms the relationship between God and His people who will be saved.” He emphasized the importance of the feet-washing ceremony over and over again, explaining the records from the Old Testament where the priests washed their hands and feet with water from the water basin before they entered the sanctuary in order to avoid death (Jn 13:1-10; Ex 30:17-21).

ⓒ 2013 WATV

ⓒ 2013 WATV

All the members participated in the feet-washing ceremony, following the teachings and example of Jesus Christ, and at 7 p.m. they participated in the service for taking the holy bread and wine with a godly mind. Mother thanked Father for having come to the earth in the flesh for the salvation of His children who were to die eternally due to their sins deserving death and for having endured the painful sacrifice on the cross. She expressed Her deep gratitude for His grace of coming a second time in the flesh to restore the truth of the Passover and walking the painful path, enduring humiliation. Mother also asked Father to give blessings of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life to all His children who would eat the bread and wine of the Passover, understanding that the bread and wine are the precious fruit of Jesus’ sacrifice given through His
flesh and blood.


General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol gave a sermon titled, “The Relationship Between the Tree of Life and the Passover.” Through the sermon, he explained the providence and power contained in the New Covenant Passover. He said, “God personally came and shed His precious blood without cost to save the miserable human beings who were destined to die forever, but He suffered severe humiliation and pain by the ignorant human beings. Let’s give true thanks to God for giving up His life and silently enduring all the sacrifice for us, sinners.”

After the Sacred Assembly of the Passover was over, Mother expressed how sorry She felt for people, saying, “People would eat any kind of medicine to live long, but they haven’t found the medicine that they can eat and live forever,” and asked the members to preach, saying, “The food of life gives the forgiveness of sins and the blessing of eternal life. Let us not keep this to ourselves and only we feel happy, but preach this to many people and live happily forever all together.”



The bread and wine of the New Covenant Passover have the effect to let us escape great disasters that happen around the world, and they are the best gift that God, who is the reality of the tree of life, has given to humankind as His flesh and blood. The members participated in the Passover with a godly mind, engraving God’s profound will contained in the feast. They also gave sincere thanks to Elohim for Their great and holy love of sacrificing Themselves for sinners.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread―Giving thanks to Christ for His love and sacrifice by participating in the suffering on the cross

ⓒ 2013 WATV

On March 26th (the 15th day of the first month in the sacred calendar), the day after the Passover, all the Churches of God throughout the world held the Sacred Assembly of the Feast of Unleavened Bread 2013, and commemorated the suffering, love and sacrifice of Christ. The members participated in Christ’s suffering by fasting from midnight on the Passover until three o’clock the next afternoon—the hour when Jesus breathed His last on the cross.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a feast to commemorate the suffering that the Israelites went through until they crossed the Red Sea, being chased by the Egyptian armies, from the time they came out of Egypt after having escaped the disaster by keeping the Passover with the blood of lambs (Ex 14; Lev 23:6). This was fulfilled by Jesus; after keeping the Passover of the new covenant, Jesus suffered severe persecution and affliction, and the next day He suffered on the cross and passed away. In the Old Testament times the Israelites commemorated the suffering of the Exodus and the grace of God by eating unleavened bread (without yeast) and bitter herbs, and in the New Testament times we participate in the suffering of Christ by fasting in obedience to Jesus’ teaching that we should fast on the day the bridegroom was taken from us (Mk 2:20).

Mother deeply thanked Father for His sacrifice and love that He gave by suffering on the cross 2,000 years ago and coming to the earth once again in the flesh to open up the way of life, which Satan the devil trampled on. She also asked the members to understand God’s love and sacrifice by participating in Christ’s suffering through fasting and to repay God for His grace by obeying all His words with a humble attitude.

General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol explained the will of God and the meaning of the feast contained in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and said, “As God’s children, let us follow in Christ’s footsteps of sacrifice.”

Pastor Kim Joo-cheol also added, “Jesus suffered on the cross because of our sins and transgressions. However, when He was in a critical situation, no one was with Him. We must not act like the disciples who turned away from Christ, caring only about their own safety. We can receive glory when we share in Christ’s sufferings as well. This is why we participate in the suffering of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.”

Pastor Kim Joo-cheol also said in his sermon, “Christ volunteered to walk the painful path of the cross for the salvation of humankind. Through the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we must learn the suffering of Christ so that we can go forward, enduring and carrying hardships and difficulties.” Emphasizing the fact that we must sincerely follow the last request of Christ―to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Mt 28:18-20), General Pastor asked the members to preach the gospel despite some sufferings and to run with joy towards heaven, taking up our own crosses, believing that that is the way to carry the cross that Christ carried, together with Him.

The members engraved deeply on their hearts the burning love of God, which is contained in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and they also reaffirmed their determination to let the whole world know the gospel of the new covenant which Christ established with His precious blood. They also repented of all their sins and gave deep thanks to Father and Mother for Their sacrifice of carrying the heavy burdens of sins all by Themselves for the sinful children.