Instructions for Keeping the New Covenant Passover

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."

(Before using 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:

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. (Wash pans 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.

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.

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.

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.