Passover Question
1. I noticed that this year the Jewish Passover was on a different day than the Passover we celebrated. What is the difference in the dates, and is it significant?
The Church of God International (CGI) and many other Church of God groups celebrate the Lord’s Passover or Lord’s Supper the night before the Jewish Passover begins. The reason we do this is because Jesus had to keep the Passover meal the night before due to the fact He was the Passover Lamb that would be slain the next day. There is debate over whether or not the meal He kept with His disciples was the Passover meal that included a lamb or a meal that pertained to the Passover season but did not include the lamb. But we believe He set up a new tradition for us to follow. He used new symbols (bread and wine) for this meal that symbolized His body and blood. Since He did this the night before Passover, we continue to follow that example. Many members of the CGI continue to have a fellowship meal the evening that the Jewish Passover begins also, but this is not a requirement.
Mike James
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