Keeping the Passover at Home

Dear Brethren,

In these times of scattered brethren, it is increasingly necessary to take Passover alone or with only a few others.  These are the guidelines for those who must conduct this sacred Passover service in their own homes.  Christians are commanded by Jesus, as a salvational requirement, to observe Passover.  "[Jesus] took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19)

"Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."  (John 6:53-54)  When we participate in this service, we are expressing our faith in Christ's death on our behalf, and renewing our commitment to let Jesus live His life in us.

Have your unleavened bread or matzos ready before hand.  You can make your own, or buy it at a grocery store, if you so desire.  There are several kinds of unleavened bread, but don’t assume that all flat bread is unleavened.  Check the label to be sure the bread does not contain any leavening (yeast, baking powder, etc.).  Manischewitz, a popular brand, makes a nice whole wheat matzo suitable for Passover.

You will also need a small amount of red wine.  Wine was used by Jesus Christ when He instituted the New Testament Passover.  Do not use a wine fortified with brandy.  The alcohol content should be only 10% to 13%.  Any red wine, such as cabernet sauvignon, claret or burgundy, can be used.

Passover is a solemn occasion.  Select a room with as much privacy as possible.  Place a small amount of unleavened bread and a small glass for each person on a tray or table.  Pour no more than a few tablespoons of wine into each glass.  Cover the unleavened bread and wine with white napkin.

The New Testament Passover includes the footwashing - foot tubs, containing a little water, and towels will be needed at the beginning of the service.

When the time has arrived for the ordinance, let those participating in the service quietly come into the room.  There should be no laughing, or joking, though normal greetings should be exchanged.  Passover is the most solemn occasion of the year.  We reverently reflect on the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.  Passover also 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.

THE SERVICE: 
The service begins without prayer just after sunset.  The one conducting the service will remind the others that Passover is the anniversary of the death of our Lord and Savior, and it is observed in memory of His sacrificial death.  He will read Luke 22:7-8 and verses 14-15.  Then go to Matthew 26:17 and verses 26-30, followed by Paul’s instruction in 1Corinthians 11:23-30.

THE FOOTWASHING: 
"[Jesus] rose from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.  After that he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded."  (John 13:4-5)

Read John 13:1-17, concerning the footwashing.  Jesus Christ willingly humbled Himself as a servant and washed the feet of His disciples as an act of respect and fellowship.  If two or more people are participating, wash one another’s feet.  "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet." John 13:14

THE UNLEAVENED BREAD:
Read John 6:32-58.  We become one Body by all partaking of the bread of life, Jesus Christ.  Jesus lives His life in us through the indwelling of His Spirit, making us part of the one Body of Christ - His Church, the begotten Family of God.

"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread."  (1Corinthians 10:16-17

Next, the one conducting the service will remove the napkin, give thanks and ask God in prayer to bless the unleavened bread as a symbol of Christ’s sinless life, and fleshly body.  The prayer will recognize our willingness to suffer in laying down our lives as Jesus did.  Ask God to live in us, giving us His mind and attitude of service.  The small piece of unleavened bread we eat symbolizes Jesus' body - the true bread from heaven.  "As they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body." (Mark 14:22)

Read 1Peter 2:20-24, showing that Jesus' sacrifice covers our infirmities, making healing available to us.  Then, break the unleavened bread into small bits and pass it around.  Each worshipper should quietly eat one small piece of the unleavened bread, reflecting on its significance.

THE WINE:
Next, read Hebrews 9:11-15, 1John 1:7, and Ephesians 1:7.  Then, pray over the wine, giving thanks for our reconciliation to God, and asking Him to bless the wine as the symbol of Christ’s blood shed for the remission of our sins.  Thank God for giving us His obedient Son to die for us.  Each participant will then take a glass with wine and reverently drink it as a symbol of Jesus Christ's blood of the new covenant which was shed for the remission of sins.  Jesus said, "This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many."  (Mark 14:24)

Read aloud from John 13:18 through John 17:26.  These are the words Jesus spoke to His disciples after His last Passover supper with them, just before He was arrested and crucified.  Since it is rather long, in advance of the service, mark certain portions of these chapters, instead of reading every verse.

THE CONCLUSION:
After the scripture reading, sing a hymn, if possible, before exiting, just as Christ and the disciples did.  Then dismiss quietly, leaving the room without undue conversation.  "When they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."  (Matthew 26:30)

After the service has ended, discard any portion of the bread and wine left over from the service, which had earlier been consecrated by prayer for this special use only.

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Sermon:

"The Preparation Day"

"More about the Passover"