Last night after sunset a group of us observed Passover and ate a Passover meal and later took communion. We do this to remind ourselves of our covenant with God. Some say, “I’m not going back under the law, I’m under grace.” Well, I’m under grace, too, but I find it helpful to remind myself why I’m under grace, and for what.


Christians tend to forget our roots; the Lord Jesus said in John 4:22-23,
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

By that one statement, Jesus made it clear whom God chose to reveal Himself from, that is, the Israelites. The Laws were given to them, as well as the Prophets. The Law was given as a teacher to them until the time Messiah came, to show them how they ought to live, for as long as it took for Messiah to come, whether it be for hundreds or thousands of years. When He finally came, the Lord Jesus clearly stated in Matthew 5:17-20,

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Some insist that after the resurrection of Christ Jesus, that all observance of the Law and Prophets and Holy Days is over and done with. Then why did the Apostle Paul write the following in 1 Corinthians 11:23-31?

23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

Paul wrote these things to AFFIRM the observation of God’s Holy Days, and he himself observed them and taught others to. But somehow down through the ages, this teaching was perverted and dropped. Friends, we NEED to be reminded daily of God’s plan for us. We NEED to keep observing the Holy Days until we arrive in God’s Kingdom, where we will observe them forever. Grace shows us that Christ Jesus bore all our sins and diseases. Otherwise, we would still own them. Grace does not give us license to sin, to do whatsoever strikes our fancy, as some teach, but rather Grace gives us a responsibility to remember where that grace came from, and why, and what that Grace requires of us. Yes, Grace DOES require something of us, and that is to live a holy life, consecrated unto God, not unto our own desires.

In 1 Corinthians 11:24-26, Paul quoted Jesus as saying, “Take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” Again, Paul brought this practice into the New Testament as part of the New Covenant. Now, had this yearly Passover practice been obsoleted, Paul would NOT have made it part of his teaching, would he?

You see, the Holy Days of God are a REMINDER to us of His plan of Salvation, given to us by GRACE. Why grace? Because we don’t DESERVE to be saved. It’s by God’s own decision to save us that we can even BE saved, and we need to remember this. Jesus said “AS OFT AS YE DO THIS, do in remembrance of Me”. He didn’t say “as seldom as”, but “as oft as”, and lest we forget the agony Christ Jesus suffered for each of us, these Holy Days serve to remind us how very much God loves us. Did Jesus observe the Holy Days? YES! Did He teach the disciples to do the same? YES! And lest I be remiss, I’m teaching you to do likewise.

Whether you choose to use these Holy Days as God intended them to be used is up to you. I have a saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him walk on it.” I’m showing you God’s pattern, but I won’t shove it down your throat. Pray about it and follow what the Holy Spirit tells you. Of course, I already know what He will tell you, because He will not disagree with the Word of God.

Paul warned us in verses 28-31 the seriousness of Communion, and yes, it IS to be done. But improperly done it can result in sickness or death. God indeed is HOLY, and His Word is not to be played with. Properly discerned, Communion is a source of immense blessing. It isn’t just a piece of unleavened bread and wine, but I see it as actually the Body and Blood of Christ Jesus, broken and shed for YOU for the remission of your sins. The Passover was brought from the Old Covenant into the New. Because of it, your sins are Passed Over. Isn’t that worth reminding yourself of? Aren’t you glad you know that now?