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“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations . . . and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mt 28:18–20).

The seven feasts in three times in 2019 have begun with the sacred assembly of the Passover in the evening of April 18 (the fourteenth day of the first month by the sacred calendar). The Feast of Unleavened Bread was celebrated on the following day—April 19 (the fifteenth day of the first month by the sacred calendar), and the Day of Resurrection on April 21 (the day after the first Sabbath following the Feast of Unleavened Bread.) The Church of God members in 175 countries participated in the feasts of the new covenant, following the example of Christ.

The Passover: receiving the right to become God’s children

The Passover consists of two parts—the feet-washing ceremony and the Holy Supper ceremony. The feet-washing ceremony is a ritual where we follow the example of Christ who washed the feet of His disciples before taking the bread and wine of the Passover. The members conducted the feet-washing ceremony with a humble mind for the brothers and sisters in obedience to Jesus’ teaching, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (Jn 13:14–15), before they took the bread and wine of the Passover.

During the worship service of the Passover at the New Jerusalem Pangyo Temple, Mother deeply thanked Father for granting the forgiveness of sins to His children, who were on the way to eternal death due to their sins committed in heaven, by giving them His flesh and blood. She prayed that the members would realize God’s holy love contained in the Passover bread and wine and practice the greatest love—saving souls through the words of life.

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General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol reminded the members of the meaning and the value of the Passover, saying, “Jesus has taught us that those who inherit God’s flesh and blood can become God’s children and receive eternal life. This blessing of eternal life is contained in the bread and wine of the Passover.” He emphasized the value of the Passover, saying, “The members of the early Church, including Apostles Peter, John, and Paul, preached the truth of salvation even in Europe beyond Israel, having realized its full value. Let’s keep the Passover with gratitude, realizing the will of Jesus who established the new covenant for our salvation” (Lk 22:7–15, 19–20; 1 Co 11:22–26; Jn 6:53–56; 2 Co 6:17–18; 1 Co 15:45–58). The members cherished God’s holy will in their minds while eating and drinking the bread and wine of the Passover.

After the worship service, Mother requested all the members preach the good news of salvation to all mankind with God’s love and a sense of responsibility, saying, “The greatest love is to lead mortal beings to eternal life.”

The Feast of Unleavened Bread: participating in Christ’s sacrifice and engraving it on our hearts

Christ’s sacrifice is essential for mankind to receive the forgiveness of sins and salvation through the Passover. To redeem us from our sins, Jesus suffered on the cross and even gave His own life on the day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Mother offered a prayer of thanks to Father for opening the way to salvation for the children of heaven by enduring insults and humiliation in the flesh to lead them from eternal death to the kingdom of life. She also eagerly prayed that the children would realize why God had to endure all the suffering and repay God for His grace with repentant hearts and resolutions not to commit sins again.

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General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol said, “Jesus had to suffer for our sins and iniquities. Let us never give up on our hope for the kingdom of heaven so that we may make Christ’s love and sacrifice meaningful, remembering that Christ endured the pain of the cross, suffering all insults and lashes, to save us.” He also urged the members, “Let us faithfully fulfill our duty as Christians by leading spiritual sinners to repentance like Apostle Paul who bore the marks of Jesus, cherishing His sacrifice on the cross, and devoted himself to preaching the gospel” (Lk 23:26–46; Isa 53:1–12; 1 Jn 4:7–21; Mt 27:27–50; Gal 6:17).

The members gave thanks to Christ for willingly suffering and sacrificing on the cross to forgive our sins and save us. They participated in Christ’s suffering by fasting on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, just as Jesus said, “But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast” (Mk 2:20).

The Day of Resurrection: having hope for resurrection and transformation into heavenly beings

The Day of Resurrection is the day when Jesus destroyed the power of death by rising from death on the third day after His death. On April 21, the members of the Church of God all around the world attended the sacred assembly of the Resurrection Day and commemorated the glory of Christ who was resurrected from the dead 2,000 years ago.

Mother thanked Father for giving the hope of resurrection to mankind by rising from the dead; She prayed for all Her children to have their spiritual eyes wide open to recognize the value of the truth and the glory of resurrection and to live with hope.

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General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol said, “Jesus’ resurrection was a historic event that gave the conviction of resurrection and eternal life to all people—not only those who were in deep grief as they saw Jesus suffering on the cross, but also everyone else who was in despair at the thought that death is the end of life.” Then he took an example of the transformation of cicadas and dragonflies from their larvae into adults to explain the concept of resurrection and transformation. He said, “From a human perspective, it is difficult to believe in the resurrection and transformation, but God has proved it through the case of Jesus. So let’s believe in the prophecy that we will be transformed into spiritual bodies to enjoy eternal life in the angelic world, and deliver this good news to all people in the world so that we may enjoy the blessing together” (Mt 28:1–10; 1 Co 15:17–24, 44–53; Lk 24:13–34; Jn 11:24–27; 1 Th 4:13–18; Job 25:4–6; Jn 20:1–19).

When the worship service was over, Mother explained in detail the principle of the feasts; we receive the promise of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life through the Passover, so we can participate in the glory of resurrection and transformation (1 Co 15:44–52). She encouraged the members by saying, “We have received salvation thanks to God’s boundless love and sacrifice. Let’s diligently share the blessing of salvation with our neighbors in the global village.”

That day, the members broke bread, following the example of Christ who blessed bread and broke it and gave it to His two disciples on the way to Emmaus after His resurrection so that their spiritual eyes would be opened. The members, having kept the feasts of the new covenant according to the Bible, were more motivated to lead the seven billion people to eternal life, being grateful for God’s salvation and the hope for heaven.