14 Lessons Toward Passover: Reconciliation with One Another (Part 4)

The Passover is a solemn and serious ceremony that we should not take very lightly. This is the reason that the Apostle Paul instructed us to partake of the Passover in a worthy manner. One of the ways to accomplish this is to discern the Lord’s body. But what exactly does this mean?

What is the Lord’s body?

We can read in I Corinthians 11:29 the statement made by the Apostle Paul:

“For he eating and drinking unworthily eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord”.

The Lord’s body can possibly refer here as Christ’s body, our own body as the temple of the Holy Spirit or it can be the Church. For the purpose of this discussion, let me direct you to the third meaning of the Lord’s body.

We can read in Colossians 1:18 that the body of Christ is the Church. The Apostle Paul here is telling us that in order for us to partake of the Passover, we need to discern or recognize the body of Christ which is the Church.

The Passover pictures our reconciliation with God but it can also picture our reconciliation with our brethren — our spiritual brothers and sisters in the Church. Before the Passover, it is highly encouraged and even important for us to be at peace with our brethren so that we can be worthy to come to the Passover ceremony.

Seek to be reconciled with one another

Self-examination during the Passover season includes determining whether we have a brother whom we have offended. This is the perfect time for us to remember a brother whom we have hurt. In the spirit of Passover, we need to apologize and do our best to be reconciled with our brother.

In some cases, you need to examine yourself as well if you are holding a grudge or bitterness against your brother. The Passover helps us to let go of anger and be at peace with ourselves, with God, and with others.

Maybe, someone has offended you. If someone did, it is not proper to talk about the offense with other people. The Bible instructs us to go to that brother, you and him alone (Matthew 18:15). We need to humbly seek reconciliation with each other. Let peace and unity reign within the Church.

We need to go out of our comfort zone and reach out to our brothers whom we have offended. We also need to reach out to those who have offended us. God and Jesus Christ expect us to come to the Passover with a peaceful and forgiving heart.

Imagine partaking the Passover with a heart full of anger, bitterness, and resentment. I am sure that will not be a good Passover for you.

Christians who love each other

Jesus Christ showed us one of the signs of being a Christian:

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

When people outside the church see us, can they readily say that we are Christians? Can they honestly say that we are Christians who love one another? Because if not, then we are misrepresenting the name of Christ. We are true and genuine Christians if we love one another and that requires us to be reconciled with one another.

Is there a brother whom you don’t love? Is there a brother whom you really hate for no apparent reason? If yes, you need to remember what the Apostle John said:

 “If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a LIAR: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (I John 4:3).

Are you a liar? Do you hate someone in the church? If you look around when you are in the Sabbath service, do you see someone that you hate? If yes, then it is time for you to let go of that anger and hatred because you might be in danger of unworthily partaking in the Passover if you still have that bitterness in your heart.

Final words

Exert every possible effort to be reconciled with your brother before the Passover.

While sometimes, this is not always possible and reconciliation can be difficult, at least you have done your part.

The important thing is that you have already let go of your anger and gained peace from God. At the end of the day, God sees our hearts and the motivation behind our every action.

As we continue to live this life and partake of the Passover, may we always look forward to that day when all mankind will not just be reconciled with each other but also to our loving Father Yahweh and His Son, Yahshua.

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