The Memorial of Christ’s Death
Every year around March, you may see Jehovah’s Witnesses going door to door handing out pamphlets about Christ’s death. You may have received one yourself and read it, but do you wonder why Jehovah’s Witnesses do this? Every year my mom and I celebrate the Memorial of Christ’s Death with my congregation. This is a tradition of my congregation and many around the world. I would like to tell you about it, but first, I want to explain the history behind why Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in celebrating the Memorial of Christ’s Death.
Why did Jesus give himself as a sacrifice? Mathew 20:28 says, “… and to give his soul a ransom in exchange for many.” Jesus gave his life, “in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.”(John 3:16) On Nisan 14, Jesus and his 12 apostles shared a meal that came to be called The Lords Evening Meal. Jesus shared bread with his followers saying, “This means my body, which is to be given in your behalf.” (Luke 22:19) Then he shared with them a cup of wine and said, “This means my ‘blood of the covenant,’ which is to be poured out in behalf of many.” (Mark 14:24) Jesus then said, “Keep doing this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19) Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice for two reasons. First, to prove Satan the Devil’s accusation saying that any man would give anything to stay alive wrong, and second, so that everyone that has faith in Jehovah could have everlasting life. You can read about Satan’s accusation in Job 1. Now that you know the history behind why I celebrate the Memorial, what do Jehovah’s Witnesses do to celebrate it now?
Nisan 14 falls on a different day every year. This year, it was March 30. Next year, it will be April 17. It is always on a Sunday. After sun down, my congregation gathers at our Kingdom Hall and we listen to a talk that explains The Lords Meal and the hope of the resurrection. After that the anointed take part in eating unleavened bread and drinking a glass of unsulfured wine. Taking part in this symbolizes that they are part of Gods 144,000 that will go to heaven to serve as kings and priests with Jesus and Jehovah. I am not one of the anointed but I have the hope of going to a paradise on earth with all the other faithful Christians that serve Jehovah.
Why is the bread unleavened? 1 Corinthians 5:6 says: “Your cause for boasting is not fine. Do you not know that a little leaven ferments the whole lump?” In the Bible leaven is used to symbolize sin. The unleavened bread represents Jesus being perfect and having no sin. Celebrating the Memorial strengthens my hope for the paradise and encourages me to keep serving Jehovah even though there are many hardships. I enjoy going to this special event and in the past years I have gone to a Memorial in Alabama and got to meet other Jehovah’s Witnesses! This tradition is very important to me and I appreciate the hope of the paradise very much!
You can also come to the Memorial! The pamphlets I talked about earlier also have the date, time, and location of a Kingdom Hall near you. Every year my mom and I have a tradition of going to it, wherever we are. This tradition is very special to us and we have not missed it since becoming Jehovah’s Witnesses. We hope to see you there this year!
