After sunset on Nisan 14 (Tuesday, April 11, 2006), members of God's Church will gather for the most solemn event on His sacred calendar—the Passover. Year after year, many of us seem to allow the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread to creep up on us, and may find ourselves both physically and spiritually unprepared to observe them as God intends.
How should we prepare for the Passover? One vital part—often neglected, yet an area in which almost all of us can improve—is this: Have we forgiven and made peace with everyone who has offended us, and have we asked forgiveness of those against whom we have transgressed?
Jesus Christ gave us the key to receiving the forgiveness we all so desperately need: "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive you your trespasses" (Mark 11:25–26). Forgiving others is a prerequisite to receiving the forgiveness from God that we all so desperately need.
Yet there are baptized members of God's Church, who have been sitting in Sabbath and Holy Day services for years—and taking the bread and wine every Passover—who have continually refused to fellowship with (or, in a few extreme cases, even speak to) one or more of their spiritual brothers or sisters, because of some real or imagined insult or slight that occurred in the far-distant past.
What does the Bible tell us about the ultimate end awaiting someone with such an attitude, who refuses to repent and put away animosity and bitterness against another? "In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'... Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord [God will retain their sins]. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep" (1Corinthians 11:25–30). Strife and an unrepentant attitude bring on stress and a bitterness of heart that corrodes the mind, body and spirit. This in turn creates health problems, and can even result in premature physical death.
None of us are "worthy" of or by ourselves. Our "righteousness" disqualifies us because, in God's eyes, it is likened to a pile of filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). That is why we need the Passover and the application of Christ's shed blood for the remission of our sins. We should be examining ourselves all year long—and should do so with particular intensity as the Passover approaches. "For if we would judge ourselves, we would not need to be judged. But when we are judged [when Christ judges us because we have failed to judge ourselves correctly], we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:31–32).
When we examine ourselves, we must honestly appraise the facts of each negative situation in our lives. We must be ready to examine our deeds and our thoughts, to discern our guilt or innocence, and what we must do to repent and make restitution for the sins we have committed. Christians are not to examine themselves in an attitude of vanity, in order to justify themselves; they must judge by the standards of God's word (James 1:23–25). The Apostle Paul urged the Corinthians (and us) to take stock of our spiritual condition: "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?— unless indeed you are disqualified" (2 Corinthians 13:5).
We are told to examine ourselves, not to examine those who may have insulted or injured us. Christ is the one who will be their judge, if they fail to repent of the sins they have committed. Each of us will have to account for our own breaking of God's law. "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord" (Romans 12:17–19).
If, after our self-examination, we find we have an attitude of resentment, distrust or hate toward another, we must first go to our brother or sister in Christ and try to resolve the misunderstanding or dispute by ourselves. Between now and the Passover, each of us should approach those we have wronged, or who have wronged us, and try to work out the matter privately, and come to an understanding that includes forgiveness. Remember Christ's instruction: "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church [the ministry]. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector" (Matthew 18:15–17). If, in a right and humble attitude, we follow the plan laid out for us in Matthew 18, peace will be restored within the body of Christ.
Does the word of God tell us that there are some to whom we should not go when an offense has occurred? Indeed, it does. "He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you" (Proverbs 9:7–8). Not everyone is a brother or sister in Christ. If we feel in our heart that someone cannot be approached as a spiritual brother or sister, how should we respond in order to do what is right in God's eyes? Remember, it is not our prerogative to judge another person's standing before God. However, while we are not to judge another person's conversion, we can and should observe the fruits of their actions, and act accordingly. Perhaps we cannot approach the one who has hurt us. But can we allow an attitude of hatred to develop? No! Remember Christ's words: "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise" (Luke 6:27–31).
Even if we cannot bring ourselves to go to another person in humility, ready to acknowledge our part in a perceived problem and work it out, we never have the option of hatred. We must in these cases forgive, forget and move on with our lives—or grow bitter and face the very real possibility of having our sins retained.
Our heavenly Father is a God of peace and love. There will be no bickering, disputing or bitterness in His family. Those whom He has called will have proved to Him that they can settle disagreements quickly and have unconditional outgoing concern for the welfare of all, before they are made spirit beings and receive eternal life. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:7–10).
Passover will be here before we know it. Now is the time for each of us to begin setting our spiritual houses in order. Christ wants to see how we prepare ourselves before we take the bread and wine this year.
The Apostle Paul gave us a formula that we should be living by year-round, not just before the Passover. "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:17–21).
God's word plainly reveals to us the attitudes and actions we must display to our brethren and to all human beings. He has stated clearly what we must do, if we want our sins to be forgiven. We must forgive others and show genuine love toward them, even if they do not repent of their sins against us. God, who is the perfect judge, will reward each of us according to our deeds.
As Passover approaches, Christ is watching each of us. How will we respond? Will we be ready spiritually to take the Passover?