1, 2. Why is deception so common, and what type of deception do we see today? (See opening picture.)

DECEPTION and lies are very common in the world we live in. This should not surprise us. The Bible clearly says that Satan the Devil is an expert at deceiving people and that he is the ruler of this world. (1 Timothy 2:14; 1 John 5:19) The closer we get to the end of this wicked world, the angrier Satan becomes because he has only “a short period of time” left. (Revelation 12:12) So we can expect that those influenced by the Devil will become more and more dishonest. They will especially try to deceive those who serve Jehovah.

² When the media mention Jehovah’s servants and their beliefs, they sometimes report only part of the truth or even lies. Newspaper headlines, television shows, and Internet Web pages are used to spread false stories. Some people become upset or even angry because they believe these lies without first checking the facts.

3. What can help us not to be deceived?

³ Thankfully, we can defend ourselves from Satan’s lies. To help us avoid being deceived, we have the Bible, which is “beneficial . . . for setting things straight.” (2 Timothy 3:16) What the apostle Paul wrote shows us that some Christians in Thessalonica had been deceived by lies. He wrote to them: “We request of you not to be quickly shaken from your reason.” (2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2) What lessons can we learn from Paul’s loving warning, and how can we apply them?

APPROPRIATE WARNINGS

4. How were Christians in Thessalonica warned about the coming of “Jehovah’s day,” and how are we being warned?

⁴ In his first letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, Paul warned them about the coming of “Jehovah’s day.” He did not want his brothers to be confused or unprepared. He told them that they were “sons of light,” and then he added: “Let us stay awake and keep our senses.” (Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6.) Today, we are waiting for the destruction of Babylon the Great, that is, all false religion. This destruction will be the beginning of the great day of Jehovah. We understand how Jehovah will fulfill his purpose. In the congregation, we regularly receive good reminders that can help us be prepared for Jehovah’s day. If we listen carefully to these repeated warnings, we can strengthen our determination to serve God with our “power of reason.”​—Romans 12:1.

5, 6. (a) What did Paul write about in his second letter to the Thessalonians? (b) What will Jesus soon do, and what should we ask ourselves?

⁵ Paul wrote a second letter to the Thessalonians. In that letter, he wrote about the coming tribulation when Jesus will execute God’s judgment on “those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news.” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-8) In chapter 2 of that letter, Paul writes that some in the congregation had become so “excited” about Jehovah’s day that they believed that it was very close. (Read 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2.) The early Christians did not completely understand how Jehovah’s purpose was going to be fulfilled. Paul admitted this when he later wrote the following about prophecy: “We have partial knowledge and we prophesy partially; but when that which is complete arrives, that which is partial will be done away with.” (1 Corinthians 13:9, 10) But they could remain faithful by listening to the warnings that Jehovah had Paul, the apostle Peter, and other faithful anointed brothers of that time write down.

⁶ To correct their thinking, God inspired Paul to explain that before Jehovah’s day, there was going to be a great apostasy and “the man of lawlessness” would arrive.a (See footnote.) After that, at God’s chosen time, Jesus would “bring to nothing,” or completely destroy, all those who had been deceived. Paul explained that the reason for this judgment was that “they did not accept the love of the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 8-10) We should ask ourselves: ‘How much do I love the truth? Do I study this magazine and other publications provided for God’s people worldwide so that I can know our present understanding of Bible teachings?’

CHOOSE YOUR ASSOCIATES WISELY

7, 8. (a) What were some dangers for the early Christians? (b) What can be especially dangerous for Christians today?

⁷ The teachings of the apostates would not be the only danger to Christians. Paul wrote to Timothy that “the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things.” He also said that “by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains.” (1 Timothy 6:10) “The works of the flesh” would also be a constant danger.​—Galatians 5:19-21.

⁸ Paul strongly warned the Thessalonians about those he called “false apostles.” Some of them spoke “twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.” (2 Corinthians 11:4, 13; Acts 20:30) Jesus praised the congregation in Ephesus because they did not accept “bad men” in the congregation. They had proven that these men were actually false apostles and liars. (Revelation 2:2) In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul gave this counsel: “Now we are giving you orders, brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw from every brother walking disorderly.” He then mentioned Christians who did “not want to work.” (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 10) So if they had to avoid someone who was lazy and did not want to work, it would be even more important to avoid someone who started to behave like an apostate. Choosing to spend time with such a person back then was especially dangerous and had to be avoided. This is also true today.​—Proverbs 13:20.

9. Why should we be careful if someone begins to guess about things not explained in the Bible or to criticize Jehovah’s organization?

⁹ We are getting closer to the great tribulation and the end of this wicked world. The warnings from Jehovah given in the first century are even more important today. We definitely do not want “to accept the undeserved kindness of God and miss its purpose.” If that happens, we will lose the chance to live forever. (2 Corinthians 6:1) We should be very careful if someone who attends our meetings tries to tempt us to guess about things not explained in the Bible or to criticize the elders and others who serve God.​—2 Thessalonians 3:13-15.

“MAINTAIN YOUR HOLD ON THE TRADITIONS”

10. What traditions were the Christians in Thessalonica told to follow?

¹⁰ Paul counseled his brothers in Thessalonica to “stand firm” and to continue doing what they had learned. (Read 2 Thessalonians 2:15.) What were “the traditions” that they had been taught? They were the teachings of Jesus and what God inspired Paul and others to write. He was not referring to the traditions taught by false religions. Paul praised his brothers in the congregation in Corinth because, as he wrote, “in all things you have me in mind and you are holding fast the traditions just as I handed them on to you.” (1 Corinthians 11:2) These teachings came from a reliable source and could be trusted.

11. In what ways are some people affected when they are deceived?

¹¹ When Paul wrote to the Hebrews, he mentioned two ways that a Christian might lose faith and not remain loyal to Jehovah. (Read Hebrews 2:1; 3:12.) He wrote about drifting away from Jehovah and about drawing away from him. It can be hard to notice that a boat is drifting away from the shore. It can slowly move farther and farther away. However, a man can also choose to push his boat away from the shore. Both examples show what can happen if a person allows himself to be deceived and lets his confidence in the truth become weak.

12. What could harm our friendship with Jehovah?

¹² Some of the Thessalonians may have allowed themselves to be deceived. Can this happen today? Many activities can take away our time. Think about how many hours are spent working on hobbies, using social networks, reading and answering electronic messages, or checking the latest sports news. Any one of these activities could distract a Christian and weaken his zeal for Jehovah. What could be the result? He might stop praying from the heart. He might also use less time to study the Bible, to go to meetings, and to preach the good news. What can we do to avoid being quickly shaken from our reason?

PROTECTION AGAINST BEING SHAKEN

13. As foretold in the Bible, what attitude do many people have, and what can protect our faith?

¹³ We must remember that the end of Satan’s world is near and that choosing to spend time with people who will not admit we are living in “the last days” can be dangerous. The apostle Peter wrote about our time: “There will come ridiculers with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires and saying: ‘Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as from creation’s beginning.’” (2 Peter 3:3, 4) Reading the Bible every day and studying it regularly will help us remember that we are living in “the last days.” The apostasy foretold in the Bible began a long time ago, and it continues to this day. “The man of lawlessness” still exists and opposes God’s servants. For all these reasons, we should never forget that Jehovah’s day is near.​—Zephaniah 1:7.

14. How are we protected if we keep busy in God’s service?

¹⁴ Another way to avoid being shaken from our reason is to preach the good news regularly. So when Christ Jesus commanded his followers to make disciples of people of all the nations and to teach them to obey what he had taught, he was giving advice that would protect his followers. (Matthew 28:19, 20) To obey this command, we need to be zealous in the preaching work. Can you imagine the brothers in Thessalonica being satisfied to preach and teach only because they had to? Remember what Paul wrote to them: “Do not put out the fire of the spirit. Do not treat prophesyings with contempt.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19, 20) The prophecies we study and share with others are truly exciting!

15. What are some things that we can consider during family worship?

¹⁵ We want to help our families improve as preachers of the good news. To do this, many brothers and sisters use part of their family worship to practice for the ministry. Maybe you can prepare to make return visits. What do you plan to talk about? What can you say that will make the householder want to learn more? What is the best time to visit again? Many also use part of their family worship to prepare for the meetings. Can your family do that? If you participate in the meetings, you will strengthen your faith, and this will help you to avoid being shaken from your reason. (Psalm 35:18) Family worship will protect us from guessing about things not explained in the Bible and from having doubts.

16. What motivates anointed Christians to avoid being shaken from their reason?

¹⁶ Jehovah has blessed his people over the years with more understanding of Bible prophecy. This makes us confident that we will have a wonderful reward in the future. The anointed look forward to being with Christ in heaven. Surely this hope motivates them to avoid being shaken from their reason! What Paul wrote to the Thessalonians applies to the anointed today: “We are obligated to thank God always for you, brothers loved by Jehovah, because God selected you . . . by sanctifying you with spirit and by your faith in the truth.”​—2 Thessalonians 2:13.

17. How are you encouraged by what is written at 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5?

¹⁷ Those who look forward to everlasting life on earth should do their best to avoid being quickly shaken from their reason, just as the anointed do. If you hope to live on earth forever, always obey Paul’s loving encouragement to the anointed Christians in Thessalonica. (Read 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5.) We should be grateful for those loving words. The letters to the Thessalonians warn us against guessing about things not explained in the Bible and believing questionable ideas. Because we live so close to the end, we are very grateful for these warnings.

1. What sacrifices do many people make, and why?

PEOPLE are willing to make sacrifices for the things that are important to them. Parents give their time, money, and energy to benefit their children. Young athletes who want to compete in the Olympics spend hours each day practicing and training very hard while their friends play and have fun. Jesus also made sacrifices for things that were important to him. It was not his goal to have a luxurious lifestyle or to have children. Instead, he wanted to use all his energy to support God’s Kingdom. (Matthew 4:17; Luke 9:58) His followers also made many sacrifices. God’s Kingdom was the most important thing in their lives, so they made sacrifices for it. (Matthew 4:18-22; 19:27) We should ask ourselves, ‘What is important in my life?’

2. (a) What sacrifices are necessary for all true Christians to make? (b) What extra sacrifices do some make?

² Some sacrifices are necessary for all true Christians. They are needed if we want to keep a close friendship with God. Our personal time and the energy we use to pray, to read the Bible, to have family worship, to attend meetings, and to preach are sacrifices that we must make.a (See footnote.) (Joshua 1:8; Matthew 28:19, 20; Hebrews 10:24, 25) As a result of our efforts and Jehovah’s blessing, the preaching work is speeding up, and more and more people are beginning to worship God by going to “the mountain of the house of Jehovah.” (Isaiah 2:2) To support the Kingdom, many make sacrifices to serve at Bethel, to help with building Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls, to organize conventions, or to help those who suffered in natural disasters. Although Jehovah does not require us to make these extra sacrifices to have eternal life, they are necessary to support God’s Kingdom.

3. (a) How do we benefit when we make sacrifices for the Kingdom? (b) What questions should we answer?

³ Today more than ever before, it is important to do as much as we can for the Kingdom. How happy we are that so many people willingly make sacrifices for Jehovah! (Read Psalm 54:6.) If we do this too, we will be happy while we wait for God’s Kingdom to come. (Deuteronomy 16:15; Acts 20:35) It is important for all of us to examine ourselves closely and ask these questions: Are there ways we can do more for the Kingdom? How are we using our time, money, energy, and abilities? What should we not neglect when we make sacrifices? Let us discuss what we can learn from some examples of voluntary sacrifices. This will help us to have more joy.

SACRIFICES IN ANCIENT ISRAEL

4. How did the Israelites benefit from making sacrifices?

⁴ The people of ancient Israel had to offer sacrifices for their sins to be forgiven. Sacrifices were necessary to have Jehovah’s approval. Some of these were required, and others were voluntary. (Leviticus 23:37, 38) Whole burnt offerings could be made as voluntary offerings, or gifts, to Jehovah. One example of the offering of sacrifices to Jehovah was at the dedication of Solomon’s temple.​—2 Chronicles 7:4-6.

5. How did Jehovah make it possible for even the poor to make sacrifices?

⁵ Jehovah lovingly understood that not everyone could give the same amount. He asked the Israelites to give only what they could. Jehovah’s law commanded that animal sacrifices be made and that the blood of the animals be poured out. These sacrifices were “a shadow of the good things to come” through Jesus. (Hebrews 10:1-4) However, Jehovah applied this law in a very reasonable way. For example, God would accept an offering of turtledoves if someone could not afford to give a larger offering, such as a ram or a goat. So even the poor could offer sacrifices to Jehovah and be joyful. (Leviticus 1:3, 10, 14; 5:7) Although Jehovah would accept different animals as offerings, he required two things from all who made voluntary sacrifices.

6. What two things were required to make a sacrifice? How important was it to obey these requirements?

⁶ First, a person who made a sacrifice had to give his best. If an animal was sick or had a defect, Jehovah would not accept the sacrifice. (Leviticus 22:18-20) Second, the person giving the sacrifice had to be clean as explained in the Law. If he was not clean, he would first have to make a sin offering or a guilt offering so that he could again have Jehovah’s approval. Only then would Jehovah accept his voluntary sacrifice. (Leviticus 5:5, 6, 15) This was very serious. Jehovah commanded that if any person ate from a sacrifice while he was unclean, he was to be killed. (Leviticus 7:20, 21) However, if a person was clean and his sacrifice had no defect, the giver would have a good conscience and great joy.​—Read 1 Chronicles 29:9.

MAKING SACRIFICES TODAY

7, 8. (a) What joy can those who make sacrifices for the Kingdom have? (b) What do we have that we can sacrifice to Jehovah?

⁷ Today, many of our brothers are willing to work hard in Jehovah’s service. This is pleasing to Jehovah. Working hard to help our brothers also gives us joy. One brother who helps to build Kingdom Halls and who has helped those affected by natural disasters says that it is difficult to describe how good he feels when helping his brothers. He says, “Seeing the happiness and appreciation of the local brothers and sisters after they stand in their new Kingdom Hall or when they receive assistance after a natural disaster makes all the work and effort worthwhile.”

⁸ Jehovah’s organization in modern times has always looked for ways to support the Kingdom. In 1904, Brother C. T. Russell explained that all of us should do our best to use our time, influence, money, and so forth, to glorify Jehovah. Though it costs us something to make sacrifices to Jehovah, they bring many blessings. (2 Samuel 24:21-24) Can we make better use of the things we sacrifice to Jehovah?

9. What do we learn at Luke 10:2-4 about how we should use our time?

⁹ Our time. Much time and effort is needed to translate and print our literature, to build Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls, to organize conventions, to help with disaster relief, and to do other necessary work. We have only 24 hours in each day, yet Jesus gave us a principle that can help us use our time wisely. When he sent his disciples out to preach, Jesus told them not to “embrace anybody in greeting along the road.” (Luke 10:2-4) Why would Jesus give those instructions? In Jesus’ day when people greeted each other, they did not just bow or shake hands. Instead, they would hug each other several times and even bow down on the ground. All of this would take a lot of time. Jesus was not telling his followers to be rude. He was helping them to see that they did not have much time, so they needed to make the best use of their time and do what was most important. (Ephesians 5:16) Can we apply this principle so that we will have more time to support the Kingdom work?

10, 11. (a) What are some ways that our donations to the worldwide work are being used? (b) What principle stated at 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2 can help us?

¹⁰ Our money. A lot of money is needed to support the worldwide work. Each year, tens of millions of dollars are spent to support the work of traveling overseers, special pioneers, and missionaries. Since 1999, more than 24,500 Kingdom Halls have been built in lands where our brothers do not have many material things. However, almost 6,400 Kingdom Halls are still needed. Every month, 100 million copies of the Watchtower and Awake! magazines are printed. All this work is supported by your voluntary donations.

¹¹ Jehovah inspired the apostle Paul to write down a principle we can use when making donations. (Read 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2.) He encouraged his brothers in Corinth, not to wait until the end of the week to see what they had left, but to decide at the beginning of the week how much money they could give. Just as in the first century, brothers and sisters today plan ahead and generously contribute what they can. (Luke 21:1-4; Acts 4:32-35) Jehovah treasures the giving spirit of his people.

12, 13. What may cause some not to give Jehovah their best, but how will Jehovah help them?

¹² Our energy and abilities. Jehovah supports our efforts to use our energy and abilities for the Kingdom. He promises to help us when we feel that we have no energy left. (Isaiah 40:29-31) Do we think that we do not have the skills needed to support the Kingdom work or that others would do a better job? Remember, Jehovah can improve our abilities, just as he did for Bezalel and Oholiab.​—Exodus 31:1-6; see opening picture.

¹³ Jehovah encourages us to let nothing stop us from giving our best to him. (Proverbs 3:27) When the temple was being rebuilt, Jehovah told the Jews in Jerusalem to think seriously about what they were doing to support the work. (Haggai 1:2-5) They had become distracted and were not putting Jehovah’s work first in their lives. We should ask ourselves: Is doing Jehovah’s will more important to us than anything else? Can we think seriously about our life and plan how we can do more to support God’s Kingdom in these last days?

SACRIFICES ACCORDING TO WHAT WE HAVE

14, 15. (a) How are you encouraged by our brothers who do not have many material things? (b) What should we want to do?

¹⁴ Many people live in areas where life is very difficult and problems such as poverty are common. Our organization works to help brothers in these countries. (2 Corinthians 8:14) However, even our brothers who do not have many material things value the honor of giving. It pleases Jehovah when he sees them joyfully give what they can.​—2 Corinthians 9:7.

¹⁵ In one very poor African country, some brothers set aside a section of their garden to grow produce to sell, and they donate any money that they earn from that section to the Kingdom work. In the same country, brothers and sisters wanted to help with a Kingdom Hall building project. But it was during their busy planting season. Still determined to help, they worked on the Kingdom Hall during the day, and in the evenings they worked to finish planting all their crops. What a giving spirit! This reminds us of the brothers in ancient Macedonia. They were in “deep poverty,” but they still begged Paul to let them give money to their brothers. (2 Corinthians 8:1-4) Let us also give what we can to show that we are thankful to Jehovah for the blessings he has given us.​—Read Deuteronomy 16:17.

16. How can we make sure that our sacrifices are acceptable to Jehovah?

¹⁶ When we make sacrifices, we need to be careful that we do not neglect what is most important, such as our families. Just as the ancient Israelites did, we must make sure that our voluntary sacrifices are acceptable to God. We need to remember that our family and our personal worship to Jehovah are our most important responsibilities. When we give our time and resources to others, we must make sure that we do not neglect our family’s worship to Jehovah or neglect their material needs. It is not possible to sacrifice to Jehovah the time, energy, and resources that we do not have. (Read 2 Corinthians 8:12.) Also, we need to keep strengthening our own relationship with Jehovah. (1 Corinthians 9:26, 27) We can be sure that if we live according to Bible standards, our sacrifices will make us happy and will be “especially acceptable” to Jehovah.

OUR SACRIFICES HAVE GREAT VALUE

17, 18. How do we feel about those who are making sacrifices for the Kingdom, and what should all of us think about?

¹⁷ Many of our brothers and sisters unselfishly give their time, energy, and money to support the Kingdom work. (Philippians 2:17) We deeply appreciate those who show a giving spirit. We also commend the wives and children of brothers who take the lead in the Kingdom work for their generous sacrifices.

¹⁸ Much effort is needed to support the Kingdom work. Let us pray and think seriously about how we can give as much as we can to Jehovah. If we do, we will have many blessings now and many more “in the coming system of things.”​—Mark 10:28-30.

1, 2. What anniversary should Christians especially be interested in, and why?

WHEN you hear the word “anniversary,” what do you think of? If you are married, you might think of your wedding anniversary. Others might think of an important date in history that is celebrated, such as when their country became independent. But do you know which national anniversary has been celebrated for more than 3,500 years?

² That anniversary is the Passover. It is the celebration of the Israelites’ being freed from slavery in Egypt. The Passover should be important to you. Why? Because it affects your life in some very important ways. You might think: ‘The Passover is a Jewish celebration, but I am a Christian. Why should I be interested in the Passover?’ The answer is found in these important words: “Christ our passover has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7) What exactly does this mean? To find the answer, we need to know more about the Jewish Passover and what this anniversary has to do with a command given to all Christians.

WHY DID THE ISRAELITES CELEBRATE THE PASSOVER?

3, 4. What event happened before the first Passover?

³ Hundreds of millions of people around the world who are not Jewish know about the event that happened before the first Passover. They may have read about this event in the Bible book of Exodus, heard others tell the story, or seen a movie about it. Do you remember what happened?

⁴ When the Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for many years, Jehovah sent Moses and Aaron to ask Pharaoh to free His people. But Pharaoh was proud and did not let the Israelites go. So Jehovah punished Egypt with ten terrible plagues. During the tenth plague, the firstborn of the Egyptians were killed. After that, Pharaoh decided to let the Israelites go.​—Exodus 1:11; 3:9, 10; 5:1, 2; 11:1, 5.

5. What were the Israelites commanded to do before they were set free? (See opening picture.)

⁵ But before the Israelites were set free, they had to follow some specific instructions. This was in the spring of the year 1513 before Christ, in the month of Abib, later called Nisan.a (See footnote.) God told them to start preparing on Nisan 10 for an event that would happen at sunset on Nisan 14. Why at sunset? Because Hebrew days began and ended at sunset. When Nisan 14 came, each family was to slaughter a male sheep (or goat) and splash some of its blood on the doorframe of the home. (Exodus 12:3-7, 22, 23) The family was to have a meal of roasted lamb along with unleavened bread and some herbs. God’s angel would pass over the land and kill Egypt’s firstborn, but the firstborn of the obedient Israelites would not be killed. Then God’s people would be set free.​—Exodus 12:8-13, 29-32.

6. Why would the Israelites continue to celebrate the Passover every year?

⁶ The Israelites had to remember the day God set them free from Egypt. God told them: “This day must serve as a memorial for you, and you must celebrate it as a festival to Jehovah throughout your generations. As a statute to time indefinite you should celebrate it.” After the Passover celebration on Nisan 14, the Israelites would also celebrate a seven-day festival called the Festival of Unfermented Cakes. Together, these eight days also can be called the Passover. (Exodus 12:14-17; Luke 22:1; John 18:28; 19:14) The Passover was one of the festivals, or “anniversaries,” that the Israelites were commanded to celebrate each year.​—2 Chronicles 8:13, The Bible in Living English.

7. What new event did Jesus tell his followers to observe?

⁷ Jesus and the apostles were Jews and obeyed the Mosaic Law, so they celebrated the Passover. (Matthew 26:17-19) At their last Passover together, Jesus said that his followers were to observe a new event each year. This event is called the Lord’s Evening Meal. But on what day were they to observe it?

ON WHAT DAY WAS THE LORD’S EVENING MEAL?

8. What question about the Passover and the Lord’s Evening Meal might some ask?

⁸ Jesus gave instructions for the Lord’s Evening Meal right after celebrating the Passover with his apostles. So the Lord’s Evening Meal was on the same day as the Passover. You may have noticed, though, that Jews today may not celebrate the Passover on exactly the same day as we observe the Memorial of Christ’s death. Why the difference? God’s command to the Israelites about the start of the Passover helps us to answer this question. God told the people when on Nisan 14 to slaughter the lamb, which is when the Passover would begin.​—Read Exodus 12:5, 6.

9. According to Exodus 12:6, when was the Passover lamb to be slaughtered? (See also the box “What Part of the Day?”)

⁹ The Jewish publication The Pentateuch and Haftorahs points out that Exodus 12:6 says that the lamb was to be slaughtered “between the two evenings.” Some Bible versions use exactly that expression. Other Bibles, including the Jewish Tanakh, translate it “at twilight.” There are also Bibles that say “at dusk,” “during the evening twilight,” or “around sundown.” So the lamb was to be slaughtered at the start of Nisan 14, that is, after the sun had set but while there was still light.

10. Some believe that the Passover lamb was slaughtered when? But what question must we ask?

¹⁰ In later times, some Jews felt that it would have taken hours to slaughter all the lambs brought to the temple. So they believed that the expression “between the two evenings” at Exodus 12:6 referred to the end of Nisan 14, between the time the sun started to go down in the afternoon and the time the sun set in the evening. But if the lambs were slaughtered at the end of Nisan 14, when would the Israelites have eaten the Passover meal? According to Professor Jonathan Klawans, it would have been eaten on Nisan 15. But he admits that this is not said directly in the Bible book of Exodus. He also says that the writings of the rabbis do not discuss how the Passover was celebrated before the year 70, which was the year the temple was destroyed.

11. (a) What happened to Jesus on the day of the Passover in the year 33? (b) Why was Nisan 15 in the year 33 called “a great” Sabbath? (See footnote.)

¹¹ On what day, then, was the Passover meal celebrated in the year 33? Well, on the day before the Passover, Nisan 13, Jesus told Peter and John: “Go and get the passover ready for us to eat.” (Luke 22:7, 8) Then, on Nisan 14, which was Thursday evening after sunset, Jesus ate the Passover meal with his apostles. After that meal, he gave them instructions for the Lord’s Evening Meal. (Luke 22:14, 15) That night he was arrested and put on trial. Jesus was hanged on a torture stake close to noon on Nisan 14, and that afternoon he died. (John 19:14) So “Christ our passover” sacrificed his life on the same day as the Passover lamb was slaughtered. (Matthew 26:2; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 11:23) Jesus was buried before the start of the next day, Nisan 15.b (See footnote.)​—Leviticus 23:5-7; Luke 23:54.

A MEMORIAL YOU CAN LEARN FROM

12, 13. How were Israelite children a part of the Passover celebration?

¹² At the time of the first Passover in Egypt, God commanded the Israelites to celebrate this event every year “to time indefinite.” Each year at the Passover, children would ask their parents why they were celebrating it. (Read Exodus 12:24-27; Deuteronomy 6:20-23) So the Passover would be “a memorial” that even children could learn lessons from.​—Exodus 12:14.

¹³ From generation to generation, Israelites taught their children important lessons about the Passover. One was that Jehovah could protect his worshippers. Children learned that Jehovah is a real, living God who cares about his people and protects them. He proved this when he kept the Israelites’ firstborn alive during the tenth plague on Egypt.

14. What lesson from the Passover can Christian parents teach their children?

¹⁴ As Christian parents, you are not commanded to tell your children the story of the Passover every year. But do you teach them this lesson from the Passover, that God protects his people? Is it obvious to your children that you truly believe that God still protects us today? (Psalm 27:11; Isaiah 12:2) Do you teach this lesson to them during an enjoyable conversation instead of giving them a lecture? This lesson will help your family to trust in Jehovah even more.

15, 16. What can we learn about Jehovah from the Passover and the Exodus accounts?

¹⁵ Another important lesson we can learn from the Passover is that Jehovah is able not only to protect his people but also to rescue them. Imagine what it was like for the Israelites when Jehovah rescued them from Egypt. They were guided to the Red Sea by a pillar of cloud and of fire. Then, they saw Jehovah split the sea into two high walls of water. Next, they walked across on dry ground. Once they were safely across, they watched as those waters crashed down on the Egyptian army. The Israelites praised Jehovah for delivering them and sang: “Let me sing to Jehovah . . . The horse and its rider he has pitched into the sea. My strength and my might is Jah, since he serves for my salvation.”​—Exodus 13:14, 21, 22; 15:1, 2; Psalm 136:11-15.

¹⁶ If you have children, are you helping them to see Jehovah as a powerful God who will deliver his people? When you make decisions or talk to your children, can they see that you trust in Jehovah to deliver you and your family? Perhaps you could discuss together during family worship how Jehovah delivered his people in the accounts found at Exodus chapters 12-15 as well as Acts 7:30-36 or Daniel 3:16-18, 26-28. All of us, young and old, should be certain that just as Jehovah delivered his people in the past, he will deliver us in the future.​—Read 1 Thessalonians 1:9, 10.

FOR US TO REMEMBER

17, 18. Why is Jesus’ blood more valuable than the blood of the Passover lamb?

¹⁷ True Christians do not celebrate the Passover. That anniversary was part of the Mosaic Law, and we do not follow that Law. (Romans 10:4; Colossians 2:13-16) Instead, we observe another anniversary, the death of God’s Son. But we can learn a lot from the Passover celebration that started in Egypt.

¹⁸ The lamb’s blood that the Israelites sprinkled on their doorframes saved the lives of their firstborn. Today, we do not offer the blood of animals to God at Passover or at any other time. But the blood of another sacrifice is far more valuable. The people whom it saves can live forever. The apostle Paul explained that it is Jesus’ blood, “the blood of sprinkling,” that makes it possible for anointed Christians to live forever in heaven. They are “the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens.” (Hebrews 12:23, 24) Jesus’ blood also makes it possible for the other sheep to have the hope of living forever on earth. All of us should regularly remind ourselves of the promise: “By means of him we have the release by ransom through the blood of that one, yes, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his undeserved kindness.”​—Ephesians 1:7.

19. How can the way Jesus died strengthen our confidence in Bible prophecy?

¹⁹ When the lamb was slaughtered for the Passover meal, the Israelites were not to break any of its bones. (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:11, 12) What about the bones of “the Lamb of God,” Jesus, who gave his life as a ransom? (John 1:29) He was hanged on a torture stake with a criminal on each side of him. The Jews asked Pilate to have the bones of Jesus and of the two criminals broken so that they would die quicker. This way, their bodies could be taken off the torture stakes before Nisan 15, a double Sabbath. Soldiers broke the legs of the two criminals, “but on coming to Jesus, as they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.” (John 19:31-34) Just like the bones of the Passover lamb, Jesus’ bones were not broken. So the Passover lamb was like “a shadow” of Jesus’ sacrifice on Nisan 14 of the year 33. (Hebrews 10:1) This fulfilled the words at Psalm 34:20. This should strengthen our confidence in Bible prophecy.

20. What is one difference between the Passover and the Lord’s Evening Meal?

²⁰ There are differences, though, between how the Jews celebrated the Passover and how Jesus told his disciples to observe the Lord’s Evening Meal. For example, the Israelites would eat the lamb’s meat but would not drink its blood. That is different from what Jesus told his disciples to do. He said that those who would rule “in the kingdom of God” should eat the bread and drink the wine, which represented his flesh and his blood. We will learn more about the Memorial of Christ’s death in the next article.​—Mark 14:22-25.

21. Why should we know about the Passover?

²¹ The Passover was an important event in the history of God’s people, and each one of us can learn many lessons from it. So even though the Passover was “a memorial” for the Jews, we as Christians should know about it and learn its valuable lessons, because “all Scripture is inspired of God.”​—2 Timothy 3:16.

1, 2. What might some of the apostles have been thinking before Jesus’ final trip to Jerusalem?

‘THE sky is clear now, and we can see the crescent of the moon. Last night, watchmen in Jerusalem must have seen it too. Once the Sanhedrin knew about this, they announced that the new month, Nisan, had begun. Then signal fires or messengers spread the news quickly. Even people here have heard the news. Surely, Jesus will want to leave for Jerusalem so that he can be there before the Passover.’

² Perhaps these were the thoughts of some of the apostles when they were with Jesus before his final trip to Jerusalem. At that time, they were in Perea, on the other side of the Jordan River. (Matthew 19:1; 20:17, 29; Mark 10:1, 32, 46) Once the Jews knew when Nisan 1 would be, they would wait another 13 days and then celebrate the Passover after sunset on Nisan 14.

3. Why are Christians interested in the date of the Passover?

³ The date of the Lord’s Evening Meal, which corresponds to the Passover, will be after sundown on April 14, 2014. That will be a special day for true Christians and interested people. Why? Because of what we read at 1 Corinthians 11:23-25: “Jesus in the night in which he was going to be handed over took a loaf and, after giving thanks, he broke it and said: ‘This means my body which is in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.’ He did likewise respecting the cup.”

4. (a) What questions might you ask yourself about the Memorial? (b) How do we know on what date the Memorial will be observed each year? (See also box “Memorial 2014.”)

⁴ The Memorial is the only event that Jesus told his followers to observe each year, and you will surely want to be there. Before then, ask yourself: ‘How should I prepare for the Memorial? What are the emblems that are used at the Memorial? What will happen there? Why are the Memorial and the emblems important to me?’

THE EMBLEMS THAT ARE USED AT THE MEMORIAL

5. What did Jesus tell the apostles to do to prepare for the Passover?

⁵ When Jesus told the apostles to get a room ready for the Passover meal, he did not tell them to decorate the room. Instead, he probably wanted a simple, clean room with enough space for himself and his apostles. (Read Mark 14:12-16.) The apostles would also get everything needed for the meal, including unleavened bread and red wine. After the Passover meal, Jesus spoke about the bread and the wine. These are the two emblems that would be used to observe the Memorial.

6. (a) After the Passover meal, what did Jesus say about the bread? (b) What sort of bread is used at the Memorial?

⁶ The apostle Matthew was there and later wrote: “Jesus took a loaf and, after saying a blessing, he broke it and, giving it to the disciples, he said: ‘Take, eat.’” (Matthew 26:26) The “loaf” was unfermented bread, the same bread that was used for the Passover. (Exodus 12:8; Deuteronomy 16:3) This bread was made from wheat flour and water. It was unleavened, meaning that no leaven was added, so the bread did not rise. It also did not have any seasoning, such as salt. It was plain and dry like a cracker, and it was easy to break into pieces. Today, before the day of the Memorial, congregation elders may ask someone to make this kind of bread. It should be made from wheat flour and water and might be cooked on a pan with a little oil. Jewish matzoth without added malt, eggs, or onions can also be used. In places where it is hard to find wheat flour, flour made from rice, barley, corn, or a similar grain can be used.

7. What was in the cup Jesus used at the Lord’s Evening Meal? What kind of wine may be used at the Memorial?

⁷ Matthew also said that Jesus then “took a cup and, having given thanks, he gave it to them, saying: ‘Drink out of it, all of you.’” (Matthew 26:27, 28) Red wine was in the cup Jesus used. How do we know that it was not fresh grape juice? Because the grape harvest had been over for a long time. Wine was not a part of the first Passover meal in Egypt. But Jesus did not say that it was wrong to drink it at the Passover. He even used some wine during the Lord’s Evening Meal. So Christians today also use wine at the Memorial. What kind of wine should be used? The wine used at the Memorial should not have anything added, such as brandy or spices. Nothing needed to be added to Jesus’ blood to make it more valuable. So plain red wine is used. It could be homemade, or it could be a wine such as Beaujolais, Burgundy, or Chianti, which can be bought at a market.

WHAT THE BREAD AND THE WINE MEAN

8. Why are Christians interested in what the bread and the wine mean?

⁸ Something the apostle Paul said shows that Christians other than the apostles were to observe the Lord’s Evening Meal. Paul wrote to the brothers in Corinth that Jesus “took a loaf and, after giving thanks, he broke it and said: ‘This means my body which is in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.’” (1 Corinthians 11:23, 24) Because Christians today are commanded to observe the Memorial once every year, they are very interested in what the bread and the wine mean.

9. What wrong belief do some have about the bread that Jesus used?

⁹ Some religious people point out that Jesus’ words were actually: ‘This is my body.’ So they believe that there was a miracle and that the bread became Jesus’ body. But that is not what happened.a (See footnote.) Jesus’ body and the unleavened bread were both there in front of the faithful apostles. Clearly, Jesus was saying that the bread meant his body. Jesus often used comparisons like this in his teaching.​—John 2:19-21; 4:13, 14; 10:7; 15:1.

10. What does the bread at the Memorial mean?

¹⁰ The bread that the apostles could see and would soon eat meant Jesus’ body. At one time, true Christians believed that the bread meant the congregation of anointed Christians, which the Bible calls “the body of the Christ.” They believed this because Jesus broke the bread into many pieces but none of his own bones were broken. (Ephesians 4:12; Romans 12:4, 5; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 17; 12:27) But after more research, they realized that the bread means Jesus’ human body. The Scriptures often speak about how Jesus “suffered in the flesh” and was even put to death on a torture stake. So the bread at the Memorial means the human body that Jesus sacrificed for our sins.​—1 Peter 2:21-24; 4:1; John 19:33-36; Hebrews 10:5-7.

11, 12. (a) What did Jesus say about the wine? (b) What does the wine at the Memorial mean?

¹¹ Knowing what the bread means helps us to understand what Jesus then said about the wine. We read: “He did likewise respecting the cup also, after he had the evening meal, saying: ‘This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood.’” (1 Corinthians 11:25) Many Bibles say something similar to the version by Robert Young: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.” (Bold ours.) Was the actual cup Jesus held the new covenant? No. Jesus was talking about the wine that was in the cup. What did Jesus say that the wine meant? It meant his blood that he would sacrifice.

¹² In Mark’s Gospel, we read Jesus’ words: “This means my ‘blood of the covenant,’ which is to be poured out in behalf of many.” (Mark 14:24) And in Matthew, we read that Jesus’ blood would be “poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28) So the red wine means Jesus’ own blood. Jesus’ blood provides a ransom so that our sins can be forgiven.​—Read Ephesians 1:7.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE MEMORIAL OF CHRIST’S DEATH?

13. What happens at the Memorial of Christ’s death?

¹³ If you will attend the Memorial with Jehovah’s Witnesses for the first time, what can you expect? The Memorial will be at an attractive, clean location where there is enough room for everyone to be comfortable and to enjoy the meeting. There may be some simple flower arrangements, but you will not see a lot of decorations, and it will not be like a party. A qualified elder will give a clear, respectful talk based on what the Bible says about the Lord’s Evening Meal. He will explain that Christ died as a ransom so that we may live. (Read Romans 5:8-10.) The speaker will also talk about two hopes explained in the Bible.

14. During the Memorial, what two hopes will the speaker talk about?

¹⁴ One is the hope of ruling in heaven with Christ. Only a small number of Christians, such as his faithful apostles, have this hope. (Luke 12:32; 22:19, 20; Revelation 14:1) The other hope is the one that most loyal Christians have. Their hope is to live forever on a paradise earth. The earth will finally be the way God wanted it to be, which is what Christians have always prayed for. (Matthew 6:10) The Scriptures describe the wonderful life that they will enjoy forever and ever.​—Isaiah 11:6-9; 35:5, 6; 65:21-23.

15, 16. At the Memorial, what is done with the unleavened bread?

¹⁵ After explaining these two hopes, the speaker will say that the time has come to do as Jesus did at the Lord’s Evening Meal. There will be unleavened bread and red wine on a table next to him. The speaker will read a Bible account that describes what Jesus did with the bread. He may read Matthew’s account, which says: “Jesus took a loaf and, after saying a blessing, he broke it and, giving it to the disciples, he said: ‘Take, eat. This means my body.’” (Matthew 26:26) Jesus broke the bread into pieces so that he could pass some to the apostles on each side of him. At the Memorial on April 14, you will see unleavened bread on plates.

¹⁶ Before the plates are passed, a brother will say a brief prayer. There will be enough plates so that the bread can be passed around to everyone in a short time and in an orderly way. This is done without any special ritual and in a way that is practical for the location. Few or perhaps no one will eat the bread, just as in most congregations at the Memorial in 2013.

17. At the Memorial, how is Jesus’ direction about the wine followed?

¹⁷ Next, the speaker will read what Jesus did with the wine: “He took a cup and, having given thanks, he gave it to them, saying: ‘Drink out of it, all of you; for this means my “blood of the covenant,” which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins.’” (Matthew 26:27, 28) Following Jesus’ direction, another prayer is said and then the red wine is passed to all in the audience.

18. If few or no one eats the bread or drinks the wine, why is it still important to be at the Memorial?

¹⁸ Only those who will rule with Christ in heaven will eat the bread and drink the wine. So most people at the Memorial will simply pass the bread and the wine to the next person. (Read Luke 22:28-30; 2 Timothy 4:18) Even though most Christians do not eat the bread or drink the wine, it is still important for them to be at the Memorial. Why? By being there, they show how highly they value Jesus’ sacrifice. During the Memorial, they can think about all the blessings that the ransom can bring them. For example, they have the hope of being among the “great crowd” who will survive “the great tribulation.” Because of their faith in Jesus’ sacrifice, they will be righteous in God’s eyes, as if they had “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”​—Revelation 7:9, 14-17.

19. What can we do to prepare for and benefit from the Memorial?

¹⁹ How do Jehovah’s Witnesses around the earth prepare for the Memorial? Several weeks before the date of the Memorial, we invite as many as possible to attend. In the days before this special meeting, we read the Bible accounts about what Jesus did and what happened in the days before the Lord’s Evening Meal in the year 33. We make plans in advance to be at the Memorial. We get to the meeting early so that we can welcome visitors and not miss any part of the program. All of us, members of the congregation and visitors, will benefit if we follow along in our Bible when the speaker reads and explains the Scriptures. Most important, by attending the Memorial, we show that we are deeply thankful for Jesus’ sacrifice and are obedient to his command: “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”​—1 Corinthians 11:24.

THE Bible clearly says that a husband is to “love his wife as he does himself.” A wife should “have deep respect for her husband.” Both should do their part as “one flesh.” (Ephesians 5:33; Genesis 2:23, 24) Over time, the attachment a couple have to each other gains strength, and so does their love. Just like the roots of two trees that grow right next to each other, the feelings of a happily married husband and wife become deep and closely knit together as time passes.

But what if the husband or the wife dies? Then that strong bond, which was unbreakable during the couple’s life, is broken. The surviving husband or wife often feels a combination of heartache, loneliness, and maybe even anger or guilt. During her marriage of 58 years, Daniella knew many who lost their mates.a (See footnote.) But after her husband died, she said: “I never understood this experience before. There is no way to comprehend it until you go through it.”

PAIN THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO END

Some researchers say that no stress is more severe than the stress of losing a mate. Many who have lost a mate agree with that. Millie’s husband died many years ago. She explains her life as a widow this way: “I feel I am a cripple.” She was trying to describe her emotions after the loss of her husband to whom she was married for 25 years.

Susan used to think that it was unreasonable for widows to mourn for years after the loss of their husband. But then, after 38 years of marriage, her husband died. Now 20 years later, she still says, “I think of him every day.” Tears often flow from her eyes because she misses him so much.

The Bible says that the pain of losing a mate is cruel and lasts a long time. When Sarah died, her husband, Abraham, “came in to bewail Sarah and to weep over her.” (Genesis 23:1, 2) Even though he had faith in the resurrection, Abraham felt intense sadness when his beloved wife died. (Hebrews 11:17-19) After his dear wife Rachel died, Jacob did not forget her. He spoke tenderly about her to his sons.​—Genesis 44:27; 48:7.

What lesson should we learn from these Bible examples? Those who have lost a mate in death often feel the pain of the loss for years. We should not view their tears and their sadness as a weakness. Instead, these emotions are a natural reaction to their great loss. They may need our compassion and support for a long time.

ONE DAY AT A TIME

When someone loses a mate, life does not just return to the way it was when he or she was single. After being married for many years, a husband usually knows how to comfort his wife and encourage her when she feels sad or frustrated. If he is gone, the love and comfort she received from him is gone too. Similarly, a wife learns how to make her husband feel confident and happy. There is nothing like her gentle touch, comforting words, and the attention she gives to his interests and needs. If she dies, he may feel an emptiness in his life. Because of this, some who lose their mates worry about or even fear the future. What Bible principle can help them to feel secure and give them peace?

“Never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Sufficient for each day is its own badness.” (Matthew 6:34) Those words of Jesus mainly apply to our material needs, but they have helped many to endure the terrible pain of losing a mate. Some months after his wife died, Charles wrote: “The intensity of how much I miss Monique is still great, and at times it seems only to get worse. However, I realize that this is normal and that the passing of time will eventually reduce some of the pain.”

Charles still had to endure “the passing of time.” How did he do it? He said, “With Jehovah’s help I took it one day at a time.” Charles was not defeated by sadness. His pain did not disappear overnight, but it did not consume him either. If you have lost your mate, try to cope with your loss one day at a time. You do not know what benefit or encouragement you might receive tomorrow.

Death was not part of Jehovah’s original purpose. Instead, death is part of “the works of the Devil.” (1 John 3:8; Romans 6:23) Satan uses death and the fear of it to control people like slaves and take away their hope. (Hebrews 2:14, 15) Satan is pleased when someone loses all hope of finding true happiness and satisfaction, even in God’s new world. The deep pain a surviving mate feels about the loss of his or her spouse is the result of Adam’s sin and Satan’s rebellion. (Romans 5:12) Jehovah will completely repair the damage caused by Satan and will defeat his cruel weapon, death. The ones freed from the fear that Satan uses will include many who have lost their mates in death, as you may have.

For those who will be resurrected, life in the new world will bring some changes. Relationships between humans will change. For example, parents, grandparents, and other ancestors who will be resurrected will gradually become perfect along with their children and grandchildren. The effects of old age will be gone. The younger generations might view their ancestors very differently from the way they do now. These changes will help to improve the human family.

We might have many questions about resurrected ones. For example, what will happen to those who lost two or more mates in death? The Sadducees asked a question about a woman whose first husband died, then her second, and so on until five more died. (Luke 20:27-33) What relationship will they all have in the resurrection? We just do not know, and it is pointless to guess or worry about these questions. For now the only thing we can do is simply to trust in God. We can be sure that whatever Jehovah does in the future will be good. It will be something we can look forward to, not something we need to fear.

THE RESURRECTION HOPE COMFORTS US

One of the clearest teachings of God’s Word is that dead loved ones will come back to life. Bible accounts of past resurrections guarantee that all those in the grave will hear Jesus’ voice and come out. (John 5:28, 29) People at that time will be overjoyed when they are reunited with loved ones who have been resurrected. And we cannot even imagine the happiness that the resurrected ones will feel.

As billions of people are resurrected to life, the earth will be filled with joy as never before. (Mark 5:39-42; Revelation 20:13) Imagining what it will be like to see this future miracle happen should comfort all who have lost loved ones in death.

Will anyone have a reason to be sad when that resurrection occurs? The Bible answers no. According to Isaiah 25:8, Jehovah “will actually swallow up death forever.” That includes completely removing death and its painful effects. The prophecy in Isaiah also says: “The Sovereign Lord Jehovah will certainly wipe the tears from all faces.” Any sadness you feel now because your dear husband or wife has died will not even be remembered after the resurrection.

No human completely understands all that God will do in the new world. Jehovah says: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9) When we believe Jesus’ promise about the resurrection, it shows that we trust in Jehovah, just as Abraham did. Right now, it is important for all Christians to do what God asks of us. If we do, we will be judged worthy of living in the new world along with those who will be resurrected.​—Luke 20:35.

A REASON FOR HOPE

If you keep your wonderful hope clear in mind, it will help you not to be anxious about the future. Most humans have little hope for the future. But Jehovah promises something better. Even though we do not know exactly how he will do it, we can be sure that Jehovah will satisfy all our needs and desires. The apostle Paul wrote: “Hope that is seen is not hope, for when a man sees a thing, does he hope for it? But if we hope for what we do not see, we keep on waiting for it with endurance.” (Romans 8:24, 25) A strong hope in God’s promises will help you to endure the loss of your mate. If you endure, you will experience the wonderful time in the future when Jehovah will “give you the requests of your heart.” He will satisfy “the desire of every living thing.”​—Psalm 37:4; 145:16; Luke 21:19.

Near the time of Jesus’ death, his apostles became deeply saddened, afraid, and confused. Jesus comforted them with these words: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Exercise faith in God, exercise faith also in me.” He told them: “I shall not leave you bereaved. I am coming to you.” (John 14:1-4, 18, 27) Jesus’ words would give his anointed followers throughout the centuries a reason to have hope and endurance. Those who have a strong desire to see their loved ones in the resurrection also have no reason to lose hope. Jehovah and his Son will not abandon you. Those who have died will be resurrected. Soon you will welcome back the one you miss so much.