Dear CC Reader,

This is a very good question. You have heard about the Passover many times in sermons and you may have stayed home with a sibling while your parents left for the evening Passover service. So how can you get meaning out of the Passover as someone who is not yet baptized?

The meaning of the Passover is for you and for all of humanity. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, gave His life for you. God the Father and Jesus Christ love you so much that the Father gave up His Son and the Son voluntarily gave up His life for our personal sins. This awesome sacrifice removes our penalty for sinning, allowing us to draw closer to God (Romans 3:25-26; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:18-21). Jesus’ sacrifice is the starting point for salvation and the foundation of the annual feast days that follow. 

So the meaning of the Passover could not be more personal—“Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). Pray to God the Father and thank Him for what He and His Son have done for you. Connect with God through daily prayer. This will build your relationship with God which is the most important thing any of us can do.

You can also ask your parents to share their personal experiences about what the Passover means to them and what happens at the Passover service. This can lead to some good discussions and also help you to understand what occurs on this evening.

You mentioned you are not old enough to be seriously considering baptism. As you grow into your older teens, ask your pastor if you can attend the actual Passover service and observe what occurs (without partaking in the Passover symbols) in order to understand it more deeply. We understand that partaking of the Passover symbols of bread and wine is for baptized adults. (For more information, read the free booklet, “God’s Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind.”)

You can also study about the origin of the Passover in Exodus 12. Then study about Jesus Christ breaking bread and drinking wine at this observance in Luke 22:7-22. Jesus Christ felt and lived our pain as a human being on this earth. Because He understands us, we are able to form a stronger relationship and build a deeper connection with both God the Father and our Savior. 

A younger person can appreciate what love and marriage are about well before they are old enough to make the commitment of marriage. Likewise, they should be able to learn the meaning and importance of Passover, even before being old enough for baptism.

Those who are children of baptized members of God’s Church are in a special category, referred to as “sanctified” or “holy” (1 Corinthians 7:14). They are being called of God and have access to His promises (Acts 2:39), pending their mature acceptance of His calling, repentance and baptism. We are children of God and part of His family (1 John 3:2), and the Passover shows us these important truths through the annual reminder of His love for us and the promise of becoming a part of His family for all eternity.