THE MEMORIAL (WATCHTOWER'S VERSION OF THE LAST SUPPER)

LETTER TO AN EXITING FRIEND (NAME NOT INCLUDED) Recently I wrote the following reply to a friendly inquiry.  I felt it would be highly useful for many other readers too but, given what Watchtower has its elders do to those questioning its doctrines (extremist shunning), the person's name has been withheld: J Mason Emerson February 11 at 9:14am Hi, -------. Thanks for reaching out to communicate with me on this particular subject (John 6:53-59, Luke 22, etc) and feel free to continue doing so concerning any other subject/s that come to mind and at anytime. To answer your question about what some do if an inactive JW but going to a kingdom hall on Memorial evening due to family concerns: While there some partake spiritually within witnessed by God and the faithful angels in heaven but not the Watchtower’s elders. Others also partake later at home anytime say within the next month or two either alone except for God and the faithful angels or else along with other Christians. I cannot cite the publication but recall Watchtower has written that in lands where under ban they authorize JWs there to also do a later observance of Memorial. They have noted that Judaism has allowed Jews unable to observe Passover due to some emergency to do so later within a month or two, so what is written in the preceding paragraph has precedent even within the context of Watchtower and Judaism. Various Christian church groups observe what is called the Memorial, the Last Meal of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Last Supper, Eucharist, Communion etc in different ways. For example some observe it weekly, monthly or yearly or offer emblems anytime one so desires but in particular at Easter. Most do use the wine and bread emblems; but others such as the Quakers for various reasons do not. Some such as Mennonites add foot-washing as seen at John 13. Please also look at Matthew 26, Mk 14, Lu 22. What of myself? I typically try to say at least a silent prayer in thanks for food anytime I sit down to eat and while saying the prayer reflect upon my imperfect but sincere efforts to be like Christ; but I also feel it’s good for me to partake along with at least one other Christian and this year of 2011 plan to do so during one of my telephone conference talk shows held every other week for Christian fellowship and Bible reading. You’re invited, but in any case always keep in mind that “you are not alone,” that others are in similar situations and God in heaven knows this: http://www.sixscreensofthewatchtower.com/telenetwork/bible-reading-christian-fellowship.php You may also be interested to know that back when I attended as a JW in a kingdom hall I did not drink the wine or eat the food but I did reflect intensely inwardly upon my life as a Christian. I also always felt that Watchtower’s pressuring people not to partake was wrong and would surely someday have to be reformed via “new light.” I felt shocked after leaving Watchtower when I read that Satanists even hold a similar yearly event where they pass wine and bread around to not partake of so as to constitute a denial-of-the-body-of-Christ ritual. I doubt more than .01% of JWs are aware of this. See also http://christianwitnesses.com/id269.html Of course part of our becoming and being a non-Watchtower Christians is for each of us to become more and more comfortable about making personal spiritual decisions without Watchtower or other humans dictating to us. Rather instead of Watchtower, we are led to do so by the joy of letting the Holy Spirit impart how to act into our hearts, minds and consciences from reading the Bible, especially so where scriptures inform us about what Christ and the apostles did so that we too have an idea of what they would do and or want us to also do today. However, the fact is also true that scripture says there is wisdom in the multitude of counselors and so consulting with other Christian friends is also scriptural and wise. Also, I congratulate you and the many others who are also exiting the Watchtower. As we near and go past 2014 (1914 + 100 years), I am sure we shall be joined by many others who also believe that despite the role of Faithful and Discreet slave that the seven men of Watchtower’s Governing Body profess they fulfill instead wish to follow the MOST Faithful and Discreet slave of God, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, our one and only overall spiritual King and Savior. Best wishes as always, Joe

THE MEMORIAL (WATCHTOWER'S VERSION OF THE LAST SUPPER) Once a year Watchtower has Jehovah's Witnesses to hold what it calls the Memorial, its version of the Last Supper observance.  At that time symbolic wine and bread are passed around but usually no one attending in any given kingdom hall partakes of those.  This is because Watchtower's Governing Body men have long said very few JWs deserve to do so, that only a remnant now on earth of 144,000 total Christians throughout history are worthy to partake; that most all JWs are not of the remnant of the 144,000 Little Flock bride of Christ class.  Therefore although the Memorial is spoken of well in a talk given by a Watchtower elder, increasingly by many it is seen as a symbolic way in which Watchtower's top heads promote the denial of Christ for the vast majority of JWs, akin to similar rituals also practiced in Free Masonry and among Satanists.  JW members of the Watchtower's non-heavenly-hope class, called the Great Crowd, are told they have a separate earthly hope, that is hope not for being with Christ in heaven but continuing to live on earth.  Those not partaking of the emblems at the Memorial of the Last Supper or Lord's Last Meal need to know and meditate upon John 6:53 which says: "Jesus said to them, 'I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."   Increasingly rank-and-file JWs (called "Publishers") have felt Watchtower must be totally mistaken when it has claimed that in 1935 the last members of the 144,000 anointed ones on earth were sealed, that there are to be no new anointed partakers.  Therefore in recent years the number of anointed partakers has increased.  In 2010 the number was up to over 11,000, not so many years before being only about 8,000. However word has come that Watchtower is even more than in the past going to be having its appointed elders go gunning for those who partake (especially younger JWs), to try to verbally bully them into "recanting" their having partaken as a mistake, to shoot them down from the heavenly hope.  Otherwise Rick and Inez Fearon, others who partook for years, have also noted that there is harassment that goes on in the background, gossipping and verbal backstabbing.   Reflecting the dominant view of Governing Body heads, local elders generally view newer, younger partakers at their Watchtower Memorial as being trouble-makers, liars, mentally insane.   The Last Supper is supposed to show loving remembrance of Christ who gave his very life in order that all humankind might live forever.  Instead it is a ritualistic denial of Christ's being the Mediator for us all.    Christ's true brothers and sisters are to have Love among one another in particular.  Being told that Christ is not the Mediator for "all" but only for 144,000 is not very loving, and it is dishonest.  (1 Tim 2:5)   Partaking at the kingdom hall as Christ tells Christians to do, when done openly, has caused many Watchtower elders to act abusively toward the partakers, also led to people being disfellowshipped (shunned harshly); therefore many JWs now partake privately, out of sight at home, elsewhere, or simply partake within spiritually, thus invisibly in the midst of kingdom halls unseen save to the eyes of God and his faithful angels in heaven.

A CHRISTIAN OBSERVANCE OF THE MEMORIAL OF  THE LORD'S LAST SUPPER

Jesus tells Christians at John 6:53 "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." So, unless as a Christian you feel unworthy somehow, then according to Christ, you should definitely partake of the wine and bread spiritual symbols.  Although most Christians do so on Christian Easter, some do so on or about the Jewish Passover, still others do so anytime that they and another or even more Christians gather on the Lord's day (Sunday), some both anytime a group of Christians gather plus on a more solemn once-a-year occasion etc.  There is Christian freedom to decide about such things.  If for some reason you feel you must attend a meeting sponsored by Watchtower, for example to keep the peace with other family members, then if you do not partake openly, you can at least partake spiritually within as witnessed from heaven alone or do so at home.  In any case, remember what Jesus Christ has told us at John 6:53, 54.  CLICK FOR FUTURE PASSOVER DATES

MATTHEW 26:17-30  17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” 23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”    Jesus answered, “You have said so.”  26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

MARK 14:12-26 12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” 19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?” 20 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

LUKE 22:7-23 7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” 9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. 10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.” 13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” 17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

WHY MOST CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE EASTER AND KEEP DOING SO IN 100% GOOD CONSCIENCE:  Most encyclopedias and dictionaries have said the name of Easter is from an ancient non-Christian pagan goddess named Eastre, this being what an ancient British scholar named Bede once guessed, and yet it has also been noted that the name Eastre may just as easily have come from the Old English or Anglo-Saxon word for East or Eastern.  In fact, as to the name “Easter,” Christianity came to Europe and later America from the direction of the East.  To be exact it came from the Middle East, and besides this, formerly many Christians believed Christ would return from the east to resurrect people, possibly thinking of Matthew 24:27 which says the resurrected Christ will return out of the east. Those opposed to celebrating Easter also claim the eggs and rabbits used during Easter season are the vestiges of ancient pagan fertility rites when the facts are that Christians have used eggs and rabbits to symbolize new life as in the resurrection of Christ which is what the holiday is about.  Further, the apostle Paul wrote that we have Christian freedom about if we want to celebrate or not celebrate different holidays.  He says this at Galatians 4:10 and Colossians 2:16.   Please read and meditate on those scriptures, contrasting with what they say and what those opposing Easter and other holidays teach to be "the truth."  To all true Christians, the Bible itself is the truth and Paul truly says in the Bible that there is freedom about such things. Furthermore, note that all the days and months in the English language are named after pagan gods and goddesses and yet those wrongly attacking Easter as "pagan" commonly use those very same names.  Rings and money also came from pagans, but those attacking Easter also use rings and money.  Some Christians in the Bible even have and kept "pagan" names such as Apollo and Junius. The cross is prominent at Easter.  Opposers have claimed Christ didn't die on a cross but on an upright stake or pole and the cross is a horrible murder weapon.   Frankly, archaeology and forensics say it definitely was a cross, and Paul says to boast of the cross for Christ turned it into a symbol of the resurrection hope. (Ga 6:14, 1 Cor 1:17-18)   Therefore, for these many reasons, it is wise to hold fast to our Christian joy, regardless of what those opposed to celebrating Easter or for example the pro-Christ holiday of Christ, the sharing of communion wine and bread, etc, have been mistaught and told to misteach ourselves in turn, noting also that joy such as comes with these holidays is one of the fruits of God's own Holy Spirit. (Ga 5:22)

WHY MANY CHRISTIANS USE EASTER EGGS For Christians the Easter rabbit, chicks etc are connected with “New Life,” the theme of the Easter holiday centered on Christ’s resurrection that brings the resurrection hope for humankind. (John 3:16)  That’s a fact and stays a fact even though before Christ or even the Jewish Passover, pagans also used eggs. Last Supper replaced the Jewish Passover for Christians which celebrated that the Israelites had been able to exodus from Egypt. Passover Seder or meal has included and still does include a hard-boiled egg dipped in salt water that represents the festival sacrifice offered at the Temple in Jerusalem. Watchtower Society over Jehovah’s Witnesses and some others stress  the “legend” that Easter rabbits began when the pagan goddess Eastre (also spelled Eostre etc) changed a bird into a rabbit that like the bird laid eggs in a basket.  However, a “legend” is something clearly fictitious. A second claim is that Easter eggs began as ancient sex rites in northern Europe, or possibly came from China where eggs were dyed red to symbolize good luck.  However that definitely does not mean that Christians adopted the custom of dying eggs colorfully for sex rites or to bring good luck.  Instead Christians began to dye and use eggs at Easter time because they symbolize new life.  That’s logical isn’t it?  New life such as chicks and ducklings pop out of eggs.  Eggs, new bunny rabbits, baby chick and ducklings all are clearly symbolic of new life.  Besides which, as already said, Easter centers on Christ’s Resurrection which brought humankind the resurrection hope. (John 3:16) The Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches use Easter eggs dyed red to represent Christ’s blood, the hard egg shell to represent Christ’s sealed tomb, and the cracking of eggs to symbolize the resurrection.  Dyed Easter eggs have long been popular in the Ukraine, Russia, other Slavic nations and Romania.  When Ukraines and others moved to the United States during the 1800s they brought along the custom of dying Easter eggs. Also of interest is to note why many Christians in the United States and other lands dye eggs pretty colors and later hide them for children to find as a game. Galatians 5:22 lists the fruits of Holy Spirit including love and "joy."  Having loving, fun activities is also a part of Holy Spirit.