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[Question]
In Mark 14:12, it says, “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?’”

The timeline and the procedures of the Passover meal suggest that what Jesus shared was not the Passover meal. Why, then, is it written as though they were preparing the Passover meal? Because of this verse, the World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG) teaches during Bible studies that Jesus celebrated the Passover, and the bread and wine symbolize the New Covenant.

[Answer]
The question touches on two distinct aspects: the “first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed” and “making preparations for the Passover.” These points are clarified as follows:

1. The first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread when the Passover lamb is sacrificed.
As explained earlier, according to biblical teaching, the Jews selected the Passover lamb on the 10th day of Nisan (1st month of the Jewish calendar) and slaughtered it collectively at 3 PM on the 14th day of Nisan. That evening, they ate the lamb, which constituted the Passover meal.

The Jewish day runs from sunset to sunset. Therefore, the evening meal on the 14th day, when the lamb was eaten, falls on what we would consider the 15th day. Thus, the Passover can be divided into its preparatory day and the actual observance, though they are often regarded as one. The day the lamb is sacrificed (14th) is referred to as the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread or the preparation day.

For more information, see the Israel Cultural Center's article on Passover linked here.

Jewish Passover
(Prof. Choi's Jewish Hebrew Lectures)
Passover begins on the 15th of Nisan and is a spring festival commemorating the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt. Freedom is the overarching theme of this festival. Preparations for Passover begin well in advance, with homes and workplaces thoroughly cleaned to remove all leaven, following the instructions in Exodus 12:15-20.

On the day before Passover, preparations include burning foods that are prohibited during Passover. The evening meal, known in Hebrew as Seder, marks the first night of Passover. Families gather to recall and celebrate their ancestors' liberation from Egypt, reading from the Haggadah and eating symbolic foods such as bitter herbs, unleavened bread (matzah), wine, and lamb shank bone.

Passover is universally observed among Jews, akin to a national holiday. Even secular Jews participate in Passover observances, making it one of the most significant Jewish festivals.

2. Preparing for the Passover.
The Passover marks the first day of the seven-day Festival of Unleavened Bread. God instituted the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread to help the Israelites remember their deliverance from Egypt and their seven days of hardship before reaching the Red Sea.

During the festival, unleavened bread (hard, tasteless bread) is eaten for seven days. To prepare for this, homes were cleansed of leaven long before the festival. The 14th day of Nisan was designated as the preparation day for final arrangements.

Thus, when Jesus’ disciples asked, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” it was a customary question tied to the preparation day.

Key Verses

• John 19:31: “Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath.”
• Luke 22:8-9: “Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.’ ‘Where do you want us to prepare for it?’ they asked.”
• Mark 14:12: “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?’”

In conclusion, the preparations mentioned by the disciples align with the established customs of the preparation day before Passover. WMSCOG's interpretation of these verses as proof of Jesus instituting the New Covenant through Passover on that specific day is a misunderstanding of the cultural and biblical context.