Jehovah’s Witnesses in Metro Manila and throughout the country are participating in a campaign to invite as many people as possible to a global event which is considered as the most important occasion for Christians – the Memorial of Jesus’ death.
This year, millions of people will gather at sundown on Sunday, March 24, to commemorate the Memorial which is observed annually on Nisan 14 of the Jewish calendar. The commemoration is in adherence to the command of Jesus found at Luke 22:19, “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”
“Around the world, many people who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses attend the Memorial. We hope that members of our local community will also join us in remembering the death of Jesus Christ to show gratitude for his sacrifice,” said Melchor Basalo, spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “While it is a solemn occasion, it is also a joyous one.”
In all 239 lands where Jehovah’s Witnesses are active, the one-hour event will feature a talk highlighting the significance of Jesus’ death and what it means for all of mankind.
The meeting will start and end with the singing of a song, as well as a prayer offered by a minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The main feature of the Memorial is a talk about the importance of Jesus’ death and how we can benefit from what God and Christ have done for us. A preview of the wonderful future that the death of Jesus makes possible is explained on a video.
“The ransom sacrifice of Jesus made it possible for God’s original purpose for mankind to be fulfilled. Apart from living forever, the people will be happy with the conditions on earth as there will be no more tears, mourning, outcry and pain. The Memorial is reminding me of a beautiful future that is soon to come,” said John Michael Pascua.
He added, “In showing my appreciation for the sacrifice of Jesus, it is my privilege to invite as many people as possible to the Memorial.”
There are more than 8.6 million Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world but more than 20 million people attended the event last year.
In Metro Manila, for example, there is an ongoing campaign to invite local residents to attend the annual observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal.
The couple Edgardo and Anita Cabral are among the more than 253,000 Witnesses in the Philippines who are participating in the Memorial invitation campaign.
“With what will we repay Jehovah for all the good he has done to us? We want to give our whole-hearted appreciation for his love. Interested individuals who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses will also be truly benefitted from attending the Memorial. They can draw close to God and also be appreciated by him,” they said.
This invitation for the Memorial coincided with a special talk held recently titled “The Resurrection—Victory Over Death!” This 30-minute, Bible-based public discourse focused on the scriptural hope of a resurrection of the dead in the near future.
Jehovah’s Witnesses observe this Memorial each year on the anniversary of Jesus’ death according to the Bible’s lunar calendar. He introduced the observance after sundown on Nisan 14, 33 C.E. Jehovah’s Witnesses determine the date on which Nisan 14 falls each year using the same method as was used in the time of Jesus.
All 118,177 congregations of the Witnesses worldwide will be commemorating the Memorial. The public may visit jw.org, the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses, to find the nearest Memorial location.To learn more about how Jehovah’s Witnesses observe the Lord’s Supper, please visit the event’s Frequently Asked Questions page found on jw.org.
