The Last Supper
The Last Supper is the last time Jesus ate with his disciples before he was arrested.
Jesus asked his disciples to arrange this meal. It was called the Passover meal. Jesus taught his disciples many important things that evening.
More
Jesus broke the bread and drank from the cup, passing it to his disciples. He said ‘Do this in remembrance of me’.
The bread and wine represent Jesus’ body and his blood. This was an important event and Christians all over the world now take ‘communion’, where bread and wine is shared. These symbols remind us that Jesus died on the cross that we may have forgiveness.
What is the Passover?
This is when the Jewish nation remember the time when they were slaves in Egypt and how Moses led them out. Pharaoh refused to let them go and God sent ten plagues until Pharaoh gave in.
The last plague was that every firstborn child was to die. God told the Jews to paint lambs’ blood on the doorposts of their homes and this protected them from the plague which ‘passed over’ them. That is why it is called the Passover. Jewish families still meet together for a meal at Passover.
Dig deeper
At the last supper Jesus predicted what was going to happen. He said this would be his last meal and he would soon have to suffer. He said Peter would deny him three times, and that one of them was about to betray him.
All these things happened just as he said.
The Bible says
Luke 21:37,38
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.’
Mark 14:17-24
When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, ‘I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.’
They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, ‘Surely not I?’
‘It is one of the Twelve,’ he replied, ‘one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 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.’
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take it; this is my body.’ Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.’