THE LAST SUPPER
Introduction
The Last Supper marks one of the most significant moments in the New Testament and Christian tradition. It was the final meal Jesus Christ shared with His twelve apostles before His crucifixion, as recorded in the Gospels and Paul’s epistles. This meal, commemorated annually on Holy Thursday, is the foundation for the Eucharist (Holy Communion), a central rite in Christian worship. Beyond its liturgical significance, the Last Supper also conveys themes of love, betrayal, humility, and divine purpose.
ETYMOLOGY:
Greek:
Μυστικὸς Δεῖπνος – “Mystical Supper”
Μυστικὸς = mystical/secret, Δεῖπνος = supper
Also called Τὸ δεῖπνον τοῦ κυρίου – “The Lord’s Supper
Hebrew:
האחרונה הסעודה (HaSe’udah HaAcharonah) – “The Last Supper”
סעודה = meal, האחרונה = the last
Sometimes referred to סעודת פסח ( Se’udat Pesach) – “Passover meal”
1. FROM THE SCRIPTURE
The Last Supper is documented in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), the Gospel of John, and the First Epistle to the Corinthians. These texts offer theological and symbolic insights into the final hours of Jesus’s earthly ministry.
“For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.’” ( 1 Corinthians 11: 23 -24 )
2. THE WEEK OF PASSOVER
The Gospels indicate the Last Supper occurred during Passover week, shortly after Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The timing aligns with Jewish tradition, giving the meal deeper symbolic meaning related to deliverance and sacrifice.
“Jesus said, ‘I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.’” ( Luke 22: 15 -16 )
3. INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST
At the meal, Jesus took bread and wine, blessing them and offering them to His disciples as symbols of His body and blood. This act forms the foundation of the Christian Eucharist.
“As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take this and eat it, for this is my body.’ And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, ‘Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people.’”( Matthew 26: 26 -28 )
2. Prediction of Betrayal and Denial
Jesus foretold Judas’s betrayal and Peter’s denial, highlighting human weakness and divine foreknowledge.
“Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, ‘I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!’” ( John 13: 21 )
“But Jesus said, ‘Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.’” ( Luke 22: 34 )
3.Washing of the Disciples’ Feet
In John’s Gospel, Jesus humbles Himself to wash His disciples’ feet, modeling servant leadership and selfless love.
“And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” ( John 13: 14 -15 )
4. The New Commandment
Jesus commands His followers to love one another as He has loved them, setting the standard for Christian community.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” ( John 13: 34 )
The Last Supper: A Feast Full of Biblical Symbolism
1. The Passover Meal: Symbol of Deliverance
“This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord.”( Exodus 12: 14 )
The Last Supper was not an ordinary meal—it was the Passover, rich with symbols of God’s deliverance from Egypt. The lamb, the unleavened bread, and the wine all pointed to God’s rescue. Jesus reinterpreted this meal, showing that He is the Lamb of God, whose sacrifice would bring a greater salvation—not from slavery in Egypt, but from sin and death
“Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.” ( 1 Corinthians 5: 7 )
2. The Bread: Symbol of Christ’s Broken Body
“ He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’” ( Luke 22: 19 )
The broken bread symbolized Jesus’ body, given for humanity. Just as unleavened bread reminded the Israelites of their hasty deliverance, now it reminds believers of Christ’s willing sacrifice. Eating the bread is asymbolic act of participating in the life and death of Christ.
3. The Cup: Symbol of the New Covenant in His Blood
“After supper he took another cup of wine and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood.’” ( Luke 22: 20 )
Wine in the Passover meal symbolized joy and redemption. Jesus gave new meaning to the cup, saying it represented the New Covenant—God’s promise to forgive sins and write His law on believers’ hearts. His blood sealed this eternal covenant, fulfilling prophecy. ( Jeremiah 31: 33 ).
4. The Table: Symbol of Unity and Fellowship
“Now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.” ( Ephesians 2: 19 )
At the Last Supper, Jesus sat with His disciples—Jewish men who would become the foundation of a multiethnic, worldwide Church. The table became a place of unity, symbolizing a new family formed not by birthright, but by faith in Christ.
5. The Meal: Symbol of Anticipation and Hope
“For I tell you now that I won’t drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.” ( Luke 22: 18 )
Jesus looked ahead to a future banquet in the Kingdom of God. The Last Supper points forward to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, when believers will dine with Christ in glory. Every celebration of the Lord’s Supper is a rehearsal for that eternal feast.
God’s plan Revealed Through Christ
1. To Fulfill the Passover and Point to a Greater Deliverance
“Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, ‘Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.’” ( Luke 22: 8 )
The Last Supper took place during Passover, the Jewish festival commemorating God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt. Jesus used this setting to reveal that He is the true Passover Lamb. Just as the blood of the lamb protected Israel, His blood would bring eternal salvation to all who believe.
“Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” ( John1: 29 )
2. To Establish the New Covenant in His Blood
“ After supper he took another cup of wine and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.’” ( Luke 22: 20 )
Jesus declared that His death would inaugurate a New Covenant—promised centuries earlier —where forgiveness, relationship, and heart transformation would come through grace, not law. The Last Supper marks the moment where this promise begins to unfold.
3. To Institute the Lord’s Supper for the Church
“ Do this in remembrance of me.” ( Luke 22: 19 )
Jesus gave His followers a tangible way to remember His sacrifice: the breaking of bread and sharing of the cup. This ordinance— known as the Lord’s Supper or Communion—reminds believers of the cross and invites regular reflection, gratitude, and renewed commitment.
4. To Teach Servanthood and Unity Among Believers
“But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.” ( Luke 22: 26 )
During this final meal, Jesus also washed His disciples’ feet (see John13), teaching that greatness in the Kingdom comes through humility and love. The Last Supper revealed the heart of discipleship: service, not status.
5. To Prepare the Disciples for His Death and Resurrection
“But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me.” ( Luke 22: 21 )
Jesus used the Last Supper to prepare His disciples for the painful events to come—His betrayal, crucifixion, and ultimately, His resurrection. He wanted them to understand that His suffering was part of God’s redemptive plan.
6. To Point to the Future Kingdom and Eternal Fellowship
“For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” ( Luke 22: 16 )
The Last Supper wasn’t just about the past (Passover) or present (His impending death)—it was also about the future. Jesus looked ahead to a time when all believers would eat with Him in His Kingdom, a reminder of our eternal hope in Christ