Assess the significance of knowledge of its Jewish background for a full understanding of the last supper?

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Luke sees the Last Supper as a direct parallel to the Jewish Passover in the Old Testament. Scholars such as Caird would argue against this and feels that Luke has not been accurate about the date of the meal in relation to the Passover. It is argued that the Last Supper was not a Passover meal since only two elements of the Passover meal, bread and wine, were involved and it has been said that if the lambs were being killed on the day of the last supper then Jesus and his disciples were eating it a day early. Furthermore, It would have been against the Passover rules for any work to be prohibited. The Sanhedrin would not have functioned. In addition, religious leaders would have risked ritual defilement by having anything to do with Pilate at
the time. The whole business of the trials and especially the element of
urgency about them.

Caird tells us that not all of Luke’s information was accurate about the Jewish Festival. In order to grasp the precise nature of the difficulty, some knowledge is necessary of the way times were calculated in Jewish culture. The Jewish day
begins at sunset, whereas Roman day like our own begins at midnight. For
example, if the weekly Jewish Sabbath might be referred to as Saturday, at
actually lasts from sunset on Friday evening until sunset the next day
(Saturday). John is the only Gospel to mention that Jesus is celebrating the
last supper. Drane suggests that the only way to understand this is by
realising that different calendars are being used by the Gospel writers.

However, as Stanton states we must associate the Last Supper with the Passover due to the following evidences. Firstly, The Passover night must be spent within greater Jerusalem, i.e. Jerusalem and the surrounding hills facing it. That night, unlike other nights, Jesus spent it in Gethsemane and not in Bethany. Furthermore, it was customary to sit at meals but to recline at Passover, and Jesus and the disciples so reclined. The meal took place at night unlike regular meals. According to Barrel this was a distinct custom associate with the Passover. Although none of these is conclusive, the overall weight argues for ...

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It is essential to be aware of the Jewish background of the Passover to fully assess the significance of the Passover. This marks the Jewish nation led by (Moses) over 3000 years ago from the slavery and imprisonment in Egypt. In order for the Jews to escape Moses instructed them to pain lamb’s blood over their door. This was death would pass over their house but kill each first born in the Egyptians household. The Passover was much a celebration of spiritual freedom as the physical liberation from slavery. This refers to the forgiveness of sins and thus achieving freedom through union with God.

A whole lamb was required to be eaten on the night of the Passover. It was a reminder of the first Passover in which the angel of death was kept from the first-born of Israel, protected by the blood of the lamb. However this was missing from the Last Supper parable. According to Morris it may that Luke simply chose to leave out this part since so much extra emphasis was put on the cup and unleavened bread instead. However a more convincing argument put forward by Ellis is the fact that the lack of lamb suggests that Jesus knew he was being the lamb. This is an indication that Jesus knew what was going to happen into the future. It was hardly a coincidence that he was being crucified at the same time as the symbol of God’s past deliverance in the temple courts. Yet at the same time, there is a strong interpretation that this death was not to be just a fulfilment of an old prophecy. This was almost a revolution that would both sum up and supersede the events associated with the first Passover.

As suggested by Caird, Jesus sees’ himself as the martyr who will “suffer”. According to first century Jewish tradition that the death of a martyr atoned for the sins of Israel. Over the cup, Jesus tends to draw on this tradition. While He knew that all but one truly loved Him, they had no real grasp of what shape His mission was about to take. While He thought of the cross, they argued about their crowns (verse 24). The old covenant, being fulfilled in Christ, was to be set aside. The Kingdom, while still future, was certain to be established, because Messiah and his sacrificial death. As Caird goes onto propose, this is the new covenant, which was prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-34). This covenant is made over the cup, which is full of wine, symbolising Jesus’ blood. This is a reference to the Old covenant that God had made with his chosen people when lamb’s blood was sprinkled to show the importance of their commitment. The new covenant that Jesus makes during the last supper includes all the outcastes such as lepers and women. According to Stanton, this theme of freedom from sin is also present in the Jewish Passover. Since God had not only freed the Jews from physical slavery but also spiritual. The same will happen through Jesus crucifixion.

It immediately becomes ware that the Last Supper was a special event. Jesus says “I have longed to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you I will not eat it again until it finds fulfilment in the Kingdom of God”. According to Barrel this is another link with the Jewish Passover. When the Jews were suffering, it was their faith in the Promised Land that sustained their hope and faith. Jesus also spoke of the promised Kingdom of God to those who believed. This gave the gospel readers faith.

When Jesus raises the cup and states, “take this as my body and blood” in reference to the bread and wine. Ellis believes that is also a reference to the suffering servant in Isaiah 53.12 who “poured out his soul and death… to bear the sins of many”. According to Stanton underlying this is once again the theme of freedom from our sins from the blood of Christ. While the bread pertains to the earthly body and sinless life of the Lord Jesus, the wine is a visual symbol of His shed blood and violent death as the divine provision for men’s forgiveness of sin.

In conclusion, it is vital to have knowledge of the Jewish background for a full understanding of the Last Supper. Without this background information, we cannot be sure to what extent the Last Supper is significant in Jesus ministry. By being able to fully understand all the references to the Passover we can begin to have a clear indication into Jesus mission and frame of mind. Furthermore, we can analyse how Luke saw and understood Jesus.

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30/04/07

Caird The Gospel of Luke.

John Drane. Introduction to the New Testament

Stanton

Barrel Luke

Morris Luke

Caird. Luke

Stanton Introduction to Luke

Barrel Luke

Morris Luke

Stanton.