The Last Supper took place on Holy Thursday in a large furnished room in the upstairs of a house in the city. Jesus and the twelve disciples all took part.

        The disciples were all Jews and on the day of the Last Supper they were, in fact, celebrating the Passover. The Passover was celebrated by all Jews each year to commemorate the escape of Jews from slavery in Egypt.

        

        The meal the Jews ate the night they escaped was full of symbols. The unleavened bread is a sign they had to leave in a hurry. A mixture of nuts and honey was a symbol of the bricks and mortar they had to mix in Egypt. The egg was a symbol of new life. A piece of roast lamb was a reminder of the Passover lamb and the bitter herbs, a sign of suffering in Egypt.

        

        On the day of the Passover Jesus sent two of his disciples into the city and told them to meet a man with a jar of water. Such water-carrying was a woman's work in those days, so a man carrying a jar would have been very noticeable. The disciples were to follow him and enter the house he went into. They then were to say to the owner of the house,

                 "The teacher asks, ' Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my                 disciples?' " (Mk 14:14-15)

The disciples did as Jesus requested and the owner of the house showed them into a large room upstairs, furnished and ready for the Passover.

        When it was evening the twelve disciples and Jesus took their places and were eating when Jesus said,

                "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me" (Mk 14:18-19)

The disciples were distressed and asked

                "Surely, not I?" (Mk 14:19-20)

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        While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and after blessing it, give it to them and said,

                "Take; this is my body." ( Mk 14:22-23)

Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them and all of them drank from it. Jesus said

                "This is my blood of the New Covenant which is poured out for many." (Mk 14:24-25)

        

        What Jesus is trying to say here is that he is going to die and his work is nearly done. The next time he will celebrate with the disciples will be at ...

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