The Last Supper

The importance of the meal for Jesus.

Jesus, like any other Jew, celebrated the Passover meal. This was celebrating the event of the Exodus, which was the most important Jewish meal in remembrance of how God saved his people from slavery in Egypt. In any other Jewish house, or rented room, the atmosphere would be of laughter, enjoyment and remembrance. But in a specific "Upper Room", in Jerusalem, on that Thursday night, there was not a trace of evidence showing an atmosphere of this kind. For there was one man occupying this room that was feeling sombre, beside the fact that twelve of his closest friends had joined him inn a desire to offer peace and friendship. This man was Jesus. Jesus knew something that neither his disciples had knowledge of, or would understand - that this was his last meal. During which he would perform two actions, which would alter the meaning of the Passover for the disciples, and for all Christians in the years to come.

What was important to Jesus was that he would not be arrested before his mission was complete. So Jesus had obviously prepared to eat the Passover meal in secrecy. Jesus instructed them to:

"Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters, and say to the owner of the house: 'The teacher says, where is the room where my disciples and I will eat the Passover meal?' Then he will show you a large upstairs room, prepared and furnished, where you will get everything ready for us." (Mk14: 13-15)

It was clearly evident that Jesus wants everything to go to plan. He even told the disciples to follow a man carrying a water jar. Such water carrying was commonly thought of as "women's work", in those days, and not related t men in any way, so a man carrying a jar would have been noticeable.

Jesus was going to suffer and die, and his body would be the new covenant between God and his people. The covenant is the name given to the arrangement between God and humanity. Jesus stresses its importance over the cup:

"This is my blood which is poured out for many, my blood which seals God' covenant." (Mk14: 24)

Here Mark is using the wine to symbolise his blood, which will be given in sacrifice for all. Jesus' body is also given in sacrifice:

"Take this: this is my body."

(Mk14: 22)

When saying these words, he is breaking the bread. Jesus speaks as himself as the broken bread, which is the fate of his own body. These words, which are spoken by Jesus over the bread and wine, are known as the words of institution. In sharing out the bread and wine in this way, Jesus was showing that the disciples that his blood would be shed just like the bread, which he had broken and passed around, and the wine, which had been poured out at the table.

The sacrifice at the Old Covenant was a lamb. The sacrifice of the New Covenant was Jesus, who was to die for all to conquer sin. Just as the lamb was eaten, the bread and wine were to be consumed. Jesus told them that the bread and wine were his body and blood. To eat the bread and drink the wine is to commit your self to the New Covenant. Catholics believe that through 'anamnesis', the body and blood of Jesus is represented, that Jesus is really present under the form of bread and wine. Jesus knew that it was important to let his disciples know that through this sacrament of the Eucharist he promises that he would continue to meet them. This was why the Last Supper was important to Jesus. He had to make sure that it was understood clearly by his disciples that whenever they repeat his actions he would be present with them again. They re-presented the sacrifice he made of himself.

This is why you can see that Jesus could not take the risk of being arrested before his mission was complete, so that he could be God's obedient 'suffering servant'. He had to make sure that his disciples would continue in their faith to spread the word of God and overcome their fears of persecution and stand up to their beliefs.

Jesus then ends the meal with the vow of abstinence:

"I tell you, that never again drink this wine until the day I drink the new wine in the Kingdom of God." (Mk14: 25)

This reflects the Jewish idea of the Messianic banquet, when Jesus will celebrate with his followers once again at the end of time. Jesus is saying that now only is the end near but that he is about to complete his work. His life now belongs to God and his coming Kingdom.