The sacrament of the Eucharist cannot be understood without the knowledge of the Jewish festival of Passover. Jews all across the world celebrate it every year. It is the most important memory of the Jewish people.

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

The Passover

In the times of the Old Testament, the Jews (the children of Israel) were slaves in Egypt. Moses the called upon by God to go and free his people from the clutches of the Pharaoh who had been keeping the Jews as slaves. The pharaoh did not release the people of Israel until the last plague was over (The death of all the first born of Egypt). The Jewish people were not affected by this plague as they performed a special ceremony that Moses had been informed about by God. They were to slaughter a lamb and sprinkle the blood of the lamb over the doorposts of their houses. This lamb blood meant that it was a Jewish house and the angel of death will Passover the house.

Every year Jewish people celebrate the Passover. During the Passover, the father explains to the youngest son that ‘on this night’ God saved his people from slavery. When saying ‘on this night’ the Jewish family makes an ancient memory real for the present moment. This is important seeing what Jesus did at the last supper.

The Passover meal commemorates the Exodus, the most important part of Jewish history. It tells the story of Moses and how he set the children of Israel free, away from Egypt and out into the Sinai Desert. (Exodus 7:14-15:21)

The word Passover recalls the time when the angel of death passed over the houses of the Israelites on their way to kill the first born of each Egyptian family. (Exodus 12:12)

When the children of Israel were released, they went out to the desert and travelled for a long time without any problems. One morning, they heard news about an army that the Pharaoh had sent. The Jews went into wet marshy grounds called the Sea of Reeds. All the soldiers that were behind them were trying to catch up. The Israelites crossed the Sea of Reeds finally and the Pharaohs soldiers and horses could not follow as of the marshy grounds and their heavy armour.

The Last Supper

The “Last Supper” in Mark’s gospel is actually called the “lord’s supper.”

Jesus met with the twelve disciples for the Passover meal. It was a family meal and not just a meal to satisfy hunger.

Jesus then arrived with the disciples. As they got settled, Jesus said an unsettling prophecy.
“I tell you, one of you will betray me- one who is eating with me tonight.” Many of them were in disbelief and upset.
After he had told them this sad prophecy, Jesus then “broke the bread and shared it among his disciples and gave ...

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The Last Supper

The “Last Supper” in Mark’s gospel is actually called the “lord’s supper.”

Jesus met with the twelve disciples for the Passover meal. It was a family meal and not just a meal to satisfy hunger.

Jesus then said, “All of you will run away and leave me, for the scripture says: God will kill the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.”

Peter then said, “I will never leave you, even though the rest do!” Jesus said to peter, “Before the cock crows twice tonight, you will say that you do not know me.”

Peter then answered even strongly, “I will never say that, even if I have to die with you.”

In Marks Gospel, there is nothing saying that this is not a Passover meal, although he is not saying that is a Passover meal. Jesus knew he was going to die, he also knew the likely reactions and the actions of his followers. Before the night was out, one of the twelve disciples was going to betray him.

When Judas is sitting at the table he says, “If it were an enemy that mocked me, I could endure it.”

Jesus felt very sad whilst looking into the heart of Judas.

At that moment, Judas dips his bread into the wine at the same time as Jesus, so all the disciples knew. “The one who shared my food has against me.”

“…never again shall I drink from the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it in the new kingdom of God (14:25).”

This means that Jesus is saying that he is going to die. This will be the last time he will pass a cup round at any meal. There is also a second meaning to this, not only is the end near, but he is about to complete his work.

Jesus made clear that his body and blood would be the new agreement of God with his people. The sacrifice of his life for the forgiveness of sin only took place on the cavalry when Jesus was crucified, but like Jews, the priest at Mass repeats the offering that Jesus made as though the moment was there again. The Jewish festival of Passover is a great help in understanding the Christian celebration of the Eucharist.

The Passover symbols…

Haroset – mixture of apples, nuts, wine and cinnamon. A reminder of the mortar used by the slaves in their building work in Egypt.
Karpas – usually parsley. Dipped in salt water before bring eaten. This reminds them about tears of the ancestors in slavery.
Maror – horseradish, reminding the bitterness of slavery
Hazeret (lettuce) – can leave a bitter aftertaste in the mouth, the experience of the Hebrews in Egypt – at first it was pleasant but eventually turned out to be pain.
Zeroa – roasted lamb. Not eaten during the Seder. Reminds them of the sacrifices in the temple and of the blood of the lamb that was sprinkled on the doors of their homes.
Betzah – roast egg. Not eaten during the Seder. Symbol of new life

Passover is divided into four sections

Introduction

a) The meal begins with a blessing of the first cup by the eldest male present (paterfamilias). The cup is drunk as a symbol of joy.

b) With the wine, bitter herbs, fruits, figs, dates and almonds are served. This dish stimulates their appetite and also reminds them of their bitter slavery.

c) The main meal is served, but not eaten; also the second cup of wine is served but not drunk.

Passover Liturgy

a) The story of Passover is told by the paterfamilias in response to the question of the youngest of the family.

b) The outline of the story of the first Passover is called, ‘Haggadah’. It is responded to with the singing of the first part of the special Passover Psalms. They are called the ‘hallah’ psalms.

c) This is then followed by the drinking of the second cup of wine.

Passover meal

a) The main meal begins with the words of blessing over the unleavened bread, symbolizing the urgency of the making of the bread at the first Passover (Exodus 12:11). The words of the blessing are most likely to be:

“Praise to you, Lord, King of the universe who causes bread to come from the earth.”

b) The eating of the lamb, bread and the rest of the herbs.

c) The meal ends with the blessing and drinking of the third cup; again the same words of the blessing are used.

This cup is passed around the table as a celebration of all the goodness of God shown to his people.

Jesus was a Jew and he celebrated Passover each and every year of his life. The last Passover was shared with his disciples. Though Jesus did something very surprising, which changed the ancient ceremony and gave it a totally new meaning to his friends.

As the supper went on, Jesus said some words over the bread and wine. These words are known as the Words of Institution.

“Take this: this is my body… This is my blood, the blood of covenant, shed for many…” – 14:22-24

Jesus said, “This is my body.” In this case he was talking about himself, the bread being torn apart represents Jesus’ body being torn apart for the sins of the world on the cross.

Jesus changed the way in which Passover was linked with an animal. Instead of linking an animal of sacrifice, he linked it with himself.

Jesus pour wine into the goblet from which they al drank.

“This is the blood of the covenant”, he said. The covenant meant the agreement with God.

Jesus then took a cup, gave thanks to God, and gave it to them.

“Drink it all of you,” he said; “This is my blood, which Gods seals Gods covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (v. 27,28)

Jesus points his resurrections and concludes: “I tell you, I will never again drink this wine until I drink the new wine with you in my fathers kingdom” (v. 29)

The memories of Jesus’ final days have always been important to Christians. The words he spoke before he died and the last meal he ate with them.

Christians believe that through Jesus, men and women can draw themselves closer to God.

The blood of the lamb was what saved the Jews.

The blood of Jesus was what saved All Christians.

Sometimes Jesus is called the Lamb of God for that very reason.

Different understandings of the Last Supper

There are many different ways people understand the last supper…

Eucharist – Means thanksgiving and is a good name for the celebration of the last meal. Christians give thanks, just as Jesus did, for bread and wine, which are the fruits of harvest. Wheat and grapes are harvested and then made by people into bread and wine. There is also a deeper, spiritual thanksgiving, which is brought out clearly in the orthodox liturgy. The orthodox service emphasises worship and thanks to God through the word of God, and through the great ‘mystery’ of the Eucharist itself.

Holy communion – The sharing of bread and wine emphasises the Christian fellowship of all those who believe Jesus is the Saviour and the Lord. The sharing or Communion is a holy one because Christ brings his followers together.

The lords supper – The direct way of saying that Christians gather together to obey the command of Jesus at the last supper. Some Christian groups always call this act of worship the lords supper because it is the title which is nearest to the new testament event which was the last supper of Jesus.