The Last Supper: Understanding Jesus' Sacrificial Love
Have you ever participated in Communion during a church service but wondered about its significance? Are you curious about the link between the Last Supper and Easter? This blog explores the profound symbolism behind this essential Christian practice.
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The Passover with the Disciples
12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” 20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
Institution of the Lord's Supper
22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
What Was The Last Supper?
The Last Supper is described in the New Testament, specifically in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Jesus and His disciples gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Passover. However, none of His disciples knew this meal was the last they’d share with their Lord.
During the meal, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it. Then, before giving it to His disciples, He said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
He then took a cup of wine, blessed and gave it to His disciples, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
By referring to the bread and wine as His body and blood, Jesus was symbolically offering Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity. This act of selfless love and sacrifice is a central tenet of the Christian faith and inspires Christians to follow Jesus’ example of serving others with humility and love.
Following the meal, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. In the ancient world, foot-washing was reserved for the lowest of servants. It was a dirty and unpleasant task, yet Jesus willingly took on this role to serve His disciples. By doing so, He demonstrated humility and service that showed Jesus’ love for His followers and a lesson that no task is too lowly or demeaning for a leader to undertake.
Furthermore, Jesus’ act of foot-washing was also a symbol of spiritual cleansing. As He washed His disciples’ feet, He demonstrated the importance of humility and the need for spiritual cleansing to be part of God’s kingdom. This act also showed His disciples to follow His example and serve others with humility and love.
In Christian theology, the Last Supper marks the institution of the sacrament of Holy Communion. Through this sacrament, Christians are symbolically united with Christ and receive His grace and forgiveness. The Last Supper also serves as a reminder of Jesus’ sacrificial love and inspires Christians to live a life of service and love towards others.
The Sacrifice Jesus Foretold
Following the Last Supper, Jesus went with His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane, praying and preparing for the coming events. It was here that He was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who had arranged for Jesus’ arrest by Roman authorities.
Jesus was then taken before the Jewish authorities and questioned about His teachings and claims to be the Messiah. He was eventually charged with blasphemy and sentenced to death by crucifixion, a punishment reserved for the worst criminals.
Jesus was flogged, beaten, and forced to carry His cross to the place of execution, a hill outside Jerusalem called Golgotha. There, He was nailed to the cross and left to die. It is believed that Jesus died after several hours on the cross, and His body was then taken down and buried in a nearby tomb.
Through that sacrifice of Christ on the cross, we have the opportunity to join God in eternity. There is nothing we can do to circumvent His sacrifice because, without His death, we would have no means of repentance other than more bloodshed. The cross symbolizes the depth of God’s love for humanity, as Jesus willingly sacrificed his life for the world’s sins.
However, Jesus’ death on the cross is not the end of the story.
On the third day after His death, Jesus rose from the dead, a miracle known as the resurrection. This event is celebrated yearly at Easter, considered the most important holiday in the Christian calendar. The resurrection of Jesus symbolizes the triumph of life over death and provides hope and assurance for Christians that death is not the end but a transition to eternal life.
What is the Connection Between The Last Supper and Easter?
The Last Supper is often seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. During the meal, when Jesus broke bread and shared wine with His disciples, these words are understood to be a prediction of Jesus’ upcoming death and his sacrifice on the cross for the salvation of humanity. The Last Supper thus serves as a reminder of Jesus’ selfless act of love and sacrifice for the sake of humanity.
The Last Supper was also a Passover meal commemorating the Jewish people’s liberation from slavery in Egypt. During the Passover meal, a lamb is sacrificed and eaten as a reminder of the lamb’s blood used to mark the doors of Jewish homes during the tenth plague, when the firstborn sons of Egypt were killed. This allowed the Jewish people to escape the plague and ultimately leave Egypt.
Both holidays, Passover and Easter, celebrate liberation and salvation. For Christians, Easter represents the ultimate liberation from sin and death through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The Last Supper, being a Passover meal, bridges the old covenant of Passover and the new covenant of Christ’s sacrifice.
Why Christians Partake in Communion
Communion, also known as the Eucharist or Lord’s Supper, is a symbolic reenactment of the Last Supper. The bread and wine (or grape juice) used in Communion represent the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Christians remember and participate in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross by taking Communion.
What is the Significance of Communion?
1) Reminder
Firstly, it serves as a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice and the love He demonstrated by dying on the cross. Through Communion, Christians can express their gratitude and appreciation for this sacrifice.
2) Participation
Additionally, taking Communion is seen as a way of participating in the life of Christ and becoming more like Him. As Christians partake of the bread and wine, they are reminded of their union with Christ and the community of believers.
3) Expectation
Furthermore, Communion is a way of experiencing God’s grace and forgiveness. In partaking of the bread and wine, Christians are reminded of the forgiveness of sins that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. It is an opportunity to reflect on one’s relationship with God and ask for repentance of sins.
When reflecting on the Last Supper through participation in Communion, we can deepen our relationship with God and become more like Jesus. By regularly reflecting on Jesus’ sacrifice and committing to following Him, we can become more faithful and loving individuals who seek to serve others.
TL;DR
The Last Supper was a Passover meal where Jesus symbolically offered himself as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity, and demonstrated the importance of humility and service.
The Last Supper marks the institution of the sacrament of Holy Communion, through which Christians are symbolically united with Christ and receive His grace and forgiveness.
The sacrifice of Christ on the cross is a symbol of God's love for humanity, and provides an opportunity for believers to join God in eternity.
The Last Supper is often seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, and bridges the old covenant of Passover and the new covenant of Christ's sacrifice.
Communion, also known as the Eucharist or Lord's Supper, is a symbolic reenactment of the Last Supper, where Christians remember and participate in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
Related Reading
The Two-Sides of the Crucifixion by Bro. Chris Carter
The Hope of the Empty Tomb by Brad Bogue
The Joy of Worshipping by Nicki Halford
