The Last Supper
The Last Supper |
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| Each of the disciples is a work of art in itself. From left to right the figures are: Bartholomew, James the Less, Andrew, Peter, Judas, John, Jesus, James the Greater, Thomas, Philip, Matthew, Thaddaeus, and Simon Zelotes. |
| Just as, at Christmas time, Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, so at Passover time, the Jews celebrate the occasion when God delivered their nation from Egypt where they had been enslaved. The Passover Feast was one of the highlights of the year and Jesus longed to share this special meal with his closest friends, his disciples. |
| The disciples were never to forget this particular occasion, partly because it was to prove to be the last meal they would eat with Jesus before his death and partly because of the things Jesus did on this occasion. John describes one of the surprises Jesus sprung on that particular evening: |
| “Jesus...got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him...When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "‘Do you understand what I have done for you?"’ he asked them. "‘You called me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. (John 13:4-15) |
| In washing his friends’ feet, Jesus had performed the most menial task imaginable. |
| Jesus did one more important thing during the meal. He took bread and distributed it to his friends. Then he took a cup of wine and blessed it. |
| Jesus knew that the disciples did not yet know, that on the very next day, his body would literally be broken and his blood spilled. He was about to sacrifice his life for sin. It was to be a kind of a charter sealed with his own blood which would dwarf any other previous attempts to bring God and man together. This agreement would reconcile God and man forever. This agreement would secure man’s forgiveness from sin. This agreement proved that God'’s love for mankind was unparalleled. |