Scripture References
Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-38, John 13:1-17:26
Main Idea
The Last Supper demonstrates Jesus’ selfless love and sacrifice and signals the beginning of a new and greater exodus.
Read: Matthew 26:17-29
The Last Supper
17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ”
19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.
21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Summary
The Last Supper is the meal Jesus ate with His disciples the night before His crucifixion. It was actually a Passover meal. The Passover was a Jewish celebration meal that remembered and rejoiced in God’s deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery. The Israelites ate the first Passover meal the night before they were delivered. In the same way, Jesus ate the Passover meal with His disciples the night before an even greater Exodus would occur. God’s people wouldn’t be delivered from Egyptian slavery but from slavery to sin. Just as the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed, Jesus had to be sacrificed to atone for our sins. Today, Christians celebrate the Lord’s Supper (or Communion) as a celebration meal as well. We celebrate Jesus’s sacrifice on our behalf. As we eat the bread and drink the cup, we’re reminded of our need for the sacrifice of Jesus daily.
Questions
- How can we live a life of selfless service and sacrifice, just as Jesus demonstrated at the Last Supper?
- How do the bread and wine relate to our need for Jesus?
- How can we prepare our hearts to receive and remember the sacrifice of Jesus through the Lord’s Supper?
Prayer
Dear Lord, as we remember the Last Supper, help us to live a life of selfless service and sacrifice, just as you demonstrated. Help us to prepare our hearts to receive and remember your sacrifice through the Lord’s Supper. Help us, Lord, to rely on Jesus’ sacrifice for our eternal salvation. In Jesus’ name, amen.