The Last Supper

The event

Jesus sends Peter and John ahead to prepare the Passover in a furnished upper room in Jerusalem, and that evening reclines at table with the Twelve for what would be his last meal before the cross. John devotes an unusually long section to this evening, opening with Jesus rising from the table to wash his disciples' feet — the menial task of a household servant — as a living lesson in humble love, telling them, "I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you."

During the meal, Jesus takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and says, "This is my body, given for you; do this in remembrance of me," then takes the cup and says, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood" — words the church has repeated at the Lord's Table ever since. He also predicts his betrayal by one of the Twelve, identifies Judas Iscariot quietly enough that the others don't grasp it, and, in John's account, delivers an extended farewell discourse promising the coming of the Holy Spirit as another Helper before praying at length for his disciples and for all who would believe through them.

Dating

Traditionally a Thursday evening Passover meal preceding a Friday crucifixion, AD 30 (some evangelicals argue AD 33). A related puzzle is how John's Gospel seems to place Jesus's crucifixion on 'the day of Preparation' for Passover (John 19:14) while the Synoptics describe the Last Supper itself as the Passover meal; evangelical harmonizations include differing calendar reckonings between Galilean/Judean or Pharisaic/Sadducean groups, or a broader use of 'Passover' for the whole festival week. None of the proposed resolutions requires abandoning the Synoptics' plain reading of a Passover meal on Thursday evening.

Scripture references

• Matthew 26:17-30
• Mark 14:12-26
• Luke 22:7-23
• John 13:1-17:26