The Last Supper

In Lk 22:1-23 we examine some of the details concerning the Last Supper.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread, v.1-2

The Last Supper took place on passover, the night before Jesus was crucified.  It was at the beginning of “the feast of unleavened bread which is called the Passover”.  It’s important to note that there are two distinct feasts that take place during this during this  time.

First, there is the passover.  This is the 14th day of the first month, Lev 23:5.  It commemorates the day the angel passed over the houses where the blood had been applied in Ex 12, right before the Jews left Egypt.

Second, immediately following the passover, the feast of unleavened bread begins, on the 15th day of the month, Lev 23:6.  This is a seven day feast.

Sometimes, these two events are called the feast of the passover.  However, this is the only place where these two events are combined and called the Passover, with a capital “P”.  Just remember that passover is only one day, the 14th day, and the days of unleavened bread are the seven day feast that follow.

It was during this time that the chief priests and scribes hoped to kill Jesus, because he was there for the feast.

Judas’s Covenant to Betray Jesus, v.3-6

Satan entered into Judas Iscariot.  Then Judas went to the chief priests and captains to offer to betray Jesus.  They covenanted to give him money.  And he promised and sought opportunity to betray him in the absence of the multitude.  This was a break-through for the priests. They feared the people, v.2.  And Judas was giving them a way to arrest him privately.

Making Ready the Passover, v.7-13

The day the passover is killed is also a day of unleavened bread.  The 14th day begins in the evening.  Supper is eaten without leaven.  Then, at 3:00 pm the next afternoon, still on the 14th, the passover lamb is killed.  Beginning at 6:00 pm, the 15th day, the feast of unleavened bread begins.

Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare the passover.  This was for the supper they ate on the night of the 14th.

Notice these precise details.  When they entered the city, a man bearing a pitcher met them.  Men in the Bible don’t generally carry pitchers.  They followed him into the house.  They asked the goodman of the house the specific question Jesus told them to ask regarding the guest chamber.  And he shewed them a large upper room furnished.  They found it to be as Jesus described and that’s where they made ready the passover.

The Last Supper, v.14-20

At the precise hour, Jesus sat down and his apostles sat with him.  He reminded them he was going to suffer.   And he said he would not any more eat of the passover until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.  So, what follows is connected to his suffering.

He took the cup and, after giving thanks, told them to divide it among themselves.  And he said he would not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God should come.  Pay careful attention.  He called what he gave them “the cup” and it’s contents “the fruit of the vine”.  This was not fermented wine.

Then he took bread, gave thanks, brake it, and gave it to them.  He said, “This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me”.  The bread did not become his body.

What he showed them is this.  They had been keeping this passover memorial ever since they left Egypt.  As of this day and hereafter, they were to understand that the memorial would now commemorate the death of Jesus Christ our passover, 1 Cor 5:7, and not the lamb of the Exodus.

Then he said about the cup, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you”.  Again, he now connected the cup to the shedding of his own blood rather than the shedding of the blood of the passover lamb in Egypt.  See Heb 9:14-15.

Foretelling Jesus’s Betrayal, v.21-23

When supper was over, the devil put into the heart of Judas to betray Jesus, Jn 13:2.  Remember that Satan entered into Judas before he went to the priests.  Here, Satan let him know that now was the time to go get the men to whom he would betray Jesus.

Jesus told his disciples that “the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table”.  This prompted many of the apostles to ask “Is it I?”, Matt 26:22.  Yet, Peter beckoned John to ask, “Lord, who is it?”, Jn 13:24-25.  And the Lord replied, “He it is, to whom I shall give a sop (a piece of bread for dipping in liquid)”.

When the Lord dipped it, he gave it to Judas, Jn 13:26.  “And after the sop Satan entered into him”, Jn 13:27.  That’s twice that Satan entered into Judas and once that he put into the heart of Judas to betray him.

To study the prior lesson, click on The Days Will Come.