The Last Supper

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover Lamb, Jesus met with His twelve disciples in what we call the Upper Room to celebrate the Passover. During the meal, He gave His final instructions to prepare them for the ordeal to come.

Before the meal, He washed the feet of each of the disciples, giving them an example of their need for humility and serving one another.

While they were eating, He told them that one of them would betray Him. They were saddened and asked who it would be. "It is one of the twelve," He replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me." Then, dipping the piece of bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. When Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

As Jesus shared His last meal with His disciples He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's Kingdom."

Please participate in this representation of the Last Supper by taking Holy Communion  and reflect on what must have been going through the mind of Jesus knowing this would be His last meal with the twelve disciples He loved so much.

Jesus and His disciples then departed from the Upper Room, going directly to the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane.