Pierre Bittar - The Last Supper

October 19, 2011

Painting No. 9

The Last Supper

Matthew 26:17-29
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[a] 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.”

It is called the Last Supper because it was the last meal Jesus Christ had with His disciples prior to his arrest, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension to Heaven.
It was also His last meal prior to finishing His mission on earth which was to shed His blood on the cross to wash all human sins away.

It was during this meal that Jesus provided hope to His followers when He said, “ I confer on you a Kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table...” (Luke 22: 29-30)
It was also during this meal that Jesus gave to His followers a remembrance for His body and His blood sacrificed on behalf of all mankind. Over one billion Christians celebrate the Eucharist (Holy Communion) in their churches in accordance with Jesus’s instructions at the Last Supper.