Last Supper
The Last Supper refers to the final meal shared by Jesus Christ and his apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion, believed to have occurred around 33 CE. This event holds significant importance in Christian tradition, as it is during this meal that Jesus instituted the practice of communion by breaking bread and sharing wine, which symbolizes his body and blood. This ritual, known as the Eucharist, serves as a key element of Christian worship and remembrance of Jesus.
The Last Supper is depicted in all four Gospels of the New Testament, though details vary across the accounts. Common themes include Jesus's foretelling of his betrayal by Judas Iscariot and Peter's denial, as well as Jesus's call for his followers to love one another. The narrative emphasizes themes of sacrifice, fellowship, and the establishment of a new covenant between God and humanity.
Artistically, the Last Supper is famously illustrated in Leonardo da Vinci's 15th-century mural, which captures the moment of revelation about the impending betrayal. This painting has become an iconic representation of the event, influencing countless interpretations and recreations in various forms of art throughout history. As a cornerstone of Christian spirituality, the Last Supper remains a profound symbol of faith and community in the Christian tradition.
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Last Supper
The Last Supper was the final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his apostles in Jerusalem before his death sometime around 33 CE. According to Christian tradition, it was during the Last Supper that Jesus encouraged his followers to remember him through the ritual breaking of bread and sharing of wine. These instructions later gave rise to the Eucharist, which essentially recreates the events of the Last Supper and serves as an important ritual in Christianity. It was also at the Last Supper that Jesus prepared his apostles for what was to come in the days to follow and revealed that some of them were about to desert and even betray him. In popular culture, the Last Supper is most often associated with Renaissance artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, a renowned painting that depicts Jesus and his apostles sharing their final meal together.
Background
The Last Supper was one of the major events in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, a spiritual leader and divine central figure in Christianity. According to Christian tradition, Jesus was both a historical person and a living incarnation of the Judeo-Christian God. Historians believe that Jesus was born sometime around 6 CE in Bethlehem, a town in what was then the Roman province of Judea. Although little is known about Jesus's early years, the Gospels found in the Bible's New Testament offer various accounts of his life and works.
Most of what is written about Jesus in the Gospels focuses on the ministry he started when he was around thirty years old. After being baptized by John the Baptist and spending forty days fasting and meditating in the desert, Jesus traveled to Galilee and visited many of the villages in that region. During that time, Jesus preached the word of God, gathered disciples (followers), and recruited a small group of twelve apostles, who became his closest associates. Among Jesus's disciples were Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the authors of the Gospels in which these events are recorded. The Gospel writers also assert that Jesus performed a number of miracles during this period, including turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana and healing people afflicted with various diseases and disabilities. Eventually, Jesus caught the attention of the Pharisees, a group of Jewish religious leaders who viewed Jesus and his ministry as a threat to their authority. When Jesus traveled to Jerusalem around 33 CE, the Pharisees worked with the region's Roman overseers to end the efforts of the self-proclaimed Messiah. According to the Gospels, Jesus spent the last week of his life observing the Passover holiday and preparing his followers for his approaching death. On the night of his arrest, Jesus partook in the Last Supper with his apostles before being seized by Roman soldiers. The following day, he was taken before Roman governor Pontius Pilate, condemned to death, crucified, and buried in a tomb. After his tomb was discovered to be empty three days later, the divine Jesus appeared to the apostles, confirmed that he was the son of God, and instructed his followers to go forth and spread God's word.
Overview
In the Christian tradition, the Last Supper is one of the most influential and symbolic moments in the story of Jesus Christ. In addition to setting the stage for Jesus's death and resurrection, the Last Supper provided the basis for many of Christianity's most important worship rituals. As a result, the Last Supper plays a key part in Christian spirituality and belief.
Although it appears in all four New Testament Gospels, the depiction of the Last Supper varies to some degree in each account. In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the story of the Last Supper is mainly focused on the meal itself. Prior to the meal, Jesus instructs his apostles to secure and prepare a private room where they could share a Passover meal together. During the meal, Jesus uses the bread and wine everyone is sharing to explain what is about to happen. Describing the bread and wine as his body and blood, Jesus explains that his body will be broken and his blood spilled in the coming days. He also describes the cup of wine as a symbol of the new covenant, or promise, between God and his followers—a covenant that will soon be confirmed through Jesus's own death. Jesus then goes on to ask the apostles to continue breaking bread and sharing wine in his memory once he is gone. This part of the Last Supper has since served as the basis for the Christian tradition of the Eucharist, or Holy Communion. Afterward, Jesus reveals that one of his followers, Judas Iscariot, will betray him to begin the chain of events that will end in his death. In addition, Jesus also reveals that Peter, the leading apostle, will deny him three times. In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, Jesus further warns the other apostles that they will all desert him out of fear. When the meal concludes, the group leaves for the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus is soon arrested.
In the Gospel of John, more attention is paid to a pair of important events surrounding the Last Supper than to the meal itself. The first of these occurs when Jesus washes his apostles' feet before the meal. Although such a task would normally be considered a servant's responsibility, Jesus washes his followers' feet here to demonstrate the importance of intimate fellowship. The second event unique to the Gospel of John occurs after Jesus identifies Judas as a traitor. Immediately following this revelation, Jesus begins a long speech in which he gives his followers a new commandment: to love one another.
Outside of the descriptions found in the Bible, the most well-known depiction of the Last Supper is Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the same name. Completed in 1498, da Vinci's Last Supper shows Jesus seated at a table sharing his final meal with the apostles. Specifically, the painting simultaneously depicts the moment Jesus tells the apostles that one of them will betray him and the symbolic breaking of the bread. Over the years, da Vinci's masterpiece has been recreated numerous times in both tribute and parody.
Bibliography
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