THINKING ABOUT THE LAST SUPPER
The Last Supper (AD 33) was the last of the Preparation Nights before Sabbath. It was the transition from the Old Testament Period (types and shadows) to the New Testament Period. It was a magnificent shift in everything. By God’s hand.
The Preparation Night before Sabbath traditionally had 4 parts. Each with a drink of wine. 4 cups of wine. At the Last Supper those 4 parts Jesus kept, but differently for it was a new beginning.
1) Sanctification. Traditionally the first cup was drank after the washing of hands. At the Last Supper Jesus washed the disciple’s feet. And when finished drank of the cup.
2) Second cup, Affliction. The Telling. Symbolizes the plagues and afflictions that befell the Egyptians during the Exodus. Traditionally this time was for answering questions regarding Passover for the children. As God had instructed that the Passover would be taught and practiced generationally. Teaching all the children, as Christians vary today, so were children then – 1) Obedient – 2) Rebellious – 3) Simple, or struggling to understand – 4) uncaring . Jesus at the Last Supper drank of the Cup of Plagues. The second cup.
3) Third cup. Redemption. The actual eating of the meal. But this night, Jesus stuns the disciples by telling them to, take and eat of me. He eats the bread and then instructs them to “Take and eat in remembrance of me.” Establishing a new tradition. Jesus then drinks of the third cup saying, ““This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” This statement signifies the establishment of a new covenant between God and humanity through his sacrifice. Jesus is pointing forward. Imagine you had been a disciple there with Him! You had been with Him for 3 years, watching Him perform miracles, teaching, and raising dead to life! And then He tells you this wine is His blood!
4) Traditionally the fourth cup, Consummation, was poured in praise to promise of God to take the Israelites as His people. Traditionally it was drank in celebration. But Jesus did not drink of the fourth cup. He said “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Imagine the thoughts of the disciples at that moment!
After supper Jesus lead them in song, and went to the Gethsemane. Jesus and his disciples left the Upper Room and walked to the Mount of Olives. This journey led to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus would pray. This location is significant as it is where Jesus ascended to heaven, as described in the Acts of the Apostles.
Jesus prayed for strength to face what was to come, he prayed for the cup of suffering to be taken from him, yet submitting to God’s will. Jesus’ tears fell as drops of blood to the earth, reflecting both His deep emotional suffering and the weight of humanity’s sins that He was about to bear.
It was here, Judas Iscariot arrived with soldiers to betray Jesus, leading to his arrest. These events are the transition from the Last Supper to the crucifixion, declaring Jesus’ humanity and his commitment to fulfilling his mission.
