The Last Supper

As the Passover festival approached, Jesus knew His hour had come to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. Jesus sent Peter and John ahead to prepare the Passover meal in an upper room He had arranged. That evening, Jesus reclined at the table with His twelve apostles, knowing that one of them would betray Him and that this would be His last meal with them before His death.

During the meal, Jesus did something shocking. He got up from the table, took off His outer clothing, wrapped a towel around His waist, poured water into a basin, and began to wash His disciples' feet—work typically done by the lowest servant. Peter protested, 'You shall never wash my feet!' But Jesus answered, 'Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.' Peter, characteristically impulsive, then asked to be washed completely. Jesus explained that those who have bathed need only to wash their feet, speaking of the ongoing cleansing believers need from daily sin.

After washing their feet, Jesus returned to His place and asked, 'Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.' He was teaching them that true greatness in God's kingdom is found in humble service, not in position or power.

As they ate, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, saying, 'Take and eat; this is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.' After the meal, He took the cup of wine, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' In these simple elements of bread and wine, Jesus was instituting a new memorial—not looking back to deliverance from Egypt, but forward to deliverance from sin through His sacrifice.

Then Jesus became troubled in spirit and announced, 'Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.' The disciples were greatly distressed and began asking, 'Surely you don't mean me, Lord?' Jesus revealed that it was one dipping bread with Him in the dish. When Judas asked, 'Surely you don't mean me, Rabbi?' Jesus answered, 'You have said so.' Jesus dipped a piece of bread and gave it to Judas, saying, 'What you are about to do, do quickly.' The other disciples didn't understand, but Judas left immediately, and it was night—both physically and spiritually.

After Judas departed, Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment: 'Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.' He predicted Peter's denial, despite Peter's protests of loyalty unto death. Jesus also spoke words of comfort: 'Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.' He promised to prepare a place for them and to return.

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives, where Jesus would be arrested hours later. This final meal with His disciples encapsulated Jesus' mission: humble service, sacrificial love, the establishment of a new covenant, and the call to continue His work by loving and serving one another. Every time believers share communion, they remember this night and all that Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection.