How Jesus’ Last Supper in the Bible was commemorated by early Christians
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it, he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
—Matthew 26:26–28
The event described in Matthew 26:26–28 (also in Mark 14:22–25 and Luke 22:14–23) is known as the Last Supper. It was Jesus’ last meal with his disciples before his crucifixion. In that meal, which was a Passover meal, Jesus gave bread and wine—representing his body and blood—to his disciples. These were symbols of his new covenant. Further, he charged his disciples to “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19), meaning Jesus’ followers were to partake of bread and wine and remember him. Jesus’ Last Supper in the Bible is the foundation for the Christian tradition of taking communion—known as the Lord’s Supper, the Holy Communion and the Eucharist.
Early Christians celebrated the Lord’s Supper as a full meal, but by the third century, it had ceased to be a banquet and had become a ritualized small meal instead. Steven Shisley examines how the Lord’s Supper transitioned from a full meal to a ritual in his Biblical Views column “From Supper to Sacrament: How the Last Supper Evolved” published in the March/April 2017 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.
Shisley explains that in the first and second centuries C.E., Christians usually gathered in individual homes for a communal evening meal to commemorate the Lord’s Supper. Although these meals generally fostered community, they sometimes led to disagreement, discord and debauchery. Shisley elaborates:
Early Christians participated in meals characterized by inclusivity, care for one another and unity (Acts 2:43–47; cf. Acts 6:1–7). But as Paul’s letters indicate, these idealistic practices at the Lord’s Supper sometimes became abused because Christians either practiced Jewish purity laws at the table (e.g., considering what types of foods were appropriate to consume), or they transformed the meal into a gathering modeled after Greco-Roman banquets by drinking too much wine (Galatians 2:11–14; cf. Romans 14–15; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34).
Such misuses of the Lord’s Supper factored into communion becoming more controlled and structured in the Christian Church; communion became less of a meal and more of a ritual. In his column, Shisley explores several additional reasons for this shift, one of which relates to the time of day that Christians gathered to assemble. During the third century, Christians began assembling in the morning:
“[T]he apologist Tertullian [c. 155–240 C.E.] recounts how his community in Carthage began to assemble in the mornings to participate in a separate Eucharistic ritual at an altar (De Corona 3). … According to Cyprian, a third-century bishop, Christians in Carthage regularly gathered as one large assembly in the morning at an altar for a Eucharistic sacrifice in buildings devoted to religious activities (Epistle 62.14–17; Epistle 33.4–5).”
The growing size of the Christian community and the desire for all local Christians to meet together, which often necessitated a formal religious structure larger than a house, also likely contributed to the Lord’s Supper becoming a ritualized meal.
To learn more about the Lord’s Supper and its development from a full meal to a ritual, read Steven Shisley’s Biblical Views column “From Supper to Sacrament: How the Last Supper Evolved” in the March/April 2017 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.
BAS Library Members: Read the full column “From Supper to Sacrament: How the Last Supper Evolved” by Steven Shisley in the March/April 2017 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.
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This Bible History Daily feature was originally published on April 10, 2017.
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The Scripture does not ever say that the bread and wine “represent” His body and blood but that the bread IS His body and the wine IS his blood. You are changing the meaning of words in order to make the Scripture fit with your assumption that God can’t be in heaven and on earth at the same time, or that it’s too “Catholic” to believe bread is body and wine is blood. Yet I’m not Roman Catholic, and it’s very clear to me that when Jesus says “is” He means “is.” All human rationalizations aside, yes this is a mystery, but we don’t reject mystery and miracle simply because it’s irrational. We take Him at His Word because His Word accomplishes with it sets out to do. And if Jesus says the bread is His body, then who are we to tell Jesus He’s wrong?? Let’s take Him at His word and end this 500 year old silly debate once and for all. The apostolic fathers and post-apostolic fathers and all the rest of them throughout most of church history all taught it as “real presence” or truly the body and blood. Luther explains it best in his catechism, that His body and blood are truly present in the bread and wine. That’s what Jesus says, thus saith the Lord.
Have you plucked out your eyes and cut off your hands yet? Jesus clearly said to do so.
The day on which Jesus was crucified is clearly said as a friday. So surely the last supper was on a thirsday.
This is totally FALSE. The Bible does NOT say Jesus was crucified on a Friday ANYWHERE.
Fascinating article and discussion points. I wish BAS/BAR would do an in-depth article about the Didache’s (Dihd-uh-kay) view on communion. (The Didache, aka “The Teachings of the 12 Apostles,” is considered to be the earliest Christian manual/handbook for newly baptized Christians or for pagans/Gentiles pre-baptism.) There is no mention of body and blood. In fact, the Didache has blessing the cup/wine FIRST and talking about Jesus as being of the vine of David (more about Jesus’s messianic genealogy) and then the bread second. (Opposite of what we do in most mainline Catholic/Protestant Christian services.) This would seem to logically indicate that all the body/blood stuff was later added by Paul and the early Christian Church.
The Christianity that sprang from Rome erred in the persecutions of Jews, for their origins were Jewish through Peter and Paul, and the first bishops of the Christian Churches that were founded there. In Rome, it was only after the appointment Xystus / Sixtus that Rome lost its Jewish ness, and became eminently Gentile.
Of this, a fragment of Irenaeus states:
“And the presbyters preceding Soter in the government of the Church which thou dost now rule – – I mean, Anicetus and Pius, Hyginus and Telesphorus, and Sixtus – – did neither themselves observe it, nor permit those with them to do so.”
Elsewhere, in Antioch of Syria, in Ephesus of Asia, in Corinth of Achaia, and in Alexandria of Egypt, such an effect of a breaking away from Judaism had not yet truly come about. In regards to a return to its Jewish roots, the Church of Rome almost did so with the help of John the Apostle’s Disciple in the mid-150s A.D. In circa 157 A.D., shortly before his martyrdom in Smyrna, the 116 years old plus Polycarp did bring to Rome, and help to reinstate the Passover. From that visit to Rome, through the acceptance of Polycarp’s witness by Rome’s bishop Anicetus, we have ever after celebrated that Tradition of the Passover in the Church. That Passover is kept by and through the Communion with the bread and wine. The partaking of the bread is from taking the Passover’s second of three Matzot, which is hidden away and brought back to the table. That second Matzoh is then “broken up”, and taken with the third cup of Passover wine: the cup of Communion.
And continuing in the history left us by a fragment of Irenaeus, we read:
“And when the blessed Polycarp was sojourning in Rome in the time of Anicetus, although a slight controversy had arisen among them as to certain other points, they were at once well inclined towards each other, not willing that any quarrel should arise between them upon this head. For neither could Anicetus persuade Polycarp to forego the observance, inasmuch as these things had been always [so] observed by John the disciple of our Lord, and by other apostles with whom he had been conversant; nor, on the other hand, could Polycarp succeed in persuading Anicetus to keep , for he maintained that he was bound to adhere to the usage of the presbyters who preceded him.
And in this state of affairs they held fellowship with each other; and Anicetus conceded to Polycarp in the Church the celebration of the Eucharist, by way of showing him respect; so that they parted in peace one from the other, maintaining peace with the whole Church, both those who did observe [this custom] and those who did not.”
That Jewish-ness of Christianity, as brought forth by Polycarp, shortly before his martyrdom, had been dissipated since circa 119 A.D with Sixtus. Sixtus had become Bishop over the Churches of Rome only 17 odd years after the death of Judeo-Christian Clement in circa 102 A.D. The lack of Jewish ness to Christianity in Rome in this period, may have simply been the by-product of a largely underground Church whose elements and fundamental doctrines were evangelically geared to a non-Jewish congregate.
The Passover Seder is the true Communion Ritual Heritage celebrated by we of the nations down to this day. It would have been nice had additional and more comprehensive literacy on this topic been done USING IRENAEUS regarding the true history of the Communion adoption into what later came to be known as Roman Catholicism and Protestant Christianity, since that Communion ritual compromise in the Second Century A.D., is the one most of us are weekly or monthly most familiar with.
Everybody seems to skip over the problem: Jews do not consume blood — I’m sure even symbolically. Deuteronomy and Leviticus say in at least seven places that a Jew does not consume blood. For Jesus to command such a thing — even as a symbol, even as a “new covenant” — would have been unthinkable. This ritual was invented by Paul (or other early Christians) in Tarsus where Mithras-worship was widespread. Initiation into a Mithras group involved drinking the blood of a bull. Let’s throw out the religion invented by Paul and recover the original beliefs of the Jesus group, best seen now in the Epistle of James, Jesus’ brother, who led the Jesus group after Jesus’ crucifixion.
This is a very shallow and clearly lacking in understanding comment. I’m guessing you’re JW. The establishments, rules, and commands regarding the Jewish sacrificial system was nullified when God came in the flesh to redeem the world. Those ancient things were shadows of Christ, but not Christ Himself (Colossians 2:16-17). Further, Christ Himself is the life of all the living! Dead animals’ lifeblood does not provide life and eating their blood would run contrary to the true lifeblood – Christ who died. So when Moses writes, “You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood,” he is not saying that blood is bad, evil, or uneatable. The blood of creatures which cannot give eternal life, sure we ought not consider it helpful — such as the pagans did at the time who drank blood as part of their rituals, but not the blood of He who gives eternal life by his blood (Colossians 3:4, John 6). Christ further teaches that it is not the food or non-food that enters the mouth that makes a man unclean, but that which comes from the heart that sullies him (Mark 7:5, 18-19). The Lord’s Supper is the true body and blood of Christ in, with, and under the bread and wine given for our forgiveness, life, and salvation. This is what the Apostles taught and what the church has taught from the beginning.
The origin of the Passover dates back to the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, and it was no coincidence that Jesus was put to death on that very same day. When Jesus was about to be baptised by John the Baptist, he said that Jesus was the Lamb of God (John 1:29), and Paul at 1 Corinthians 5:7 called Jesus the Passover lamb and his sacrifice was for all mankind’s benefit, IF they accept it.. the value of that sacrifice.
Paul had to correct some of those in the Christian congregation in Corinth because they had obviously ‘gone off the rails’ as far as the memorial of Christs death was concerned. (1 Corinthians 11:20-22). Evidently some were even turning up intoxicated.
When Jesus instituted this observance of his death, He said keep doing this in remembrance of me…….when we observe of celebrate an event, we do it on an annual basis not weekly, or any other interval.
REV says: ” No one wonders how many were with him? It should have been all his followers at the time – 250 – 300.” The Bible clearly states that there were only the 11 apostles (Judas had gone). Luke 22:14, 15; Mark 14:12-25;
Although our Lord Jesus Christ participated in Last Supper along with twelve apostles, why he did not eat anything on that table according to all scriptures. There must be the reason which God shows me the revelation through the Son of God.
R. Thomas,
Nagercoil,
Tamilnadu – India.
E-mail: [email protected]
Informative, but frankly once I got to the part of the article stating the following:
“But as Paul’s letters indicate, these idealistic practices at the Lord’s Supper sometimes became abused because Christians either practiced Jewish purity laws at the table (e.g., considering what types of foods were appropriate to consume),”
The writer lost credibility with me. There is no evidence in the New Testament biblical texts nor credible historical record of the time (pre-100AD) that would indicate the “Lords supper” was “abused” because of “Jewish” purity laws. First of all if the writer was familiar with the front part of the bible commonly referred to as the Old Testament, they would find that the food instructions or laws are given by YHWH, the father of the Messiah in Leviticus 11. They are HIS laws/instructions, NOT the Jews. As stated, there is no evidence throughout the New Testament writings that these laws were abolished. In fact Jesus, or Y’shua as he was known by his Hebrew name stated in Matthew 5 that he didn’t come to abolish the law OR the prophets, but to fulfill them, or “fully preach” as most accurately defined by Strongs #4137 (pleroo).
Jesus celebrated the Passover of new covenant no communion that was added later 325AD when Nicea council abolished Passover in was in controversy since 150AD
Why are you saying there was no communion?
When was the first celebration after the Last Supper? Jesus commanded they “do this”. Rather that look at the record from years later, consider when was the first. I think the obvious first time was the evening of the resurrection, before Jesus appeared. I would suggest the following Sunday after they celebrated, Jesus appeared again. I would suggest they celebrated every Sunday after that. Did He appear on the mountain in Galilee after the celebration? “Some doubted”, was it all our imagination from desire? Pentecost was Sunday.
The “Last Supper” had to have taken place on the lunar 13th, the day before the 14th when the lambs were slaughtered, as Yahshua the Passover Lamb was slain at the stake on the 14th. before sunset.
And, as a side note, stop thinking and speaking “Thursday, Friday, Sunday” rhetoric, as these pagan named “days of the week” are never biblical, but are more recent manufactured measures of time, and do not fit with biblical chronology.at all. This is why there is so much division and derision amongst so many in the timing and consequent observance of the crucifixion, and subsequent defeat of death, of our Messiah Yahshua.
Look into the biblical lunar calendar and you will know the true dates, including, especially, the true Shabbat.
Many scholars who discuss the Last Supper and Seder focus on the fact the standard was the Seder on Passover, Friday that year. There is clear documentation that the Essene – Pious Ones – in keeping with their rejection of the leadership celebrated their Seder Passover the day before. Therefore there were Passover Lambs sacrificed and Seder meals on Thursday. Does that mean Jesus was Essene? No! His followers must have been extra exited knowing that their Master had something planned for Passover – revealing himself as Messiah? No one asks, wonders, how in the city packed tight with pilgrims there was a place for Jesus’ Seder. No one wonders how many were with him? It should have been all his followers at the time – 250 – 300. What great prophet of brotherly love could pull his closest disciples away from their loved ones for a private Seder? http://thesignofconcord.com/Fr_Seder_to_H.php
The Gospel narratives tell us clearly that the Last Supper was the eating of the Passover:
Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.
(Luke 22:7-8)
Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. (Matthew 26:17-19)
And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover? And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. (Mark 14:12-15)
There can be no doubt that the last supper was, in fact, the seder. The disciples understood that they were eating the Passover, The Lord had sent them to prepare the passover seder, and three of the Gospel accounts state that they were eating the Pesach (the lamb of sacrifice or Passover).
I agree with Dan. The Last Supper was not the Passover meal. Jesus was sacrificed, as the Passover lamb is sacrificed, on 14 Nissan, but the Passover meal is not consumed until 15 Nissan (the evening after the lamb is sacrificed–remember, Jewish calendar days start at sundown). This means that the Last Supper occurred on the evening before, (still 14 Nissan, known as the Preparation Day). To sum up:
14 Nissan–Last Supper occurred at the start of the day (evening time). Jesus was also arrested that evening, and was crucified the next morning, still 14 Nissan, when the Passover Lamb is also sacrificed. He was in the tomb before sundown.
15 Nissan–Passover meal (Feast of Unleavened bread) is consumed that evening, the start of the calendar day 15 Nissan.
17 Nissan–Resurrection
“Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”—Luke 22:19.
How often should the Memorial be observed in order to preserve remembrance of Christ’s death? Jesus did not specifically say. However, since he instituted the Lord’s Evening Meal on Nisan 14, the evening of the Passover, which the Israelites celebrated annually, it is evident that Jesus intended the Memorial to be commemorated in the same way. Whereas the Israelites annually celebrated their deliverance from bondage in Egypt, Christians annually commemorate their deliverance from bondage to sin and death.—Exodus 12:11, 17; Romans 5:20, 21.
The concept of an annual observance to commemorate a significant event is certainly not unusual. Consider, for example, when a couple celebrate their wedding anniversary or when a nation commemorates an important event in its history. The commemoration usually takes place once a year on the anniversary of that event. Interestingly, for several centuries after Christ, many professed Christians were called Quartodecimans, meaning “Fourteenthers,” because they commemorated Jesus’ death once a year, on Nisan 14. “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”—Luke 22:19.
How often should the Memorial be observed in order to preserve remembrance of Christ’s death? Jesus did not specifically say. However, since he instituted the Lord’s Evening Meal on Nisan 14, the evening of the Passover, which the Israelites celebrated annually, it is evident that Jesus intended the Memorial to be commemorated in the same way. Whereas the Israelites annually celebrated their deliverance from bondage in Egypt, Christians annually commemorate their deliverance from bondage to sin and death.—Exodus 12:11, 17; Romans 5:20, 21.
The concept of an annual observance to commemorate a significant event is certainly not unusual. Consider, for example, when a couple celebrate their wedding anniversary or when a nation commemorates an important event in its history. The commemoration usually takes place once a year on the anniversary of that event. Interestingly, for several centuries after Christ, many professed Christians were called Quartodecimans, meaning “Fourteenthers,” because they commemorated Jesus’ death once a year, on Nisan 14.
Dr Sauter wrote “Carthage began to assemble in the morning” but Tertullian did not say “began”. His words state their traditional practice from an unknowable time before. Jesus and His followers as pious people grew up always keeping the synagog services. Jesus could not have been considered a Rabbi unless He did so. Those services are the foundation of later development. The major change was the addition of the Eucharist to the service of the word. Acts 15 records a major discussion over minor items. The followers were faithful to what they received. The only person who could have authorized the change from Sabbath to Sunday worship was the Lord of the commandments. Reading back to the author of change means going back to the only one who could have made the change. Just because it is not recorded that Jesus said or did certain things does not prove He did not. If no one else could have, He must be the one who did.
There is a common misconception that the supper in the upper room, often called the “Last Supper,” was the Passover meal during which the roasted lamb was eaten as commended in Exodus 12. The chronology of the Passion Week shows that the supper in the upper room was a Feast of Unleavened Bread meal eaten the night before the Passover meal with lamb, and that the memorial Passover meal with lamb celebrating the Exodus was eaten the following night while Jesus was in the tomb. The Last Supper did not cancel the observance of the Exodus Passover memorial which was commanded by God to be observed annually by Jews forever. It added the fact that Jesus is our Passover whose deliverance from the slavery of sin applies to eternity. The chronology of the Passion Week reveals the order in which these events happened. See http://www.prophecysociety.org/?p=500 for a full explanation that is too detailed to post here.