Editing Last Supper (section)

==Scriptural basis==
The last meal that Jesus shared with his apostles is described in all four [[canonical Gospel]]s<ref>{{Bibleref2|Mt.|26:17–30}}, {{Bibleref2|Mk.|14:12–26}}, {{Bibleref2|Lk.|22:7–39}} and {{Bibleref2|Jn.|13:1–17:26}}</ref> as having taken place in the week of the [[Passover]]. This meal later became known as the Last Supper.{{sfn|Fahlbusch|2005|pp=52–56}} The Last Supper was likely a retelling of the events of the last meal of Jesus among the [[History of Christianity|early Christian community]], and became a ritual which recounted that meal.{{sfn | Harrington | 2001 | p=49}}

Paul's [[First Epistle to the Corinthians]],<ref>{{bibleverse|1cor|11:23–26||11:23–26}}</ref> which was likely written before the Gospels, includes a reference to the Last Supper but emphasizes the theological basis rather than giving a detailed description of the event or its background.{{sfn|Evans|2003|pp=465–477}}{{sfn|Fahlbusch|2005|pp=52–56}}

===Background and setting===
The overall narrative that is shared in all Gospel accounts that leads to the Last Supper is that after the [[triumphal entry into Jerusalem]] early in the week, and encounters with various people and the Jewish elders, Jesus and his disciples share a meal towards the end of the week. After the meal, Jesus is betrayed, arrested, tried, and then [[Crucifixion of Jesus|crucified]].{{sfn|Evans|2003|pp=465–477}}{{sfn|Fahlbusch|2005|pp=52–56}}

Key events in the meal are the preparation of the disciples for the departure of Jesus, the predictions about the impending betrayal of Jesus, and the foretelling of the upcoming denial of Jesus by [[Apostle Peter]].{{sfn|Evans|2003|pp=465–477}}{{sfn|Fahlbusch|2005|pp=52–56}}

===Prediction of Judas' betrayal===
{{Main|Jesus predicts his betrayal}}
In Matthew 26:24–25, Mark 14:18–21, Luke 22:21–23 and John 13:21–30, during the meal, Jesus predicted that one of the apostles present would betray him.{{sfn | Cox |Easley| 2007 | p=182}}<ref>{{Bibleref2|Matthew|26:24–25}}, {{Bibleref2|Mark|14:18–21}}, {{Bibleref2|Luke|22:21–23}} and {{Bibleref2|John|13:21–30}}</ref> Jesus is described as reiterating, despite each apostle's assertion that he would not betray Jesus, that the betrayer would be one of those who were present, and saying that there would be "woe to the man who betrays the [[Son of man (Christianity)|Son of man]]! It would be better for him if he had not been born."<ref>{{bibleverse|Mark|14:20–21}}</ref>

In Matthew 26:23–25 and John 13:26–27, [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] is specifically identified as the traitor.<ref>{{Bibleref2|Matthew|26:23–25}} and {{Bibleref2|John|13:26–27}}</ref> In the Gospel of John, when asked about the traitor, Jesus states:

{{Blockquote|"It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.|source={{harvnb|Evans|2003|pp=465–477}} {{harvnb|Fahlbusch|2005|pp=52–56}} }}

===Institution of the Eucharist===
{{Main|Origin of the Eucharist}}
{{Death of Jesus|expanded=Passion}}
The three Synoptic Gospel accounts describe the Last Supper as a Passover meal.<ref name="Sherman">{{cite book |last1=Sherman |first1=Robert J. |title=King, Priest, and Prophet: A Trinitarian Theology of Atonement |date=2 March 2004 |publisher=A&C Black |isbn=978-0-567-02560-9 |page=176 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0efTAwAAQBAJ&dq=The+three+Synoptic+Gospel+accounts+describe+the+Last+Supper+as+a+Passover+meal,&pg=PA176 |access-date=1 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Saulnier">{{cite book |last1=Saulnier |first1=Stéphane |title=Calendrical Variations in Second Temple Judaism: New Perspectives on the 'Date of the Last Supper' Debate |date=3 May 2012 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-16963-0 |page=3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0eR2z_4JngcC&dq=The+three+Synoptic+Gospel+accounts+describe+the+Last+Supper+as+a+Passover+meal,&pg=PA3 |access-date=1 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Stéphane Saulnier argues they disagree with John,<ref name="Saulnier"/> though [[Brant Pitre]] argues the Gospels can be reconciled in his "[[Passover]] hypothesis", taking the [[Gospel of John]]'s allusions to the Passover lamb as applying to the seven-day festival rather than the meal.<ref>{{cite book |last= Pitre |first= Brant |author-link= Brant Pitre |title= Jesus and the Last Supper |publisher= Eerdmans |page= 252-373 |isbn= 978-0802875334}}</ref> Each gives somewhat different versions of the order of the meal. In chapter 26 of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus prays thanks for the bread, divides it, and hands the pieces of bread to his disciples, saying "Take, eat, this is my body." Later in the meal Jesus takes a cup of wine, offers another [[prayer]], and gives it to those present, 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. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

In chapter 22 of the Gospel of Luke, however, the wine is blessed and distributed before the bread, followed by the bread, then by a second, larger cup of wine, as well as somewhat different wordings. Additionally, according to Paul and Luke, he tells the disciples "do this in remembrance of me." This event has been regarded by Christians of most denominations as the institution of the Eucharist. There is recorded celebration of the Eucharist by the early Christian community [[Jerusalem in Christianity|in Jerusalem]].{{sfn|Cross|Livingstone|2005|p=570|loc=Eucharist}}

The institution of the Eucharist is recorded in the three Synoptic Gospels and in Paul's [[First Epistle to the Corinthians]]. As noted above, Jesus's words differ slightly in each account. In addition, Luke 22:19b–20 is a disputed text which does not appear in some of the early manuscripts of Luke.<ref>{{Bibleref2|Luke|22:19b–20}}</ref> Some scholars, therefore, believe that it is an [[Interpolation (manuscripts)|interpolation]], while others have argued that it is original.{{sfn|Marshall|Millard|Packer|Wiseman|1996|p= 697}}{{sfn | Blomberg | 2009 | p=333}}

A comparison of the accounts given in the Gospels and 1 Corinthians is shown in the table below, with text from the [[American Standard Version|ASV]]. The disputed text from Luke 22:19b–20 is in {{em|italics}}.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! <small>Mark 14:22–24</small>
| And as they were eating, he took bread, and when he had blessed, he brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take ye: this is my body. And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.'<ref>{{Bibleref2|Mark|14:22–24|ASV}}</ref>
|-
! <small>Matthew 26:26–28</small>
| And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body.' And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, 'Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins.'<ref>{{Bibleref2|Matthew|26:26–28|ASV}}</ref>
|-
! <small>1 Corinthians 11:23–25</small>
| For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, 'This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me.' In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.'<ref>{{Bibleref2|1Cor|11:23|ASV|1 Corinthians 11:23–25}}</ref>
|-
! <small>Luke 22:19–20</small>
| And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, 'This is my body {{em|which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.'}} {{em|And the cup in like manner after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, even that which is poured out for you.'}}<ref>{{Bibleref2|Luke|22:19–20|ASV}}</ref>
|}

Jesus' actions in sharing the bread and wine have been linked with Isaiah 53:12<ref>{{Bibleref2|Isaiah|53:12}}</ref> which refers to a blood sacrifice that, as recounted in Exodus 24:8,<ref>{{Bibleref2|Exodus|24:8}}</ref> [[Moses]] offered in order to seal a covenant with God. Some scholars interpret the description of Jesus' action as asking his disciples to consider themselves part of a sacrifice, where Jesus is the one due to physically undergo it.<ref name=Brown />

Although the Gospel of John does not include a description of the bread and wine ritual during the Last Supper, most scholars agree that John 6:58–59<ref>{{Bibleref2|John|6:58–59}}</ref> (the [[Bread of Life Discourse]]) has a Eucharistic nature and resonates with the "[[words of institution]]" used in the Synoptic Gospels and the Pauline writings on the Last Supper.{{sfn | Freedman | 2000 | p=792}}

===Prediction of Peter's denial===
{{Main|Denial of Peter}}
In Matthew 26:33–35, Mark 14:29–31, Luke 22:33–34 and John 13:36–8, Jesus predicts that Peter will deny knowledge of him, stating that [[Denial of Peter|Peter will disown him]] three times before the [[rooster]] crows the next morning.<ref>{{Bibleref2|Matthew|26:33–35}}, {{Bibleref2|Mark|14:29–31}}, {{Bibleref2|Luke|22:33–34}} and {{Bibleref2|John|13:36–8}}</ref> The three [[Synoptic Gospel]]s mention that after the [[arrest of Jesus]], Peter denied knowing him three times, but after the third denial, heard the rooster crow and recalled the prediction as Jesus turned to look at him. Peter then began to cry bitterly.{{sfn | Perkins | 2000 | p=85}}{{sfn|Lange|1865|p=499}}

===Elements unique to the Gospel of John===
{{See also|Washing the feet of the Apostles|The New Commandment|Farewell Discourse}}
[[File:Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles.jpg|thumb|left|Jesus giving the [[Farewell Discourse]] to his eleven remaining disciples, from the ''[[Maestà (Duccio)|Maesta]]'' by [[Duccio]], 1308–1311]]
[[John 13]] includes the account of the [[washing the feet of the Apostles]] by Jesus before the meal.{{sfn|Harris|1985|pp=302-311}} In this episode, Apostle Peter objects and does not want to allow Jesus to wash his feet, but Jesus answers him, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me",<ref>{{bibleverse|Jn|13:8}}</ref> after which Peter agrees.

In the Gospel of John, after the departure of [[Judas iscariot|Judas]] from the Last Supper, Jesus tells his remaining disciples <ref>{{bibleverse|John|13:33}}</ref> that he will be with them for only a short time, then gives them a [[The New Commandment|New Commandment]], stating:{{sfn | Köstenberger| 2002 | pp=149-151}}{{sfn | Yarbrough | 2008 | p=215}} "A new command I give you: 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."<ref>{{Bibleref2|John|13:34–35}}</ref> Two similar statements also appear later in John 15:12: "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you",<ref>{{Bibleref2|John|15:12}}</ref> and John 15:17: "This is my command: Love each other."<ref>{{Bibleref2|John|15:17}}</ref>{{sfn | Yarbrough | 2008 | p=215}}

At the Last Supper in the Gospel of John, Jesus gives an extended [[sermon]] to his disciples.<ref>{{bibleverse|John|14–16}}</ref> This discourse resembles farewell speeches called testaments, in which a father or religious leader, often on the deathbed, leaves instructions for his children or followers.{{sfn|Funk|Hoover|1993|p=}}

This sermon is referred to as the [[Farewell Discourse]] of Jesus, and has historically been considered a source of Christian [[doctrine]], particularly on the subject of [[Christology]]. John 17:1–26 is generally known as the ''Farewell Prayer'' or the ''High Priestly Prayer'', given that it is an intercession for the coming Church.{{sfn | Ridderbos | 1997 | pp= 546–76}} The prayer begins with Jesus's petition for his glorification by the Father, given that completion of his work and continues to an intercession for the success of the works of his disciples and the community of his followers.{{sfn | Ridderbos | 1997 | pp= 546–76}}