The Last Supper

The Life of Jesus Christ - Chapter 10 - Jesus' arrest and appearance at court - Part 7

An online Bible Study course by Barrie Wetherill about the life of Jesus. This book is in EasyEnglish Level B. Use the links below for other online Bible Study books and commentaries that will help you. Or go to the Word List, which explains words with a *star.

The meaning of the Passover *feast

Jews ate a special meal at the Passover *feast. Every part of the *feast had a special meaning for them. At the Passover *feast, they remembered that they had been slaves in Egypt. God had freed them. In Egypt, God told them to kill a lamb for food. [A lamb is a young sheep.] They also had to mark their doorways with the blood of the lamb. Later God sent an *angel through Egypt. He killed all the children and animals who were the first to be born. He did not kill any who were in houses with blood on the doorways. The angel passed over those houses. After that, the Jews were free to leave Egypt.

What the Passover meant to Jesus

The Passover had a very important meaning for Jesus. The Jews had been slaves to the people in Egypt. But we are all like slaves, because of *sin. [We *sin when we do not obey God. We do not do what he wants.] The lambs died in Egypt so that the Jews would be free. And Jesus died to free us from the punishment for our *sin. That is why one of Jesus' names is the Lamb of God. For us, he is like the Passover lamb. He frees us from *sin. He brings us back to God.

Jesus wanted very much to eat this Passover meal with his *disciples. He told two *disciples to go and prepare this meal. He gave his instructions carefully. Judas would not know where the meal would be until much later in the day.

Judas was present at the meal. At the meal, Jesus announced that one *disciple would help his enemies. That *disciple would help them to find Jesus. Soon after this, Judas left.

The *Lord's Supper

After the meal Jesus took bread and gave it to the *disciples. He said, 'Take this bread. Eat it! This bread is like my body'. Also, he took the cup of wine, and gave it to them. He said, 'Drink it, all of you. This wine is like my blood. God is making a promise to you. I shall pour out my blood so that God can forgive the *sins of many people.' The *disciples would not understand the meaning of this until later.

Jesus washes the *disciples' feet

Jesus did another wonderful thing. He took water and a towel. He washed his *disciples’ feet. Peter protested about this. When Jesus had finished, he said this:

John 13:12-17 'Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me 'Teacher' and '*Lord'. This is right. I am your Teacher and your *Lord. Now I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. So you also should wash one another's feet. I have shown you what to do. You should do what I have done for you. I tell you the truth; no servant is greater than his master. A man who brings a message is not greater than the sender of that message. Now you know these things. God will bless you if you do them.'

The *kingdom of God is a *kingdom of love and service. We love and serve each other. It is not a *kingdom where some people give orders to other people.

Peter would deny Jesus three times

At the meal, Jesus said that all the *disciples would leave him that very night. Peter protested that he was ready to die with Jesus. In reply, Jesus said this. Before the cock called out Peter would deny Jesus three times. [A cock is a bird that lives on a farm. It calls out very early in the morning.]

After the meal