How are the words and actions of Jesus in the Last Supper to be understood?

Question

The question refers to the passages in 1 Corinthians 11,23-25; Mark 14,17-25; Matthew 26,20-29; Luke 22,14-38; John 13,1-17; 26, even though the name "last supper" is never in any of them. The nature of that meal that Jesus took with his apostles shortly before his arrest is variously described in the New Testament.

The earliest reference in the New Testament to the "last supper" (and what soon grew out of it) is found in 1 Corinthians (written about A.D. 56), where Paul, even before he recounts what Jesus did and said at it, speaks of a participation of Christians in "the table of the Lord" (10,21). He thus refers to what was already a well-established ritual custom among Corinthian Christians. At it they shared in a "cup of blessing" (10,16a), which Paul now interprets as a "participation in the blood of Christ" (v.16b) and in a "breaking of bread" (v. 26c), which is "a participation in the body of Christ" (v16d): "All partake of the one bread" (10,17). Thus Paul alludes to a Christian rite, which he even compares with "sacrifices" of the people of Israel" (10,18) and other sacrifices of "pagans" (10,20), as he emphasizes the idea of partnership or participation of those involved in it.

Runs, it was really a passover seder meal.

I have not answered my own question. My question is how are the words and actions of Jesus to be understood? You have to read the citations and then draw your own conclusions.

Ray, that is very interesting and informative input.

The words of Jesus over the bread is reflected in the Johannine tradition as the bread of life discourse of Jesus. (John 6, 48-58).
Take your time.

JB, this is a surprise. Did Jesus say this bread symbolizes or signifies my body?
Peace and every blessing!

Answer 1

Literally as Jesus said.

Catholics believe the Eucharist, or Communion, is both a sacrifice and a meal. We believe in the real presence of Jesus, who died for our sins. As we receive Christ's Body and Blood, we also are nourished spiritually and brought closer to God.

The Jews knew that He was speaking literally. Jn 6:52 "How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?" On other occasions when our Lord spoke of Himself as a Jn 10:9 "door" or a Jn 15:1 "vine," nobody said, "How can this man be made of wood?" or "How can this man be a plant?" They recognized these as metaphors. But when Jesus insisted, Jn 6:53 "Unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of man and drink His Blood, you have no life in you; he who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has eternal life." The Jews who heard this said, Jn 6:60 "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" They remembered God's command to Noah and all mankind, Gn 9:4 "Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood." God spoke more forcefully to His chosen people. Lv 17:10 "I will set my face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people." It was only after Christ's redemptive sacrifice and the Holy Spirit's enlightenment that the Apostles saw the full meaning of our Father's next words. Lv 17:11 "For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it for you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement, by reason of the life." In the Old Covenant our Father in heaven had commanded His children not to eat the blood of animals because we are not to participate in the life of animals. Animals, having no immortal souls, are lower than man in the order of created nature. However, in the New and Everlasting Covenant we consume the Blood of Christ to participate in Christ's eternal life.

Jesus knew we would need a lot of help to become accustomed to the Holy Eucharist. He performed the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes in the dim light of the original Passover sacrifice Ex 12:6 and of His Crucifixion. Mt 27:45 He performed the four great Eucharistic actions: He took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His apostles to feed the people: Mt 14:15 "When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, 'This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.' Jesus said, 'They need not go away; you give them something to eat.' They said to him, 'We have only five loaves here and two fish.' And he said, 'Bring them here to me.' Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over."

The three Gospel narratives of the Last Supper are absolutely consistent. Matthew: 26:26 "This is My Body." 26:27 "This is My Blood…" Mark: 14:22 "This is My Body." 14:24 "This is My Blood…" Luke: 22:19 "This is My Body." 22:20 "This … is the New Covenant in My Blood." Jesus' next words instituted the Catholic priesthood: Lk 22:19 "Do this in remembrance of Me."

Jesus assured the Apostles that the Holy Eucharist is a reflection of the heavenly banquet. Mt 26:29 "I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

After His resurrection, Jesus walked with two disciples to Emmaus. When they arrived, He celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for them; Lk 24:30 "While He was at table with them, He took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them."

Answer 2

Actually he was introducing his disciples to an Egyptian Ritual that honored the death and resurrection of the man-god Osiris. Where the worshippers ate the body of the god and drank his blood. A ritual that started some 3000 years or so before the birth of Jesus.

Answer 3

Wow what a long one!!! The answer to your question is in your post.

The bread in the Lord's Supper(Communion) symbolizes Jesus's Body. The wine(grape juice) represents the blood that he shed.

We take Communion monthly as a way to remember how His body was broken and how His blood was shed for us so that we may have eternal life.

--Hope this answers your question.

Answer 4

It was a Passover Seder (Jewish ceremonial dinner). There were no Christians at the time.

The apostles got stuck with the bill.

Answer 5

"Do this for a commemoration of me"... This sacrifice and sacrament is to be continued in the church, to the end of the world, to shew forth the death of Christ, until he cometh. But this commemoration, or remembrance, is by no means inconsistent with the real presence of his body and blood, under these sacramental veils, which represent his death; on the contrary, it is the manner that he himself hath commanded, of commemorating and celebrating his death, by offering in sacrifice, and receiving in the sacrament, that body and blood by which we were redeemed.

Answer 6

if you will take these words literally, it's cannibalism. it's wrong (besides its gross) to think about Jesus telling his disciples to eat His flesh and drink His blood...

so the above interpretation is wrong because that will be contrary to Jesus' teachings...

the other way to interpret this is symbolically or figuratively... that is the communion is to be partaken in honour of the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. He became man to save mankind from judgment if we choose to believe that He died for our sin. He came to set mankind free from the bondage of sin.

so it's really up to you how you want to see this, literally or figuratively.

Answer 7

This is like a word search for me and I'm finding the word remembrance

Answer 8

To believe in the GOD, SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT.
And, to serve other people like you expect others to do unto you.

Answer 9

They are to be understood as myth.