The Legacy of Last Supper

By John B. Monteiro
Bellevision Media Network

• Authority and power are meant for service as Jesus demonstrated by washing the feet of his disciples. – Fr. Cornelius, Ferangipet Monastery.

05 April 2012: Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday (April 5 this year), is marked for Last Supper and is known for the institution of Holy Eucharist (Christa-Prasad) and the priesthood of the church. When the time came for observing the Passover, the annual feast of the Jews, commemorating the destroying angel passing over the houses of Israelites when he slew the first-born of the Egyptians, the disciples went to Jesus to ask where they should prepare for him to eat the Passover. He told them, “ Go into the city and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the householder, ‘the Teacher says, where is my guest room, where I am to eat the Passover?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us”. Accordingly, the disciples prepared the Passover meal.

 

As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to his disciples and said, “Take; this is my body”. And he took a cup (of wine), and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them and they all drank of it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many”. He added, “Do this in remembrance of me”.

 

The Holy Eucharist celebrated daily by the priest, wherein bread and wine are believed to be transformed into the body and blood of Christ, is based on this action and command at the Last Supper. Originally, Holy Eucharist, also called Holy Communion, was given under the form of bread and wine. Now, though the priest consecrates both bread and wine, the congregation is offered, for practical reasons, as Holy Communion only in the form of bread – a thin white wafer cut to the shape and size of a one-rupee coin.

 

 

A second aspect of Maundy Thursday is the washing of feet of the disciples by Jesus – an outstanding instance of leading by example. At the Last Supper, Jesus rose, laid aside his outer garments and girded himself with a towel. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples and wiped them with the towel.

 

When Jesus finished washing the feet of his disciples, he put on his garments and resumed his place and said to them: “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For, I have given you an example that you also should do as I have done to you”.

 

On Maundy Thursday, Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you…. By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another”.

 

There is a jarring incidence at the Last Supper – the prelude to the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 disciples. He was like a treasurer of the group and was greedy for money. The chief priests were conspiring and waiting to lay their hands on Jesus. Judas negotiated with them to betray Jesus in return for thirty silver coins and was waiting for an opportunity to do his dark deed.

 

At the Last Supper, Jesus said that one of them at the table would betray him. While the disciples one by one asked whether it was I, Jesus said, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me…. It would have been better for that man if he had not been born”.

 

After this, Jesus went to a place called Gethsemane to pray. Then Judas came with a crowd armed with swords and clubs. Judas had given them a sign: “The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him and lead him away under guard”. Judas went to Jesus and saying “Hail Master!” kissed him and Jesus was seized.

 

The washing of the feet is enacted by the priests at the parish level and higher ups up to the Pope in Rome. These ceremonies are held in the afternoon between 4 and 8 PM.

 

Last Supper is the title of a work of art representing the Maundy Thursday meal of Jesus with his twelve disciples, a mural (1495-1498), by Leonardo da Vinci. A copy of this is generally hung in the dining rooms of Christians. The painting has acquired additional fame, or controversy, following the publication of Dan Brown’s book, The Da Vinci Code, where the author has suggested that Mary Magdalene is incorporated in the painting, and the film based on it. Recently, the Communist Party in Kerala put out posters imitating Leonardo’s Last Supper depicting US President Obama as Christ and non-Communist Indian political leaders as apostles.

 

John B. Monteiro, author and journalist, is editor of his website www.welcometoreason.com (Interactive Cerebral challenger –with provision for instant response. Try responding!).