The Last Supper (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Notes
The Last Supper
Introduction to the Last Supper in St Mark's Gospel
The final week of Jesus' earthly life holds tremendous significance for Catholics, and this importance is clearly reflected in St Mark's Gospel. The evangelist dedicates five entire chapters to covering Jesus' death and the events that preceded it, with a complete chapter focused on Jesus' resurrection. This emphasis demonstrates how central these final events were to the early Christian community and remain so today.
The disproportionate amount of space that Mark dedicates to Jesus' final week (nearly one-third of his entire Gospel) shows how the early Christians understood these events as the climax of Jesus' earthly ministry.
The biblical account from Mark's Gospel
The Last Supper is recorded in Mark 14:12-26, where we find one of the most significant moments in Christian history. During this meal, which took place during the Jewish festival of Passover, Jesus shared bread and wine with his twelve disciples in what would become the foundation for Christian worship.
The Gospel records Jesus' words precisely:
"Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take it; this is my body.' Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,' he said to them." (Mark 14:22-24)
These words would become the central focus of Christian liturgy. When Jesus shared the bread and wine with his disciples at the Last Supper, he explained that the bread represented his body and the wine represented his blood. This symbolic act would later become the foundation for the Christian sacrament known by various names: the Eucharist, Holy Communion, Mass, or the Lord's Supper.
Jesus' prophecy during the meal
The Last Supper was not only significant for the institution of communion but also because Jesus used this time to reveal important prophecies about what was to come. During this Passover meal, Jesus made two startling predictions about his closest followers.
First, Jesus revealed that one of his own disciples would betray him, though he did not specify which disciple this would be. The Gospel records his words:
"Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me one who is eating with me." (Mark 14:18)
Additionally, Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny knowing Jesus three times. This was a claim that Peter initially refused to believe, yet it would come to pass exactly as Jesus predicted during the events surrounding his crucifixion.
Both of these prophecies demonstrate Jesus' foreknowledge of the events that would unfold, reinforcing the Gospel's portrayal of Jesus as having divine insight into future events.
Different Christian understandings of the Last Supper
Christians today continue to re-enact the Last Supper through various forms of communion services, but they understand Jesus' words about the bread and wine in different ways.
Catholic belief - transubstantiation:
Catholics hold the doctrine of transubstantiation, which means they believe that during the Mass, the bread and wine actually become the physical body and blood of Jesus Christ. This is not merely symbolic but represents a real, substantial change in the elements themselves. For Catholics, receiving communion means literally receiving Christ himself.
Protestant understanding:
Most Protestant Christians accept the bread and wine as powerful symbols of Jesus' body and blood rather than believing they physically transform. They view communion as a meaningful remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice, following his instruction to "do this in remembrance of me." While deeply significant, the elements remain symbolic rather than becoming the actual body and blood of Christ.
The importance of the Last Supper
Significance for Jesus' original followers:
For the disciples who were present, the Last Supper marked several crucial moments. It was the final meal they would share with their teacher before his death, creating a poignant farewell moment. Jesus' predictions about betrayal and denial prepared them (though they didn't fully understand at the time) for the challenging events that would follow. Most importantly, Jesus' words about the bread and wine gave new meaning to these everyday elements, transforming them into symbols of his coming sacrifice.
The timing during Passover was also significant. The Passover meal commemorated God's deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and now Jesus was giving two of its symbols - bread and wine - new meaning related to a different kind of deliverance.
Importance for Catholic Christians today:
For modern Catholics, the Last Supper continues to hold central importance in their faith and worship. The Mass, celebrated regularly in Catholic churches worldwide, directly recreates Jesus' actions at the Last Supper. This ceremony marks and celebrates the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, which Catholics believe are the most important events in human history.
Jesus' instructions about remembering him through the sharing of bread and wine are still followed today in the sacrament of the Eucharist. The bread and wine unite all Catholics in a shared ceremony based on their belief in transubstantiation. This practice connects modern Catholics directly to that original gathering in the upper room, creating a link across nearly two thousand years of Christian history.
The Last Supper also allows Catholics to celebrate and remember Jesus' victory over death, making his sacrifice present and real for believers today. Through regular participation in Mass, Catholics believe they are participating in the same meal that Jesus shared with his disciples on that crucial night before his crucifixion.
Key Points to Remember:
- The Last Supper took place during Passover and is recorded in Mark 14:12-26, where Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples, declaring them to be his body and blood
- Jesus prophesied during the meal that one disciple would betray him and that Peter would deny him three times
- Catholics believe in transubstantiation - that the bread and wine literally become Jesus' body and blood during Mass
- Protestants generally view the bread and wine as meaningful symbols rather than believing they physically transform
- The Last Supper remains central to Christian worship today through various forms of communion services that recreate Jesus' actions and words from that night