In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Thursday at sundown begins the Passover, a new day, 14 Nisan. It is at this meal that Jesus announces that one of them will "hand him over" (betray him). They all begin to ask which one of them it will be: "It's not I, is it?" Jesus simply says that it is one dipping in the dish with him. Matthew records further Judas' doubt, "Surely it's not I, is it?" But Jesus acknowledges that it is.
In John, before announcing this, Jesus rises from supper and washes the feet of the disciples (John 13). Peter of course initially refuses Jesus' offer, that is until Jesus tells him that he will have no part in him unless Jesus wash him. We suspect that this is yet another Johannine double entendre, that Jesus is talking about more than just feet here. Peter responds with a desire for Jesus to wash all of him. But Jesus indicates that a washing of the feet is enough to make the whole person clean.
In John, Peter asks the Beloved disciple to ask Jesus who is the one who will betray him. Jesus gives a morsel to Judas and thereby indicates that he is the one. The Gospel of John never tells us who this beloved disciple is, although tradition has mostly identified him with John the son of Zebedee. I wonder if it is another John mentioned by Papias, who would later be known as John the elder. It is tempting to think it was John Mark, since he lived in a Christian home in Jerusalem, but in that case we would have to conclude that Mark wasn't written by Mark, since the style and theologies of Mark and John are so distinct from each other.
It is at this point in John's gospel, when Judas gets the morsel (13:27), that Satan enters Judas (remember, it was the previous day in Luke). Jesus tells Judas to do what he is doing. Judas leaves.
John does not record the words that we understand to be the institution of the Lord's Supper. John aptly indicates the atoning value of Jesus' flesh and blood elsewhere (e.g., John 6). But in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and 1 Corinthians 11, we have the sequence of bread and wine. The bread is Jesus' body, then after supper, the cup is his blood.
Luke peculiarly has an added cup--cup during dinner, bread of dinner, cup after dinner. Luke and Paul both mention that it is a new covenant in Jesus' blood. Jesus predicted that he would not drink with them again until he drank with them in the kingdom.
At this point Luke places a dispute that occurs earlier in Matthew and Mark. The disciples are arguing over which of them will be greatest in the kingdom. Jesus points them to the way of service rather than lordship. Nevertheless, after passing through trials they will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (a "Q" saying also in Matthew at an earlier point in the narrative).
Luke also places Jesus' prediction that Peter will betray him at this point, before they leave for the Garden of Gethsemane. There is also unique mention of now taking a bag and a sword as they go out, where before they did not on their mission. I generally take this as an indication that rough times are ahead for them.
In Matthew and Mark they sing a hymn and then leave for the Mount of Olives (Matt. 26:30; Mark 14:26).
John of course has long discourses at this point in the story. Before they rise from supper (John 14:31), Jesus announces that he is now going somewhere they cannot follow. He tells them to love one another as his "new" commandment. Peter does not know where Jesus is going, but here, as in Luke, Jesus predicts that he will deny him three times.
In John 14, Jesus continues the theme of going somewhere. He says he will prepare a place for them to come later. He utters that he is the "way, the truth, and the life" (14:6). Philip is quite curious to see the Father, and Jesus chides him for not getting it--seeing Jesus is seeing the Father. Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit after he has gone. The Spirit will lead them into all truth and he will teach them all things.
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Some scholars debate whether Jesus anticipated his death or not. But in the words of the Last Supper, recorded by Paul as early as the early 50's, we have strong indication that Jesus did anticipate his death and that his death would in fact have atoning value. The Lord's Supper is a reminder that Christ died for our sins, the godly for the ungodly, so that we might have eternal life.
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And Christ by not drinking the fourth cup of the passover until that day when he would drink it new in the Kingdom of God communicates that the first Eucharistic meal remains open so that every time God's people attend and participate in the body and blood they are part of that first meal. A meal that does not end until the final cup is consumed.
Until our master drinks that last cup all God's people throughout the centuries participate together in that same sacrificial meal. Not only is it the case that in the one congregation, that though they are many they are one bread, so also it is the case that throughout the generations we who are many are one bread.
OnceaWes
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