The Last Supper
On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, Jesus's disciples asked him where he wanted them to prepare the Passover meal. He sent them into the city with instructions to a certain man, and they prepared the meal as he directed. That evening, Jesus sat down at the table with his twelve disciples.
While they were eating, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me" -- and each of the disciples, deeply troubled, began to ask, "Surely you don't mean me, Lord?"
Then Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, giving it to his disciples. "Take and eat; this is my body," he said. Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink this fruit of the vine again until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. In that quiet upper room, Jesus turned an ordinary meal into a lasting act of remembrance -- bread and cup, body and blood, a gift he asked his followers to keep sharing together, generation after generation, until he returns.
Read the Bible passage
See the full scripture text this story is based on.
- 26:17Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
- 26:18And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
- 26:19And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.
- 26:20Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
- 26:21And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
- 26:22And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
- 26:23And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
- 26:24The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
- 26:25Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
- 26:26And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
- 26:27And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
- 26:28For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
- 26:29But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
- 26:30And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
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