Last Supper
Final meal of Jesus with his apostles before crucifixion.
The Last Supper is the final meal that, in the Gospel accounts, Jesus shared with his apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. It is commemorated by Christians especially on Holy Thursday and provides the scriptural basis for the Eucharist, also known as 'Holy Communion' or 'The Lord's Supper'. The event is almost beyond dispute among scholars and belongs to the framework of the narrative of Jesus' life.
- field
- Biblical event
- known_for
- Final meal of Jesus with his apostles; institution of the Eucharist
- scriptural_books
- Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, 1 Corinthians
- associated_terms
- Lord's Supper, Holy Communion, Eucharist, Mystical Supper
Lore & Background
The New Testament mentions the Last Supper in five books, with the earliest known mention in 1 Corinthians 11:23–25. The four canonical gospels state it took place in the week of Passover, after Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem and before his crucifixion on Good Friday. During the meal, Jesus predicts his betrayal by one apostle and foretells that Peter will thrice deny knowing him before the next morning.
The three Synoptic Gospels and 1 Corinthians include the institution of the Eucharist, where Jesus takes bread, breaks it, and says 'This is my body given to you.' The Gospel of John tells of Jesus washing the apostles' feet, giving the new commandment to love one another, and includes the Farewell Discourse. Some scholars see the Last Supper as the source of early Christian Eucharistic traditions, while others view it as derived from 1st-century Eucharistic practice described by Paul.
Reader's Guide
The Last Supper holds central significance in Christianity as the scriptural basis for the Eucharist, a ritual celebrated by most denominations. Its accounts in the Gospels and Paul's letters shape liturgical practices, particularly on Holy Thursday. The event also introduces key themes of betrayal, denial, and sacrificial love. Scholars debate whether the Synoptic Gospels and John agree on the meal's nature as a Passover meal, with some proposing a 'Passover hypothesis' to reconcile differences. The term 'Last Supper' does not appear in the New Testament; alternative terms include 'Lord's Supper', 'Holy Communion', 'Eucharist', and 'Mystical Supper'. The event's historicity is widely accepted, though details vary among sources.
Did You Know?
- The term 'Last Supper' does not appear in the New Testament.
- The earliest known mention of the Last Supper is in 1 Corinthians 11:23–25.
- The Gospel of John does not include the bread and wine ritual but has a Eucharistic nature in John 6:58–59.
- The Russian Orthodox use the term 'Secret Supper' (Taynaya vecherya).
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