The Last Supper Series

For believers in the room, we invite you to join us in worship by participating in the Lord’s Supper in a few minutes. We continue our study of the last week of Jesus’ life on earth. Beginning with Palm Sunday and continuing through His resurrection, we are examining the details of the most important week in history.

1. Set Up Thursday

Palm Sunday – Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Monday – Cleansing of the Temple

Tuesday – Jesus Engages in Controversy

Wednesday – Religious Authorities Seek to Kill Jesus

It’s April 6, 30 AD or April 2, 33 AD. It’s the day known as Maundy Thursday. It’s Thursday, less than twenty four hours from Jesus’ crucifixion. Once He enters the city of Jerusalem for the Last Supper, He’ll not depart again. Jesus’ hour has now come.

Thursday – Preparation for the Passover

The Disciples Argue

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

Jesus Identifies His Betrayer

Jesus Begins the Lord’s Supper

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

“Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” 9 They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” 10 He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters 11 and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” 13 And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.”

24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 23:7-30).

“Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it” (Exodus 12:7).

“For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:12-13).

2. Explain Passover Then

Passover was an ancient tradition long before Jesus’ day. For over a thousand years, Jews had annually celebrated the Passover long before Jesus. This was Israel’s most important holiday for even secular Jews stopped to celebrate this day. This feast was to trump all others as it literally changed the way they marked off their calendars. This was a time when they celebrated the beginnings of becoming their own people. All of this would have been shared after sundown that evening, Nisan 15 (Thursday nightfall to Friday nightfall).