Matthew 26:17-30

Mark 14:12-26

Luke 22:7-39

John 13-14

To prepare for the first day of the passover feast, Jesus instructed Peter and John to go to the city and follow the man they find carrying a pitcher of water.  They were to follow him to his house and ask the master of the house where is the room that Jesus could eat the passover with his disciples. Jesus said the man would show them a large upper room prepared where they should get ready for the meal.  They followed Jesus’ instructions, finding things just the way Jesus described, and made final preparations.

This meal with the twelve apostles is called the Last Supper because it would be the last formal meal of Jesus’ mortal life.  

Jesus told the twelve how important it was to him that he eat this meal with them before he suffers.

As they ate, Jesus took bread and broke it into pieces and blessed it and gave it to his disciples to eat.  Jesus told them, “this is my body which is given for you” and he told them to eat it in remembrance of him. Then Jesus took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them to drink, telling them it represented his blood “which is shed for many, for the remission of sins.”

As Jesus ate with the twelve, he told them that one of them would betray him.  The twelve were very sorrowful and each one of them asked, “Lord, is it I?”

The disciples wondered which of them might betray Jesus.  Then they began to dispute among themselves which of them would be known as the greatest among them.  

At one point, Jesus arose and put a towel around himself.  He poured water into a container and began to wash the feet of each of the 12 disciples, drying their feet with the towel.  Then Jesus sat down and asked them, “know ye what I have done to you?” As they were thinking, Jesus answered that he did this as an example for them.  Just as he was their Lord and Master, and yet he served them, they ought to serve one another.

Jesus showed them that the greatest among them would serve the others, saying, “I am among you as he that serveth.”

John, sitting very close to Jesus, asked who it was that would betray him.  Jesus quietly told him that the one to whom he gave a piece of bread was the one who would betray him.  Then he gave a piece of bread to Judas Iscariot. Jesus then told Judas, “that thou doest, do quickly.” No one else knew why Jesus had told Judas to do something quickly, but Judas left.

After Judas left, Jesus had a few more things to teach them.  He said:

Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Jesus said he was going to prepare a place for them to come to him.  The disciples seemed concerned that he said he was going away.

Thomas said, “Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Jesus was helping his disciples to prepare for the time soon coming that he would leave them.  He wanted to share a few important teachings about love and obedience and what those things bring.

Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.”  

Jesus said this Comforter is the Spirit of truth, and called him the Holy Ghost.  Jesus said the Holy Ghost can dwell in us and be in us, teaching us all things, helping us remember things.  Jesus said the Holy Ghost will help the disciples remember everything that Jesus had told them.

Jesus taught them that those who love and believe Jesus will obey his commandments and do the works of Jesus.  Because of that love and obedience, the Father’s love will be shown towards that believer and the things that believer asks in the name of Jesus will be done.  

Again, preparing the disciples for Jesus leaving, he said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

He told them if they loved him, they would be happy for him because he is going to the Father, and the Father is greater than he is.  

Jesus said that he loves the Father and because of that love, he will now go and do what the Father has commanded him.

After this, they sang a hymn and went out to the mount of Olives.

What do you think?

• Why did Jesus bless bread and wine to give to the Twelve?
• Do you think the disciples fully understood the meaning behind the bread and wine as a sacrifice Jesus was about to make?
• How does this blessing, eating, and drinking help us to remember Jesus’ sacrifice?
• Why did Jesus wash the feet of the disciples?  Does that mean we should wash people’s feet?
• Jesus said he would send the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, to his disciples; how can we have the Holy Ghost in our lives to comfort us and teach us?
• How does obedience show our love to Jesus?
• How does obedience to Jesus’ commandments go along with asking God in the name of Jesus for things we need?
• As Jesus is teaching his disciples about showing their love through their obedience, what do you think about Jesus’ example of love and obedience?

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