Matthew 26; Luke 22; John 13–14
The Last Supper
Jesus introduces the sacrament
Jesus and His Apostles were in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. The Jewish people celebrated Passover every year. It helped them remember that, many years ago, their families were slaves in Egypt, and God helped them escape.
While they were in Jerusalem, Jesus and His Apostles had a special feast together. Jesus had been looking forward to sharing this meal with them.
After they finished eating, Jesus filled a bowl with water. He began to wash the feet of His Apostles.
When it was Peter’s turn, he asked why Jesus was doing this. Washing feet was something that usually only servants did.
Jesus said He was washing their feet to set an example for them. He wanted them to serve and love one another as He had loved them. If they did this, people would know they were His disciples.
Jesus told His disciples that He would die soon. Peter said he was willing to die for Jesus.
But Jesus knew hard times were coming. He told Peter that before the rooster crowed the next morning, Peter would say three times that He didn’t know Jesus.
Jesus knew that His Apostles might be worried and afraid. He promised that God would send them the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost would comfort them, teach them, and help them remember what Jesus had taught them. He told them not to be worried or afraid. He said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Then Jesus did something very special to help His Apostles always remember Him. He gave them the sacrament. First, He blessed bread, broke it into pieces, and gave it to His Apostles. Jesus told them to think of His body when they ate the bread. He asked them to remember that He would die for them.
Jesus then poured wine into a cup. He blessed the wine and told the Apostles to drink it. Jesus told them to think of His blood when they drank the wine. He asked them to remember that He would suffer, bleed, and die for the pain and sins of all people so we could repent and be forgiven.
Then Jesus explained that He is like a vine, and His disciples are like branches. If a branch stays connected to the vine, it grows fruit. A branch that is not connected to the vine dies and can’t grow fruit. Jesus wanted His disciples to always stay close to Him by loving one another and keeping His commandments.
After teaching these things, Jesus and His Apostles sang a hymn. They walked toward a garden called Gethsemane.