Bible Stories for Adults

The Lord's Supper

Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-20

Next Week - The Trials of Jesus (John 3:1-21)
Bible Words to Remember:
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. 1 Corinthians 11:26

Why did Jesus wait until the last minute before going to Jerusalem for His last Passover?
John 11:53-57
When did He finally show up in the Jerusalem metropolitan area?
John 12:1-2
Note: Jews had to stay within Jerusalem during the festival, suburb villages counted
What did Jesus do the next day?
Leviticus 23:3

What happened Sunday?
Mark 11:7-10
Did He clear the temple when He arrived in Jerusalem that afternoon?
Mark 11:11-12, 15
What did He do the rest of days before Passover (Thursday evening)?
Luke 21:37-38

What happened to Jesus between late Thursday night and by mid-afternoon on Friday?
Mark 14:46; 15:1, 25, 33-34, 37
How do we know this all happened on Friday (Jewish days began at 6:00 pm)?
Mark 15:42-43
What did Jesus do on Saturday while His body laid dead in the tomb?
1 Peter 3:18-19
What happened on Sunday?
Mark 16:1, 6

What Jewish festivals had Jesus come to celebrate in Jerusalem?
Leviticus 23:5-6
What had to be done on Thursday before the Passover began at 6:00 pm?
Mark 14:12
Who did Jesus send to make the important preparations?
Luke 22:8
Paschal means Of the Passover - Pasch comes from Hebrew pesach which means Passover

The Passover meal could only be eaten inside Jerusalem or not at all
With so many pilgrims, anyone who had an extra room had to provide it free
Had Jesus made any arrangements to make sure they had a place?
Matthew 26:18
How would Peter and John know where to find this man?
Mark 14:13-15

Two-story houses were only found in the affluent Upper City (upwind of city sewage)
Second floors were large open rooms, smaller than first floor; Used for storage & guests
Upper rooms were accessed only by outside stairs, kept main floor private
Did Peter and John find the man and the fully furnished room just as Jesus said?
Mark 14:16

What was the first task in preparing for a Passover seder?
Exodus 12:15
After gathering items for the feast, what important task was done that afternoon?
Exodus 12:3-6
Why was it important that at least ten people be present and that the lamb was properly sized?
Exodus 12:8-10

Around 250,000 lambs were slaughtered in temple forecourts between 3:00 and 6:00
Horn blast announced the start, Priests chanted Hallel (Praise God, Psalms 113-118)
Priests caught blood from slit necks and poured at the foot of the altar
Lambs were skinned & gutted by priests, fat & inners were burned on altar
Rest carried home in skin and roasted over fire on pomegranate spit - head, legs, tail, ...

1. Cup of the Kiddush (separation)
Head of family prayed over the cup, then all drank
What was the significance of the four cups of wine scattered throughout the Passover feast?
Exodus 6:6-7
Sanctification
Thanksgiving
Redemption
Completion
Fifth cup sometimes poured for Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6) - Never drank
2. First hand washing
3. Parsley
dipped into salt water and eaten
4. Breaking of bread
Middle circle of bread was broken and a little eaten
5. Story related
Exodus 12:26-27
6. Hallel Part 1
Leader chanted a verse and the rest replied with Hallelujah (Praise the Lord God)

7. Cup of Haggadah (explaining, proclaiming)
8. Second Hand Washing
9. Grace
10. Sop
Bitter herbs (horse radish, chicory, endive, lettuce, horehound)
Charosheth (apples, dates, pomegranates, nuts, cinnamon sticks)
11. Meal
12. Third Hand Washing
13. Bread
14. Cup of Thanksgiving
With prayer of thanksgiving and petition asking for return of Elijah
15. Hallel Part 2
16. Final Cup
17. The Great Hallel

When did Jesus and His disciples show up at the Upper Room?
Mark 14:17
Was Jesus trying to put off what He knew would be His last meal?
Luke 22:14-16
Early Passovers were eaten standing as escaping slaves (Exodus 12:11)
Changed later to reclining on couches as free men

What inconceivable news did Jesus have during the meal?
Mark 14:18
How did Jesus indicate who this betrayer was and at what point of the Paschal Seder?
Mark 14:19-21
What Old Testament prophesy did this fulfill?
Psalm 41:9

What did Jesus do at Point 13 of the Seder and why is it sometimes called the Eucharist?
Mark 14:22
What else did Jesus include in this Sacrament He was instituting?
Mark 14:23-24
What final part of the Seder do we see?
Mark 14:26

What is a sacrament? (From Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation)
A sacred act
Instituted by God Himself
In which there are certain visible means connected with His Word
By which God offers, gives and seals unto us the forgiveness of sins which Christ has earned for us.

What are some other names we have for this sacrament?
1 Corinthians 11:20-22
1 Corinthians 10:21
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
Acts 2:42
1 Corinthians 11:24

Where do we get the Words of Institution that Pastor says before we share Holy Communion?
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Are the bread and wine changed into the body and blood of Christ?
1 Corinthians 11:28
So why do we say the Christ's body and blood are in, with and under the bread and wine?
Matthew 26:26-28
How does Paul describe this mystery?
1 Corinthians 10:16

Does it matter whether we recognize the real presence of Christ or if we feel it is just symbolic?
1 Corinthians 11:27-29
Besides protecting others from judgment, why do we practice closed communion?
Romans 16:17

Besides remembering what Jesus did, what do we look forward to when we share His Meal?
Matthew 26:29