Event New Testament
The Last Supper
Also known as The Lord's Supper instituted
On the night before His death Jesus shared a final meal with His disciples in Jerusalem, gave them bread and the cup as His body and blood of the new covenant, washed their feet, and foretold His betrayal.
Why it matters. Jesus interprets His coming death as a covenant sacrifice, and the church has remembered Him in this meal ever since.
- Primary passages
- Witnesses
Chronology confidence: medium
The Synoptics present the meal as a Passover meal; John emphasizes the foot washing and the farewell discourse. The relationship between John's timing and the Synoptics' is a long-discussed question that FaithGraph describes rather than resolves.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
Connections
The raising of Lazarus precedes The Last Supper
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceJohn places the raising of Lazarus before the final Passover, then the anointing, then the supper.
Evidence:Judas agrees to betray Jesus precedes The Last Supper
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceJudas comes to the supper already committed to the betrayal.
Evidence:The Last Supper precedes Gethsemane
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceAfter the hymn Jesus and the disciples go out to the Mount of Olives.
Evidence:The Last Supper occurs at Jerusalem
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe disciples prepare the Passover meal in the city, in a large upper room.
Evidence:The Last Supper develops the theme Covenant
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceJesus calls the cup the new covenant in His blood, using the language of Jeremiah 31 and Exodus 24.
Evidence:The Last Supper develops the theme Passover
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe Synoptics present the meal as the Passover the disciples prepared, and Paul calls Christ our Passover lamb.
Evidence:The Last Supper develops the theme Passover
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceJesus says He has eagerly desired to eat this Passover with His disciples before He suffers.
Evidence: