Story: The Last Supper

Story of the Last SUpper:

Below is the story of the Last Supper. Take some time to read the story together. After reading the story, complete the activity found below.

Jesus was 33 years old when he died. For the first 30 years, Jesus lived a quiet life. He was Jewish, so he went to the temple and learned about the Ten Commandments. He was so smart that he often taught the rabbis. They were amazed by how much he knew. When he was 30 years old, he knew it was time for him to start his own church. For three years until he died at 33, he went all over the country teaching people about God’s love: healing the sick, and making friends. He had 12 special friends called apostles. He chose these men because he needed them to help him build his church and to keep it going after he was gone. Those 12 men did such a good job of teaching others about Jesus, that today there are billions of Catholics.

Jesus was performing miracles everywhere. He made sick people better. When he spoke to a crowd, everyone listened because they could tell he loved them just like when you can tell your parents love you. Many people loved him, but others were jealous of him. All the leaders worried that everyone would choose him to be their king. So, all of the jealous people made a plan to kill him. He didn’t know that one of the apostles went behind his back and told the church leaders where to find Jesus. That man’s name was Judas. Jesus knew those men were going to come to take him away and kill him the next day so he wanted one last supper with his friends. He wanted to say goodbye to them but also explained that even though he was leaving them, he would still be with them. That made his apostles feel very confused. They wondered how he could leave them, but still be with them.

Every year, Jews celebrate a feast called Passover. Jewish people have a Passover dinner with their families like we do at Thanksgiving. They have celebrated Passover ever since the time of Moses, when the Lord saved all of the Jewish babies in Egypt who were in danger. The Lord “passed over” the houses of the Jewish people and they were kept safe. Since Jesus was Jewish, his friends, also called his apostles, ate dinner with him often. They asked Jesus where he wanted them to plan this year’s Passover feast. He told them to go into the city, find a man and tell him that we would like to come to his house for Passover. They did as he asked and found a place where they got ready for Passover.

The first night of Passover came and Jesus and the twelve apostles sat together to eat the meal.

The apostles were quiet because they had a lot on their minds. They were worried because they heard that some people wanted to kill Jesus because he was getting so popular. Jesus could see the apostles were worried. He said to them quietly, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” The apostles looked shocked and said, “It isn’t me, is it Lord?” Jesus replied, “The one who dips his bread into the bowl with me will betray me. I will die, just as it is written, but the man who betrays me will feel sorry forever.”

Judas put his head down and said he wasn’t him but Jesus answered, “Yes, you are the one.” Judas put his head down even lower and hoped that the other apostles had not heard what Jesus said. When Jesus took the bread in his hands, he thanked God for the bread, broke it, and shared it with the apostles for them to eat. He said, “Take this and eat it. This is my body which is given for you.” Then Jesus said, “Take this and drink of this, all of you. This is my blood, which will be poured out for many people so their sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.”

During Mass, you have probably heard the priest say those words. He says them at every Mass. The altar servers ring bells when they hear those words to let us know that we are in the presence of the real Jesus. That the host is now the Body of Christ and the wine is now the Blood of Christ. The priest says these words at the altar, which is like the table from the Last Supper.

The meal of the Last Supper continued on. Jesus and his friends took their time and enjoyed talking with one another. Jesus’ apostles asked him questions. After some time, Jesus got up from the table and went to a different part of the room. In those days, men wore sandals or walked barefoot, so their feet were dirty. He poured water into a large bowl and began to wash the apostles' feet. He was doing something that only a servant would do. When the apostles questioned him, he said, “You call me teacher and Lord and that is who I am. And now that I have washed your feet, you can also wash one another’s feet.”

Every year at Holy Thursday, three days before Easter, we remember the Last Supper and we do the washing of the feet during Mass. The priest washes the feet of the people. If there are any of you here, who would like to have your feet washed on Holy Thursday at Mass, then you are welcome to do so. He gave this as an example of the way that we should treat others by doing nice things.

Every time that we celebrate Mass, we remember the Last Supper where Jesus had his last meal with his friends. As he celebrated the Last Supper with his apostles, he began a new tradition, one we use every time we are at mass. We remember Jesus taught about how to love and give thanks to him. Every year, three days before Easter, we celebrate Holy Thursday, which is remembering the Last Supper.

It really wasn’t the Last Supper since every time we come to Mass we share food with Jesus. Jesus, we thank you for being with us today.

Remembering the Last Supper: Craft Activity

Check this activity out from Catholic Icing. You can use any material that you have at home! Just be creative!!!

CLICK HERE for the Last Supper Craft Activity