The Good Book Club, Monday, 8 Feb 2021, Mark 14:12-25 The Last Supper
What did Jesus really say and do? When a gospel reports a feeding event, I like to compare it with what others say for sameness and differences. TGBC reading for today includes Mark's account of the Last Supper, so as well as Mark's, I've printed what Paul in 1 Corinthians 11, Matthew, and Luke say. Not the Gospel according to John, which substitutes Jesus' foot-washing and New Commandment for his instituting the meal.
Also, because the Church is so heavily invested in Holy Communion as core to faith and worship, our central cultic celebration, theologically complex, the subject of countless writings, books, theses, dissertations and essays, our "principal act of Christian worship on the Lord's Day", central doctrine and sacrament, used for discipline* and authoritative exercise of power, bound by canons, customs and tradition, (exclusive on Holy Communion even though the Episcopal Church has become cutting-edge progressive on social issues and prides itself on being an inclusive church), I've also printed from four of our eucharistic prayers, the Words of Institution - - which quote Jesus' words at the Last Supper.
* Until adoption of the 1976-1979 Book of Common Prayer, a rubric read "And there shall none be admitted to the Holy Communion, until such time as he be confirmed, or be ready and desirous to be confirmed" (1928 BCP, p. 299).
* Until the 20th century, the Episcopal Church excluded from Holy Communion divorced persons who remarried.
* Disciplinary Rubrics (BCP p. 409) rule that the priest shall withhold Communion in cases of notoriously evil life, those who have done wrong to their neighbors and are a scandal, and hatred between members.
* Canon 1.17.8 of the Episcopal Church: "No unbaptized person shall be eligible to receive Holy Communion in this Church."
Reading the scriptural passages, we see three specific accounts: Mark, Luke, and Paul are different. Paul. the earliest, is part of Paul's chastising the Corinthians but quotes specific language, which is helpful. Luke has two cups of wine, a seemingly different source of his own. Mark (TGBC reading for today) seems to be the original/oldest in the gospels.
Matthew has copied Mark's version but added to Jesus saying "this is My blood of the covenant" Matthew's unique statement, "which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins", which suggests it's Matthew's own construction. Might Matthew's theme or motif of forgiveness by Temple-type blood sacrifice have been of special interest, concern and credibility to Matthew's Jewish-Christian audience? Which theological assertion our church has, up to the present time, included in the Words of Institution from the time of Thomas Cranmer's 1549 Book of Common Prayer that he translated into English from the Latin liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church as the English Church under Henry VIII ejected the authority of the Pope while continuing fully Catholic. In our Eucharistic Prayer, the Words of Institution have been kept essentially unchanged over the centuries.
It is unfortunate and regrettable that the church clings to Matthew's lone, singular, unique addition of the theological assertion "poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" and made that the central meaning of the Lord's Supper. From the Dark Ages and Middle Ages on, the church's understanding of the eucharist as for the forgiveness of sins and admission to the afterlife. Jesus means himself not again eating and drinking with his companions until he returns to earth as the Son of Man with dominion of God's new kingdom on the earth. From temple blood sacrifice of animals, the tone of sacrifice is clear in each version, but only Matthew ties it specifically to forgiveness of sins.
On every occasion in the Bible when he feeds those present, Jesus feeds all those present; at no time does Jesus ever lay down rules for who must watch but is forbidden to eat while everyone else is fed. As our bishop himself says when giving the Invitation to Communion, this is not the church's table and this is not the church's meal, this is the Lord's table and the Lord's meal. I strongly object to and actively oppose the church's erecting barriers to the Lord's Table, officially making admission to the sacrament conditional instead of an act of welcoming hospitality to all. Over the centuries the words of Jesus have become indistinguishable from the church's interpretation, words, and needs in developing its centering of authority and exercise of power through its use of the sacrament: the baptized and obedient included, the unbaptized excluded and sometimes considered damned, the disobedient excommunicated and threatened with hellfire. The church has controlled access to the sacrament with conditions including confession, penance and absolution as prerequisites. Across the Christian centuries, the church strayed from Jesus' simple gospel of Love God Love Neighbor as the essence of the kingdom, to the realm of control for power and wealth.
Many, perhaps most, may disagree with my views - - which does not bother me as a lifelong Episcopalian who grew up with a sense of freedom in what I think, see, believe, and speak. I am thankful that I'm not in a church where everyone is required or even expected to be of the same mind.
Here is today's TGBC passage, and the others that interest me because they are so closely related.
Mark 14:12-24. Preparing the Passover (70 AD?)
(Matthew 26:17–19; Luke 22:7–13)
12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”
13 So He sent two of His disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jug of waterwill meet you. Follow him, 14and whichever house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks:Where is My guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’ 15And he will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
16 So the disciples left and went into the city, where they found everything as Jesus had described. And they prepared the Passover.
The Last Supper
(Matthew 26:20–30; Luke 22:14–23; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)
17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 And while they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you who is eating with Me will betray Me.”
19 They began to be grieved and to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I?”
20 He answered, “It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping his hand f into the bowl with Me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”
23 Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”
BCP Rite One, Prayer 1
For in the night in which he was betrayed, he took bread;
and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to his
disciples, saying, "Take, eat, this is my Body, which is given
for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
Likewise, after supper, he took the cup; and when he had
given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink ye all of this;
for this is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for
you, and for many, for the remission of sins. Do this, as oft as
ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me."
BCP Rite Two, Prayer B
On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took
bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and
gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body,
which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given
thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you:
This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you
and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink
it, do this for the remembrance of me."
Enriching Our Worship, Prayer 2
Then the time came for him to complete upon the cross the sacrifice of his life, and to be glorified by you. On the night before he died for us, Jesus was at table with his friend. He took bread, gave thanks to you, broke it, and gave it to them, and said: “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
As supper was ending, Jesus took the cup of wine. Again he gave thanks to you, gave it to them, and said: “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
Cranmer, 1549 Book of Common Prayer
Heare us (O merciful father) we besech thee; and with thy holy spirite and worde, vouchsafe to blesse and sanctifie these thy gyftes, and creatures of bread and wyne, that they maie be unto us the bodye and bloude of thy moste derely beloved sonne Jesus Christe. Who in the same nyght that he was betrayed: tooke breade, and when he had blessed, and geven thankes: he brake it, and gave it to his disciples, saiyng: Take, eate, this is my bodye which is geven for you, do this in remembraunce of me.
Likewyse after supper he toke the cuppe, and when he had geven thankes, he gave it to them, saiyng: drynk ye all of this, for this is my bloude of the newe Testament, whyche is shed for you and for many, for remission of synnes: do this as oft as you shall drinke it, in remembraunce of me.
1 Corinthians 11 Sharing in the Lord’s Supper (50 AD?)
(Matthew 26:20–30; Mark 14:17–26; Luke 22:14–23)
17 In the following instructions I have no praise to offer, because your gatherings do more harm than good. 18First of all, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved.
20 Now then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat. 21 For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without sharing his meal. While one remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don’t you b 22 have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? No, I will not!
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, 24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, 25 “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
31 Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
33 So, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you come together it will not result in judgment. And when I come, I will give instructions about the remaining matters.
Matthew 26 The Last Supper (85 AD?)
(Mark 14:17–26; Luke 22:14–23; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)
20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining with the twelve disciples. 21 And while they were eating, He said to them, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”
22 They were deeply grieved and began to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”
23 Jesus answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
25 Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself.”
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”
27 Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Luke 22 The Last Supper (90 AD?)
(Matthew 26:20–30; Mark 14:17–26; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)
14 When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles. 15 And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering. 16For I tell you that I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
20 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, b which is poured out for you.
21 Look! The hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table. 22 Indeed, the Son of Man will go as it has been determined, but woe to that man who betrays Him.”
23 Then they began to question among themselves which of them was going to do this.
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Top image: "Saatchi Art is pleased to offer the painting, "The Last Supper," by Vladimir Zunuzin, available for purchase at $91,200 USD. Original Painting: Oil on canvas." I like that piece because the count of the number of people there is arguable. When Jesus says of the betrayer that he "is one of the twelve", it indicates there were other disciples there as well.
And while Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper is a famous favorite, I prefer something less pietistic and traditional:
Sotheby's. Francis Newton Souza’s ‘The Last Supper’, a reinterpretation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s late 15th-century mural, is a tour de force in the artist’s œuvre. Painted in 1990, over forty years after the artist’s entry into the world of modernist art, the canvas bestows a bold and towering gravitas upon enduring themes and ideas. In reworking one of the most recognisable images in the Western consciousness, Souza powerfully asserts his iconic and distinctive artistic style.