- Jun 29, 2019
- 650
- 168
- 60
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
Was Leonardo DaVinci’s ‘The Last Supper’ a depiction of a Passover seder that Jesus partook in with his disciples?
Makes one wonder. Seems, though, that one need look no further than the Bible to determine whether or not it is.
I understand that lots of people have built up their own assertions about lots of things by combining verses of the Bible to prove or disprove things that are not commonly understood or believed. People have quoted a series of verses to assert, for instance, the exact date and time the end will be here, yet for centuries those dates have ended up falling by the wayside. In that regard, for the cynics out there, consider this as just one more such buildup, though I believe that not all such buildups are off the mark.
We know from reading Matthew 26:17-23 that Jesus had dinner with his disciples, and he was arrested later in the evening; the time being placed by Matthew 26:34, and the arrest by Matthew 26:47-50. Eventually Jesus is presented to Pontius Pilate, and then ultimately crucified. All this pretty much establishes, among other things, that this was the last time Jesus had dinner with his disciples and his betrayer while he still walked the earth.
What of the dinner itself? It was on the first night of Passover, since Verse 17 says “Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?’” What else could the dinner be, other than the seder, which is the Jewish ritual on the first night of Passover?
The dinner is portrayed at Matthew 26:26-29 in which Jesus, during the dinner, announces that one of the people at the table would betray him.
What is the importance of the Last Supper being perceived as the seder? What is the importance to those whose connection to Abraham’s inheritance would be through Jesus rather than through ancestry? The best that can be said may be that the seder is a partial description of the culture in which Lord Jesus as a man comes from. And perhaps since Lord Jesus has a connection to the same God that the Jews have, it helps to assert that what is good for a certain group of people, i.e. the Jews, is also good for the rest of mankind.
If Lord Jesus were to appear out of nowhere, would people believe his words? I believe there could be serious doubt. Just as the Pharoah didn’t believe the first few tricks that Moses conveyed, including turning water into blood, there would probably be those who would consider Jesus turning water into wine, or even resurrecting Lazarus to be some trick, unless there was a certain group of people whom Jesus grew up amongst, that believed him and became his disciples and followers.
And what of the seder itself? It is a reminder of the troubles and strife of the Hebrews in Egypt, and of God freeing them from the Pharoah and embarking them on their journey to the Promised Land. The Hebrews were the people chosen by God to establish His Following, and as a showcase for the world to see the measure of God’s good Graces and of how He loves anyone who would love Him. It is a reminder God established for the Jews, who are heavily reliant on tradition to affirm and continue their belief. Later on, God appears in the form of Jesus to expand His Following.
Would anyone outside of Egypt know of God’s Existence if the Hebrews continued to be enslaved? Probably not, which may be why God freed them. Was it necessary for God, via the Bible, to depict Lord Jesus at the seder with the disciples? There may be speculation in that regard, but as Proverbs 3:5 says to trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. And 2 Timothy 3:16 says that ALL Scripture come from God for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness, we are left to accept what the Bible says. And we can accept that God, vis Romans 8:28, had a purpose in mind for the events subsequent to The Last Supper.
Makes one wonder. Seems, though, that one need look no further than the Bible to determine whether or not it is.
I understand that lots of people have built up their own assertions about lots of things by combining verses of the Bible to prove or disprove things that are not commonly understood or believed. People have quoted a series of verses to assert, for instance, the exact date and time the end will be here, yet for centuries those dates have ended up falling by the wayside. In that regard, for the cynics out there, consider this as just one more such buildup, though I believe that not all such buildups are off the mark.
We know from reading Matthew 26:17-23 that Jesus had dinner with his disciples, and he was arrested later in the evening; the time being placed by Matthew 26:34, and the arrest by Matthew 26:47-50. Eventually Jesus is presented to Pontius Pilate, and then ultimately crucified. All this pretty much establishes, among other things, that this was the last time Jesus had dinner with his disciples and his betrayer while he still walked the earth.
What of the dinner itself? It was on the first night of Passover, since Verse 17 says “Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?’” What else could the dinner be, other than the seder, which is the Jewish ritual on the first night of Passover?
The dinner is portrayed at Matthew 26:26-29 in which Jesus, during the dinner, announces that one of the people at the table would betray him.
What is the importance of the Last Supper being perceived as the seder? What is the importance to those whose connection to Abraham’s inheritance would be through Jesus rather than through ancestry? The best that can be said may be that the seder is a partial description of the culture in which Lord Jesus as a man comes from. And perhaps since Lord Jesus has a connection to the same God that the Jews have, it helps to assert that what is good for a certain group of people, i.e. the Jews, is also good for the rest of mankind.
If Lord Jesus were to appear out of nowhere, would people believe his words? I believe there could be serious doubt. Just as the Pharoah didn’t believe the first few tricks that Moses conveyed, including turning water into blood, there would probably be those who would consider Jesus turning water into wine, or even resurrecting Lazarus to be some trick, unless there was a certain group of people whom Jesus grew up amongst, that believed him and became his disciples and followers.
And what of the seder itself? It is a reminder of the troubles and strife of the Hebrews in Egypt, and of God freeing them from the Pharoah and embarking them on their journey to the Promised Land. The Hebrews were the people chosen by God to establish His Following, and as a showcase for the world to see the measure of God’s good Graces and of how He loves anyone who would love Him. It is a reminder God established for the Jews, who are heavily reliant on tradition to affirm and continue their belief. Later on, God appears in the form of Jesus to expand His Following.
Would anyone outside of Egypt know of God’s Existence if the Hebrews continued to be enslaved? Probably not, which may be why God freed them. Was it necessary for God, via the Bible, to depict Lord Jesus at the seder with the disciples? There may be speculation in that regard, but as Proverbs 3:5 says to trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. And 2 Timothy 3:16 says that ALL Scripture come from God for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness, we are left to accept what the Bible says. And we can accept that God, vis Romans 8:28, had a purpose in mind for the events subsequent to The Last Supper.
Last edited:
