Mark 14: 22 25 The Last Supper
Target year level: Year One
Scripture text
Mark 14:22-25
Introduction
The Passion Narrative (Mark 14:1-15:47) gives an account of the suffering and death of Jesus and is the location for Mark 14:22-25. In the context of a Jewish Passover meal with his disciples, Jesus takes and shares bread and wine, his body and blood with his disciples. The preceding section The Jerusalem Ministry (Mark 11:1 – 13:37) foreshadows the passion narrative and communicates a sense of foreboding. The final section The Resurrection Narrative (Mark 16:1-8) and the later addition (Mark 16:9-20) shows that suffering and death is overcome by Jesus’ Resurrection.
The setting for Mark 14:22-25 is Jerusalem, the symbolic, religious and cultural centre of Judaism. The Eucharist, the centre of the Catholic Christian tradition, draws on and is in continuity with the Jewish Passover tradition but gives it additional meaning and significance in the light of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - the Paschal Mystery. (For further information see the Teacher Background material on Who Wrote the Gospels and When?)
World behind the text
In the New Testament period, the early followers of Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles, would gather in domestic dwellings for fellowship and celebration of Eucharist, often in the context of a communal meal.
For further information on Christians gathering for Eucharist and fellowship in the New Testament era, see House Churches in the New Testament.
There are references to Christians gathering for Eucharist in New Testament texts other than Mark. An account of the institution of the Eucharist, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, is embedded in the text 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. The author, the apostle Paul, gives instructions and expresses concern regarding the celebration of the Eucharist in the churches of Corinth. 1 Corinthians is usually dated 53—57 CE and may have been known to Mark when he came to write his Gospel around 66-70 CE. For further information see Eucharist in the New Testament Churches.
World of the text
Scholars have associated Jesus' Last Supper, as described in Mark 14:22-25, with three Jewish meal practices:
Exodus 24:3-11 gives an account of a sacrificial ritual carried out under the instruction of Moses in the context of ratifying the Covenant between the People of Israel and Yahweh, their God. Christian scholars link this event to the celebration of Eucharist. Mark 14: 22-25 both includes and extends the meaning of this sacrificial ritual of the Old Covenant.
For Mark, and for Christians, the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ mean that the Eucharist is an expression of the New Covenant with God in Jesus Christ. God’s Covenant with the People of Israel remains valid but for Christians, the Paschal Mystery (the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ) brings God’s Covenant with the People of Israel to its fullness.
For further reflections on Mark 14: 22-25 go to Michael Fallon Commentary Mark 14:1 -15:39. (pdf)
World in front of the text
When Mark 14:22-25 is studied in the light of the information above, its contemporary relevance would include:
- It strongly connects and provides an impetus to dialogue between the Jewish and the Christian faith traditions
- It orients the Christian community towards the celebration of Eucharist as a core expression of Christian identity
- It reminds contemporary Christians of their debt to the Jewish tradition in many ways, but in particular in informing Christian practice and understanding of Eucharist
- It reminds contemporary Christians of the simplicity and intimacy of Eucharist and Christian community in the New Testament era
- It underlines the value of small Christian groups coming together for worship, fellowship and service.