The Last Supper

Writing as I am on Passover of 2023, it is remarkable to think that Jesus knew this would be His last Passover meal to share with His disciples before He would die.

The disciples of course had no idea, although He told them what would happen. Judas, who would be the one to betray Him, sits at the bottom right corner, money bag in hand, and Jesus was willing to eat even with the likes of him.

Peter is pictured with the rooster, which Jesus prophesied would crow when Peter betrayed him. Knowing this, Jesus willingly shared His last meal with Peter also.

The Passover meal was a certain type of meal begun at the Great Exodus under Moses, then repeated each year as a remembrance of the people's deliverance from slavery. There were 4 different cups from which they would drink. As Jesus spoke, He first indicated the bread was a symbol of His body; then He would have raised what we call the Cup of Redemption when He proclaimed, "This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant in My blood," and instructed His disciples to drink it in remembrance of Him.

There was another cup, The Cup of the Coming Kingdom, that He said He would not drink from until the future time of the Coming Kingdom. This final cup is covered by His hand and painted to display creation with imagery of the universe, different than the other cups which would have been the red pottery common at the time.

Jesus even cared for the two disciples whose mother wanted them to sit on Jesus' right and left as they are shown here; but the only men who are recorded to be at His right and left were two unnamed thieves at His crucifixion.

I hope you enjoy this painting as much as I enjoyed painting it. You can see more information about The Last Supper in canvas giclee format directly at our Chapel Galleries site here:

https://chapelgalleries.com/collections/canvas-giclees/products/the-last-supper-giclees

Have a blessed and meaningful Easter holiday!

Thank you for reading!

Rosemarie Adcock