Last days – the Last Supper and Jesus’ betrayal, arrest and trial
The Last Supper
The Last Supper was the final meal Jesus shared with his discipleA person who follows and learns from someone else., the night before his crucifixionRoman method of execution by nailing someone to a cross, often until they die of asphyxiation; used on Jesus and many others.. During the meal, Jesus predicted that one of his disciples would betray him. At the end of the meal, Jesus broke bread and shared it with his disciples, telling them to do this in remembrance of me (Luke 22:19).
Jesus offered wine to his disciples, saying to them:
This quote shows that, through the sacrifice Jesus was about to make, a new relationship would be formed between God and humanity.
The Last Supper holds a special significance for Christians as it forms the basis of the EucharistA service celebrating the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, using elements of bread and wine., a key Christian church service.
The betrayal and arrest
After the Last Supper, Jesus was talking to some of his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas (one of Jesus’ disciples) arrived, leading the chief priests and their guards to Jesus. Jesus’ disciples wanted to defend their leader, but Jesus told them to put their swords away. Peter, Jesus’ closest disciple, cut off the ear of the High Priest’s servant. Jesus healed it and ordered that there should be no violence. He was led away to the house of the High Priest.
The trial
Jesus was put on trial by the SanhedrinThe Jewish supreme court and legislative body during the Roman period. Also the name given to a section of the Talmud.. They considered Jesus’ claims to be the son of God blasphemySpeaking about God in a sacrilegious way. and found him guilty of this charge.
The next morning, Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Pilate did not think that Jesus was guilty so he gave the assembled crowd a choice: he would release either Jesus or a Jewish freedom fighter, Barabbas. The crowd chose Barabbas to be released. This meant Jesus was to be crucified.
The soldiers mocked Jesus and placed a crown of thorns on his head. The crown of thorns represents both Jesus’ suffering and the fact that he was mocked by his persecutors.