Origin: Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-38, John 13:1-17:26 in the Bible
Once upon a time, Jesus and His disciples were getting ready to celebrate the special holiday called Passover. Passover was a time when the Jewish people remembered how God had rescued them from slavery in Egypt long ago.
Jesus told His disciples to go into the city and find a certain man who would show them a room where they could have their Passover meal together. The disciples did as Jesus instructed, and they found the room just as He had said.
As they sat down to eat, Jesus knew that this would be His last meal with His dear friends. He wanted to teach them something very important before He had to leave them.
Jesus took a piece of bread and blessed it. Then He broke 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.”
Next, Jesus took a cup of wine and gave thanks. He passed it to His disciples, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Jesus explained that the bread represented His body, which He would soon give up for them, and the wine represented His blood, which would be poured out to forgive their sins and make them clean.
During the meal, Jesus did something unexpected. He took off His outer garment and wrapped a towel around His waist. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel.
The disciples were surprised and maybe even a little uncomfortable. They couldn’t understand why Jesus, their teacher and Lord, would do such a humble task.
But Jesus said to them, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
Jesus wanted His disciples to learn that true greatness comes from serving others with love and humility.
As they finished their meal, Jesus spoke to His disciples with a heavy heart. He told them that one of them would betray Him, and another would deny Him. But He also promised that He would always be with them in spirit.
After they sang a hymn together, Jesus and His disciples went to a garden called Gethsemane, where Jesus would soon be arrested and taken away to be crucified.
And so, children, the story of the Last Supper reminds us of Jesus’ great love for us. He willingly gave His life so that we could be forgiven and have a close relationship with God.