Writings to promote concord
Fr Seder to H. Communion
From Seder to Holy Communion -
How many were with Jesus at his Last Supper?
Some
scholars say Jesus’ Last Supper was not a Passover Seder. There are
scholars that say the early church gradually created the Eucharist from
an early pot luck fellowship dinner. That could be considered to be
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. However it is such a radical
change, there is no room for gradual development. The Seder change to
the Eucharist and the change from Sabbath worship to the first day of
the week require deliberate decisive action. Both involve abandonment of
the revealed word of God’s command, Torah, and the establishment of
something else in its place.
Pious
people of God do not on their own volition reject God’s command and
invent something new. Jesus’ disciples, in order to be faithful, had to
maintain what Jesus taught. All twelve had to agree or there would have
been conflict. Acts 15 records the first Jerusalem council. It was
serious consideration of a much more minor matter that was an extension
of revealed principles.
The
discussion of the Seder change often mentions Jesus’ last meal was on
Thursday. The lambs for the Passover were killed on Friday before the
Seder. Jesus himself was killed on Friday as the Passover Lamb. However
the historical record states lambs were killed on Thursday and Friday.
Various reasons are given and some accounts are from many years later.
The fact they exist does prove that there was a remembrance of the two
day practice. It is known that the Essene teaching and practice was to
celebrate the Seder the day before the rest of Israel. Jesus’s Last
Supper was on the Essene Seder.
Does
this prove Jesus was Essene? Perhaps Jesus observed the Passover on the
normal day in the prior years. This year He told them to prepare on
Thursday. They knew this was to be exceptional. His followers were
filled with anticipation. Many thought Jesus was going to reveal Himself
as the Messiah and bring in the Messianic age. Everything about this
Passover meal was exceptional. The normal practice was to celebrate in
family groups, those without families were mixed in. Jesus’ followers
were either at the olive press, Gethsemane, the base of the Mount of
Olives, or at the top of the hill at Lazarus’ home in Bethany.
Jerusalem
was overflowing with pilgrims from all the diaspora for the Passover.
Those who traveled together from a town or synagog would camp and eat in
close association. Most expected to sit on the floor in a circle around
the common bowls. That is how they ate at home, all had to be in reach
of the food.Ten people make a circle less than eight feet in diameter.
Hundreds would fit in the large upper room.
Jesus
broke the normal practice for this Seder. He ate with His chosen twelve
disciples. That meant they could not eat with their families. Should we
suppose that the twelve left their families behind and went off by
themselves? That would have been a horrible violation of social mores.
Everyone came along, otherwise Jesus would have been publicly crude and
selfish. What great man proclaiming love among his followers could do
otherwise? Just because the Gospels do not mention them is no proof that
all the rest were not there. Lazarus, Mary, Martha and their families,
Jesus mother Mary, Clopas and his wife Mary, Matthias and Joseph
Barsabba, Mary Magdalene. What about those He healed? Do you think
Jairus whose daughter had been raised would have sought Jesus out? Would
Zaccheaus have gone somewhere else? Counting the known followers of
Jesus, adding family members quickly leads to a figure over 250. The
only ones missing would have had social obligations that kept them away.
Joseph of Aramathia and Nicodemus were members of the Sanhedrin. Luke
lists Joan'na, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, Susanna, and many
other socially prominent women. The Centurion, whose servant was healed,
may have been out of place. The Picture of the Last Supper is changed
from the Twelve at table to close to 300 sitting in circles on the
floor. The second image is much closer to the truth.
The
upper room was prepared for passover and available. Unbelievable! Every
space for miles around was packed tight, roofs, every bare patch of
ground covered with campsites. How could a room have been available,
much less a room prepared for passover celebration? Distant synagogs,
Alexandria, Antioch, Babylon, had guest houses for their members when
they came to Jerusalem. There were a reported 500 of such guest houses
in Jerusalem. The Torah mandated all Israelites come to the Temple for
three festivals a year. In between the festivals those places were for
students and travelers from their community. It was not just the upper
room that was prepared and empty. The whole large house was ready for a
large contingent and equipped to prepare their feast. Jesus’ followers
would have prepared nearly 30 lambs. That was not a major task when
scattered at many camp sites but requires an establishment with great
facilities. Records state between 200,000 and 250,000 lambs where
sacrificed for Passover in the years before the Temple was destroyed.
Perhaps
the pilgrims had a problem, the rabbi fell and was injured, slowing
their travel. A messenger was sent to inform the people at the house.
Jesus told the disciples they would meet a man carrying water, who would
lead them to the house. That still does not explain why the steward
would permit them to use the building, unless, he realized this was by
divine intervention. He might have sent the man for water, anticipating
their immanent arrival. Then another messenger came saying they were
further delayed until the next day. If it was a house for Essenes, they
would have been forced to celebrate Passover where they stopped and not
at the house. It was custom, not law, that the lamb was sacrificed at
the Temple. The steward of the house, the disciples, recognized a
miracle. Jesus knew this house was available before the steward of the
house knew.
Having
a reason for the time and place of Jesus’ final meal does not explain
how that became the weekly Sunday Eucharist celebration of bread and
wine. The Decalog mandates Sabbath worship. How can the obedient
faithful decide to break that commandment to worship on Sunday? Only the
one they knew as the Son of God, Lord, Messiah - Christ, could have the
authority to change God’s Torah - Law. Just because Jesus rose from the
grave on Sunday is not authority for them to make that change, without
His clear command.
Jesus
walked with Clopas/Cleopas on the way to Emmaus. His wife Mary is
called the sister of Mary, Jesus’ mother. The best understanding is that
Clopas was Mary’s husband Joseph’s brother. Clopas’ son Simeon became
the second Bishop of the Jerusalem church. Probably Clopas' whole family
were present when Jesus revealed himself in the breaking of bread. They
hurried back to tell the news and were present when Jesus appeared
again.
Very
little is recorded. Could it be that the Sunday evening group had been
praying? They might have been following the familiar synagog liturgy and
then shared a snack? Bread and wine? Did someone remind them that when
they shared bread and wine Jesus commanded at His last supper with them,
they were to share the bread as His body and wine as His blood. They
might have joined in the prayer Jesus taught them. As they were
remembering Him, did they feel His presence and realize He was standing
in their midst? Actually not mere imagination. Could He have said
something to remind them He was present when they shared the bread and
wine, remembering, celebrating the day He rose?
The
following Sunday more were present. Were they again following the
synagog liturgy, concluding with the bread and wine as He commanded
them? Had He told them to meet on Sundays, and He would be with them in
the bread and wine? Again Jesus appeared and spoke with them. It is only
the clear command of the Master that could change God’s decalog
commanded day of worship. The new covenant, the new creation, the new
messianic age had begun. The annual elaborate Seder dinner of the first
covenant becomes the weekly sharing of bread and wine.
Was
it on Sunday, Jesus appeared on the mount in Galilee to more than 500?
Did they worship following the synagog service and then share the bread
and wine? It was on Sunday that the Holy Spirit was poured out on them
all. Had they been praying the liturgy, sharing the bread and wine? The
worship of the Christian Church ever since is based on the synagog
Service of the Word followed by the Service of the Eucharist. I think
that only could have occurred by the clear direction of the Lord of the
Church, Himself.
See my web site for more. http://thesignofconcord.com Posted there are chapters from a Life of Christ that has footnotes, links, to historical documentation
Stephen H. Funck April 16, 2014
Email ConcordDove@mac.com
Email ConcordDove@mac.com
