The Last Supper: A DIY Guide
The Last Supper is a significant event in Christianity, marking the final meal that Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion. It has been immortalized in countless works of art and remains an important moment of reflection for Christians around the world. In this post, we will provide a DIY guide to hosting your own Last Supper.
Before getting started, it’s important to note that the Last Supper was a Jewish Passover meal. As such, the items on the table and their placement hold symbolic significance. While you can choose to follow a traditional Passover Seder, we’ve put together a simpler version that still honors the spirit of the occasion.
Setting The Table
To begin with, set up your dining area as though it were Jesus’ last supper room. This means laying out low tables and cushions instead of chairs for seating arrangements. Cover each table with white or cream linen cloths and place pillows around them for comfortable seating arrangements.
The Place Settings
Each place setting should consist of three plates stacked on top of one another – one large plate at the bottom followed by two smaller ones on top (or alternatively stacked within each other). This symbolizes how food was served during ancient times when people would use bread as plates.
On top of these plates, place small bowls or dishes filled with bitter herbs like horseradish or parsley representing tears shed over slavery which remind us about our deliverance from bondage in Egypt; saltwater representing tears; haroset –a mixture made from apples, nuts and wine- represents mortar used by Jews when they were slaves in Egypt; roasted lamb shank bone reminding us about God’s commandment to sacrifice lambs so that Israelites could escape death during plague sent by God over Egyptians.
Next to these dishes add unleavened bread – Matzah (also known as “the bread without yeast”) – which symbolizes the haste with which Jews left Egypt and started their journey towards the Promised Land. Finally, add a cup of wine or grape juice for each guest. You could decorate these cups with special symbols such as crosses or doves to give them a touch of personalization.
The Meal
As you sit down to eat, begin by reciting prayers that honor God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. This is called Kadesh – one of four steps in Passover Seder. After this, break Matzah into small pieces and have it passed around among your guests so they can dip it into bitter herbs mixture (maror). As per tradition, each person should taste bitterness of slavery but also remember God’s mercy.
Next up is Maggid – retelling story about Exodus from Egypt and how God redeemed Jews from slavery. You can read passages from scripture or share stories about what redemption means to you personally.
After Maggid comes Rachtzah where guests wash their hands as a symbolic gesture of cleansing themselves before consuming food (in ancient times people would have washed their feet too).
Once everyone has had an opportunity to clean their hands, distribute roasted lamb shank bones on plates amongst guests reminding us about sacrificial lambs used by Jews during plagues sent by God over Egyptians.
This will be followed by Motzi-Matzah when bread is eaten while blessing over it is said thanking Lord for providing sustenance throughout our lives even when we were slaves in Egypt.
Finally comes Tzafun- when dessert made out of Matzah and Haroset i.e., Afikoman is served.
Drinks are then poured again as third cup represents redemption which reminds us how much we need God in our life especially during tough times
Barekh – Saying grace after meal
After eating dessert, say “Grace after meals” also known as Barekh thanking Lord for giving us food and for all the blessings we have received.
Conclusion
Hosting your own Last Supper can be a meaningful way to connect with the Christian faith and honor Jesus’ final meal. Whether you choose to follow traditional Passover Seder or opt for a simpler version, it’s important to remember that this is about more than just the food on the table – it’s an opportunity to reflect on God’s love, grace and mercy in our lives. We hope that this DIY guide has been helpful in bringing you closer to understanding the significance of The Last Supper.