The Passover meal is a commemoration of Israel’s liberation from slavery in Egypt, structured around the four promises of redemption, each symbolized by a cup of wine and including the Paschal Lamb and Matzah (unleavened bread). The Last Supper was Jesus’ reinterpretation of this Seder, where he took the Matzah and the Third Cup (the Cup of Redemption) to institute the Eucharist, symbolizing his body and blood that establish the New Covenant. In Catholic teaching, the Eucharist makes this redemption present today, while Jesus’ vow to omit the Fourth Cup (the Cup of Praise) until he drinks it “new in the kingdom of God” signifies that the ultimate and final fulfillment of the feast—the Messianic Banquet—is reserved for Heaven.
The Jews have not eaten the Passover meal since 70AD. They do not sacrifice a lamb, as there is no temple, but place a meatless bone on the Passover plate, which obviously fails to fulfill the requirements of the Passover meal. Jesus, literally, took away the sign that represented Him, “the Lamb of God”.
It’s interesting to note that the Jews celebrate with four cups of wine at the Passover to commemorate the four promises God made in Exodus 6:6-8:
“Therefore say to the children of Israel: I am the Lord who (1) will bring you out from the work prison of the Egyptians, and (2) will deliver you from bondage: and (3) redeem you with a high arm, and great judgments. And (4) I will take you to myself for my people, I will be your God”: and you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brought you out from the work prison of the Egyptians. And brought you into the land, concerning which I lifted up my hand to give it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and I will give it you to possess, I am the Lord.”
The Gospels tell us that Jesus instituted the Eucharist after they had eaten.
“In like manner the chalice also, after he had supped…” (Luke 22:20)
Jewish tradition tells us that the third cup of wine would have been drunk at that time. So, it is possible that Jesus took what the Apostles knew to be the cup commemorating God’s promise of redemption to be the cup of the Eucharist. So, taking the cup of redemption and saying, “This [cup]
“This is the chalice, the new testament in my blood, which shall be shed for you.”
So, from the original Passover meal, Christ took only two elements: (1) the unleavened bread and (2) the cup of redemption to be the signs by which His redemption in the New Covenant would be commemorated, replacing the Passover meal with the Eucharist.
One more interesting point. There is no mention of the drinking of the fourth cup of wine at the Last Supper. In fact, Jesus makes this clear, saying:
“Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14:25)
Thus, the first two cups are eliminated, the third cup is set as the wine of the Eucharist, and the fourth cup appears to await us in heaven.
To be fair, I don’t know if this is sound because it relies on Jewish tradition respecting the Passover feast. I feel, however, that it makes sense of some elements of the Last Supper which otherwise seem quite random.
It’s interesting to see how Fra. Angelico painted the Last Supper around 1400 AD (see here) to clearly resemble the Eucharist.
WCM
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