The distinction between the Lord's Supper and the Last supper
The Eucharist is the
symbolic or consecrated bread and wine eaten and drunk during the ceremony of
Communion by many Christian churches. In a ritualized form, this meal has
become a sacrament of many Christian churches, considered to have been
established by Jesus Christ to bring grace to those participating in or
receiving it. The Eucharist, from the perspective of these Christian churches
is also known as the Lord's Supper. Traditionally, Jesus' command to his
disciples at the Last Supper to eat the bread and drink the wine “in remembrance
of me” constitutes the institution of the Eucharist. This thesis however, does
not focus on the shadowy rites and tradition of contemporary churches, rather
its preoccupied concern is to make known to the spiritual class, the true
meaning and significance of the Last supper and the distinction between the
Lord's supper and the Last supper.
The Eucharist, from the spiritual perspective is only a shadow of good things to come. It does not exhibit the truth; neither does it reveal divine intention, which is the very image of things to come. Hebrew 10:1. The word, 'supper' as used here is not a meal eaten in the evening, rather it is a session, where the spiritual teachings and lifestyle of a spiritual adept is being passed on to spiritual aspirants in forms of doctrines. The reason for the term, 'supper' is because these teachings come at the close (evening) of the soul life of these spiritual adepts. Revelation 19:9; and he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which is called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. The marriage supper of the Lamb is the knitting of the human soul with heavenly realities. We can denote from this scriptural verse that the marriage supper of the lamb is the teachings of the unadulterated words of God, 'these are the true sayings of God'. The phrase, 'Lord's Supper' is not the same as the phrase, 'Last Supper'. The distinction between these two phrases is very important and should be noted. The discrimination between these two suppers requires an exercise of divine judgment; and an identification of the subtle differences from the spiritual perspective. The acknowledgement of the validity of the existential difference between these two suppers is an essential key which opens the door to spiritual illumination and practice. The term, 'Last Supper' connotes that there had been many Suppers of the Lord prior to the Last one.
The Lord's Supper alludes to
the teachings of Jesus publicly with or without his disciples. Isaiah
60:1; Luke 4:18; the Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because he hath anointed
me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken
hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and the opening of prison to
them that are bound, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the
acceptable year of the Lord. Through his teachings, Jesus converted
listeners to disciples. In discipleship, they were spiritual seedlings that
needed great nourishment and nursing; through training, they began to grow
gradually in spiritual knowledge and practice. The spiritually lowly, the
wounded, the lame and the blind, mostly sat at the feet of Jesus to listen to
his teachings, and some were converted as disciples.
Luke 14:12-14; Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours, lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. Dinner or Supper as used in this scriptural excerpt alludes to teaching sessions. To paraphrase, this statement may mean: Then said he also to him that bade him, When you organize a teaching session, call not your friends (equals), nor thy brethren (like-minds, who understand your teachings), neither thy kinsmen (those with whom you are spiritually bond), nor thy rich neighbours (spiritual adepts -- highly skilled and proficient in spiritual knowledge and practice), lest they ask you also to attend their teaching sessions. But when you organize a teaching session, call the spiritually poor (with flawed or deficient understanding of the scriptures), the maimed (who has a distorted and biased understanding of the scriptures), the lamed (inept and unskilled) and the blind (ignorant), because these people cannot teach you, but you shall be rewarded at the resurrection of the just (as the bright and morning star; and as a celestial baby in a celestial body, you'll also need to be taught). Practically, what this scriptural excerpt is saying is that, it is needless for many spiritual adept to be present in one teaching sessions. It is through these teaching sessions that disciples are made. These disciples may someday become spiritual adepts: skilled and proficient in Spiritual knowledge and practice, thereby starting their own teaching sessions and converting their listeners to disciples. The ardent among these disciples mostly were fishers (seekers) of the truth. Jesus, who hunted for these fishers (seekers) of truth said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" Matthew 4:19; in others words, "I will make you a hunter like myself". Jeremiah 16:16; Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them (spiritual information); and after will I send for my hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. We'll recall that the disciples also converted thousands after the exit of Jesus. Acts 5: 14; And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.
Luke 14:12-14; Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours, lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. Dinner or Supper as used in this scriptural excerpt alludes to teaching sessions. To paraphrase, this statement may mean: Then said he also to him that bade him, When you organize a teaching session, call not your friends (equals), nor thy brethren (like-minds, who understand your teachings), neither thy kinsmen (those with whom you are spiritually bond), nor thy rich neighbours (spiritual adepts -- highly skilled and proficient in spiritual knowledge and practice), lest they ask you also to attend their teaching sessions. But when you organize a teaching session, call the spiritually poor (with flawed or deficient understanding of the scriptures), the maimed (who has a distorted and biased understanding of the scriptures), the lamed (inept and unskilled) and the blind (ignorant), because these people cannot teach you, but you shall be rewarded at the resurrection of the just (as the bright and morning star; and as a celestial baby in a celestial body, you'll also need to be taught). Practically, what this scriptural excerpt is saying is that, it is needless for many spiritual adept to be present in one teaching sessions. It is through these teaching sessions that disciples are made. These disciples may someday become spiritual adepts: skilled and proficient in Spiritual knowledge and practice, thereby starting their own teaching sessions and converting their listeners to disciples. The ardent among these disciples mostly were fishers (seekers) of the truth. Jesus, who hunted for these fishers (seekers) of truth said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" Matthew 4:19; in others words, "I will make you a hunter like myself". Jeremiah 16:16; Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them (spiritual information); and after will I send for my hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. We'll recall that the disciples also converted thousands after the exit of Jesus. Acts 5: 14; And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.
The last supper is the last
of all suppers. The Last supper is the unveiling of the mysteries of divine
doctrines (bread) and the practical lifestyle (blood) of the Christ. To his
disciples, Jesus broke the unleavened bread; he dissected divine doctrines or
spoke the mysteries of the spirit in plain language. He further introduced
them to the mystery of the blood (cup of the New Testament), which is the practical
lifestyle of the Christ, and urged them to take up this practical lifestyle
consciously, in remembrance (or acknowledgement) of who the Christ really is. Matthew
26:26-28; And as they were eating, Jesus took bread (doctrines of the Christed
ones), and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said,
Take, eat; this is my body (or my doctrines). And he took the cup (practices
and lifestyle of the Christ), and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying,
Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood (practical life) of the new testament,
which is shed for many for the remission of sins (ignorance of the Father’s
will).
When Zebedee’s children and their mother came to Jesus seeking positions in his kingdom, Jesus answered them and said, “Ye do not know what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” To paraphrase, this statement may mean: You do not know what you ask. Are you able to live the practical life of the Christ and are you willing to be initiated into the mysteries of the doctrines of the body (or members) of Christ. The Last supper is the spiritual initiation or baptism into the Will and requirement of the heavenly Father of man. The blood (practices) of the Old Testament is the Adamic and carnal life. In embracing the doctrines of the body or members of Christ, which is the bread of life; and drinking the blood of the new testament, which is the practical lifestyle of the Christ, we are putting on the new man, the Christ life, which is an antidote for our sinful (or ignorant) nature. 1 Corinthians 15:22,45; For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive; and so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
When the true mysteries of the broken bread (divine doctrines) unveils before us, and we are willing to drink of the cup of the new covenant, which means walking practically in the light of the knowledge of divine mysteries, we have eaten the last of all suppers. The disciples who were present at the Last supper with Jesus were those who followed Jesus throughout his ministry, and were not offended by his teachings prior to the last one. These are those who believe that Jesus is the Christ. John 6:60-69; Many therefore of his disciples, when they heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if you see the son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. And said Jesus unto the twelve, Will you also go away? Then Simeon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Unlike the others, the eleven disciples who received the last supper were firmly rooted in the teachings of Jesus. According to the gospel of John, Judas Iscariot was not present when Jesus began to speak the deep mysteries of the spirit in plain language; hence he was not a participant of the last Supper. John 13:30; He then having received the sop (minor teaching; or of no value as compared to the principal teaching) went immediately out: and it was night.
The gospel of John unlike the three gospels before it, captures the last supper without the symbolic rites and tradition as observed by the Christian Churches today, rather it exposes to spiritual aspirants (who already have a deep root in spiritual knowledge and practices); the Will and Requirement of the Father of man from the perspective of the first and second great commandment. John 16:25,29-30; These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs; but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father; (after a while) his disciples said unto him, Lo, now speaketh thou plainly, and speaketh no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knoweth all things, and needeth not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou cometh forth from God. There is no other supper to be eaten henceforth, after the last supper. The Last supper was the graduation ceremony for the eleven disciples. When Jesus exposed in plain words, kingdom mysteries to the disciples, he said to them, "You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends (co-equals); for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known to you". John 15:14-15. Prior to this time, he said to his disciples, "Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration (rebirth) when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory (as the bright morning star), ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones (pillars of the body of Christ), judging (discerning with understanding) the twelve tribes (or tenets) of Israel (the spiritual family) Matthew 19:28. To paraphrase, this statement may mean: Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the rebirth when the Son of man shall ascend consciously into the celestial family as the bright and morning star, ye also shall be conscious of the doctrines and practices of the Christed ones, judging and discerning with understanding the twelve tenets of the spiritual family.
Revelation 17:7; 12:11; For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto the living fountains of water (word of God): and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood (practices and lifestyle) of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony (doctrines of the Christ), and they love not their lives unto the death. As Christians, we should continue to eat at the Lord's Table until we are strong enough in the Spirit to participate worthily at the Last supper. Judas, still struggling with moral decency could only receive the sop, yet, it resulted in a condemnation for him; how much more, the eating of the Last supper. The condemnation of Judas warns us not to continue in the fellowship and communion of the Spirit unworthily. A morally deficient man should not embrace the practices of the Spirit, if he does, it will earn him condemnation like Judas Iscariot. The embracement of spiritual practices unworthily tends towards gainsaying; we'll recall that Judas shifted allegiance to the camp of the high priests for thirty pieces of silver, an act of betrayal. The condemnation lies in hearing of the teachings of Christ and refusing to embrace it: John 15:22; If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. Rather than examining these teachings in the light of the truth, the unrepentant contradict and oppose these teachings.
When divine doctrines are unveiled by spiritual adepts, one is expected to show a willing embracement and a readiness to walk in the light of the truth; else such a one will fall sick spiritually and die. 1 Corinthians 11:27- 30; Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread (doctrines of Christ), and drink this cup (of the practical life) of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body (doctrines of Christ) and blood (practical life) of the Lord. But let a man (thoroughly) examine himself, and (only when he had done) so let him eat of that bread (doctrines), and drink of that cup (by embracing that lifestyle). For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body (doctrines). For this cause many are weak (spiritually) and sickly among you, and many sleep (die spiritually). The doctrines of the Christ and the practices and life style of Jesus can be properly understood from the perspective of the First and Second Great Commandment.
When Zebedee’s children and their mother came to Jesus seeking positions in his kingdom, Jesus answered them and said, “Ye do not know what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” To paraphrase, this statement may mean: You do not know what you ask. Are you able to live the practical life of the Christ and are you willing to be initiated into the mysteries of the doctrines of the body (or members) of Christ. The Last supper is the spiritual initiation or baptism into the Will and requirement of the heavenly Father of man. The blood (practices) of the Old Testament is the Adamic and carnal life. In embracing the doctrines of the body or members of Christ, which is the bread of life; and drinking the blood of the new testament, which is the practical lifestyle of the Christ, we are putting on the new man, the Christ life, which is an antidote for our sinful (or ignorant) nature. 1 Corinthians 15:22,45; For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive; and so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
When the true mysteries of the broken bread (divine doctrines) unveils before us, and we are willing to drink of the cup of the new covenant, which means walking practically in the light of the knowledge of divine mysteries, we have eaten the last of all suppers. The disciples who were present at the Last supper with Jesus were those who followed Jesus throughout his ministry, and were not offended by his teachings prior to the last one. These are those who believe that Jesus is the Christ. John 6:60-69; Many therefore of his disciples, when they heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if you see the son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. And said Jesus unto the twelve, Will you also go away? Then Simeon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Unlike the others, the eleven disciples who received the last supper were firmly rooted in the teachings of Jesus. According to the gospel of John, Judas Iscariot was not present when Jesus began to speak the deep mysteries of the spirit in plain language; hence he was not a participant of the last Supper. John 13:30; He then having received the sop (minor teaching; or of no value as compared to the principal teaching) went immediately out: and it was night.
The gospel of John unlike the three gospels before it, captures the last supper without the symbolic rites and tradition as observed by the Christian Churches today, rather it exposes to spiritual aspirants (who already have a deep root in spiritual knowledge and practices); the Will and Requirement of the Father of man from the perspective of the first and second great commandment. John 16:25,29-30; These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs; but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father; (after a while) his disciples said unto him, Lo, now speaketh thou plainly, and speaketh no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knoweth all things, and needeth not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou cometh forth from God. There is no other supper to be eaten henceforth, after the last supper. The Last supper was the graduation ceremony for the eleven disciples. When Jesus exposed in plain words, kingdom mysteries to the disciples, he said to them, "You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends (co-equals); for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known to you". John 15:14-15. Prior to this time, he said to his disciples, "Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration (rebirth) when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory (as the bright morning star), ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones (pillars of the body of Christ), judging (discerning with understanding) the twelve tribes (or tenets) of Israel (the spiritual family) Matthew 19:28. To paraphrase, this statement may mean: Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the rebirth when the Son of man shall ascend consciously into the celestial family as the bright and morning star, ye also shall be conscious of the doctrines and practices of the Christed ones, judging and discerning with understanding the twelve tenets of the spiritual family.
Revelation 17:7; 12:11; For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto the living fountains of water (word of God): and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood (practices and lifestyle) of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony (doctrines of the Christ), and they love not their lives unto the death. As Christians, we should continue to eat at the Lord's Table until we are strong enough in the Spirit to participate worthily at the Last supper. Judas, still struggling with moral decency could only receive the sop, yet, it resulted in a condemnation for him; how much more, the eating of the Last supper. The condemnation of Judas warns us not to continue in the fellowship and communion of the Spirit unworthily. A morally deficient man should not embrace the practices of the Spirit, if he does, it will earn him condemnation like Judas Iscariot. The embracement of spiritual practices unworthily tends towards gainsaying; we'll recall that Judas shifted allegiance to the camp of the high priests for thirty pieces of silver, an act of betrayal. The condemnation lies in hearing of the teachings of Christ and refusing to embrace it: John 15:22; If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. Rather than examining these teachings in the light of the truth, the unrepentant contradict and oppose these teachings.
When divine doctrines are unveiled by spiritual adepts, one is expected to show a willing embracement and a readiness to walk in the light of the truth; else such a one will fall sick spiritually and die. 1 Corinthians 11:27- 30; Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread (doctrines of Christ), and drink this cup (of the practical life) of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body (doctrines of Christ) and blood (practical life) of the Lord. But let a man (thoroughly) examine himself, and (only when he had done) so let him eat of that bread (doctrines), and drink of that cup (by embracing that lifestyle). For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body (doctrines). For this cause many are weak (spiritually) and sickly among you, and many sleep (die spiritually). The doctrines of the Christ and the practices and life style of Jesus can be properly understood from the perspective of the First and Second Great Commandment.
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