The Real Last Supper

I originally composed this as part of my work The Gospel of Jesus Chrestos according to Chuck, but then realized that to be consistent with what I have said elsewhere, I needed to redact it out since in that context it did not belong.  Essentially, the ‘Pericope of the Last Supper’ became part of the gospel story in response to the abuses such as those Paul talks about in Corinth, and also under the clear influence of the Hellenistic mystery cults (of Mithras in particular).

However, since I had already composed it, and because the myth has such a firm hold on the imagination of Christians across the world, I am now presenting the story separately.

When the hour had come, Jesus sat down with the disciples.  He received a cup, and gave thanks, saying, ‘Blessed be Yahweh our God, King of the Universe, who has kept us alive and preserved us and enabled us to reach this season’.  And the disciples replied, ‘Amen’.

Then he raised the cup, saying, ‘Blessed be Yahweh our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine’.  And the disciples replied, ‘Amen’.

He then said, ‘Take this, and share it among yourselves, for I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until kingdom of God comes’.

When they had finished, he took bread, and gave thanks, saying, ‘Blessed be Yahweh our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth’.  And the disciples replied, ‘Amen’.

Then he broke it, saying, ‘As this broken bread was scattered upon the mountains but was brought together and became one, so let your Israel be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom’, and gave it to them.

Likewise, he took the cup after supper, and gave thanks, saying, ‘Blessed be Yahweh our God, King of the Universe, who sustains the entire universe with his goodness, grace, and mercy.  We give thanks to you, Yahweh our God,  that you prepared for our fathers a good land and brought us out of Egypt, and gave to us the Covenant, Torah, and all the food we could want.  Yahweh our God, have mercy upon Israel your people, upon Jerusalem your city, and upon that house that is called by your Name.  May you restore the kingdom of the house of David your Messiah to its rightful place’.  And the disciples replied, ‘Amen’.

‘May he who makes peace in the celestial heights create peace for us and for all Israel’.  And the disciples replied, ‘Amen’.

He lifted up the cup and said, ‘Blessed be Yahweh our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine’.  And the disciples replied, ‘Amen’.

He then gave it to them, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood’.

When they had finished it, he prayed, ‘Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world which he has created according to his will.  May he establish his kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the lifetime of the entire house of Israel, speedily and soon’.  And the disciples replied, ‘Amen’.