Paul's
First Epistle to the Corinthians
is the earliest serving mention of the Last Supper. It is later
described in more detail in the Synoptic Gospels, and in the Gospel
of John (which, however, omits the institution of the Eucharistic
use of the bread and wine).
Christ instituted the Holy
Eucharist in this way: He took bread, blessed and broke it, and
giving it to His apostles, said: "Take and eat; this is My body;"
then He took a cup of wine, blessed it, and giving it to them, said:
"All of you drink of this; for this is My blood of the new covenant
which is being shed for many unto the forgiveness of sins;" finally,
He gave His apostles the commission: "Do this in remembrance of Me."
The
Gospel of John
recounts, instead of the institution of this new covenant with wine
and bread, Jesus' washing of the disciples' feet,
and also depicts Jesus as speaking at length in his farewell
discourse. In John, the Last Supper takes place on the night before
Passover, when the sacrificial lambs were slaughtered.
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