Final Sequence of Events at the Last Supper

The Final Sequence of Events at the Last Supper

Question: Dear Dr. Roane, Was the Last Supper a Seder meal or not?

Answer: The answer is, "Yes" and "No." Yes, in the sense that it replaced the Old Covenant Passover Meal with "as oft as you do (1 Corinthians 11:25)" as far as time goes, and different places as for as Jerusalem is concerned (See Malachi 11:1); further you will notice that Christ is the Lamb provided for the Last Supper, not a real lamb in the traditional sense. You will also notice that Jesus was on the Cross when the sacrificial lamb was offered— 

thus there is no way for Him to be physical present at the Lord's Supper and be sacrificed at the same time..

Below are scriptures that will help guide you through the sequence:

1. Judas went to the Chief priests to betray Jesus for money (Matt. 26:14; Mark 14:10; Luke 23:2-6).
2. The disciples all ate at least the initial part of the Passover Supper (Mark 14:17; Luke 22:14).
3. After the initial part of the Passover Supper was ended, the devil puts it in Judas' heart to betray Jesus; Jesus washes all their feet (John 13:2-11).
4. They were told that they were not all clean, a clear reference to Judas. (John 13:11).
5. All, or a few of them, sat back down at the table to dip sops. (John 13:12, 28).
6. The disciples are then told that one of them would betray Jesus. (John 13:21).
7. They ask, including Judas, "Is it I?" and who it was. (Matt. 26:25; John 13:22-25).
8. They are told that the one that dips his 'sop' with Jesus would be His betrayer. (John 13:26; Mark 14:18-20).
9. Judas is told that he is the one and given the 'sop.' (John 13:27, 30).
10. After being given the sop, Judas IMMEDIATELY goes out from them and goes to the chief priests. (John 13:30).
11. Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper/Christian Communion with the eleven. (Matt. 26:26; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20). Judas is no longer present.
12. Jesus Expounds upon the meaning of His life and the Gospel (John 13:31 to John 18:1).
13. The eleven sing a Hymn (Mark 14:46).
14. The eleven go out to the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18:1; Luke 22:39).
15. Judas takes Jesus' enemies to Him, betraying him with a kiss (Matt. 26:47; Mark 14:43; Luke 22:47, 48; Acts 1:16; John 18:2-5).
16. Judas repents and hangs himself (Matt. 27:3; Acts 1:25).

Conclusion

Judas was indeed present at the Last Supper, but Judas (see # 9 above) was not present at the full revelation of its meaning. He heard that there would be ceremonial bread and wine, probably saw it, but never actually partook of that bread and wine as a religious expression of faith in Jesus because he had already left before that stage was reached. In short, it seems clear that Judas had no part in the first ever Christian communion service.