The Three Suppers. This Is Appendix
157 From The Companion Bible.
That there were three suppers, and not only two,
at the close of our Lord's ministry will be clear from a careful
comparison of the three Scriptures.
1. There was the supper recorded in John
12: 1-9. This was probably
in the house of Lazarus1, and, being
"six days before the Passover", must have taken place on the
Friday evening, on the Lord's return from His first entry into Jerusalem
from Bethphage (see Appendix 153).
Having slept there on the Friday night and spent the
last Sabbath in retirement there, this first supper was made after the
Sabbath had ended at 6 p.m. At this supper there was an anointing of the
Lord by Mary (see Appendix 158).
2. The second supper, recorded in Matthew
26: 6-13, took place
"two days before the Passover" at the house of Simon the
leper, which was also in Bethany. See Mark 14:1-9. At this supper
there was also an anointing by a woman unknown (see Appendix 158).
3. The supper recorded in John 13: 1-20 is the same as
that recorded in Matthew 26:20, Mark
14:17, and Luke
22:14. It was
"the last supper", "the hour was come", and
when supper was begun, or going on (not "ended"; see note on
John 13:2), the Lord first
washed the disciples' feet; and, later, the events took place as recorded
in all four Gospels. John's Gospel adds some antecedents; but gives the
same consequents. The rendering of
genomenou in John 13:2, by
"ended" instead of by "taking place", or
"beginning", has been the cause of much confusion.
1 For all the family
were present; and "Martha served" (compare Luke
10:40-42).
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