| Artist | Dieric Bouts |
|---|---|
| Year | 1464–1468 |
| Medium | Oil paint, panel |
The gathering of manna and Passover (recto left),
The last supper (middle),
The meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek and Elijah awakened by the angel (1 Kings 19:5-6) (recto right)
The Last Supper with Christ
was the last ritual Passover Feast because the LAMB OF GOD, Christ Himself, was about to be sacrificed.
Christ explained the meal pointed to His Death and Resurrection and should be repeated by His Disciples among them, until His Return to reign on earth.
Passover - Easter supper- Altarpiece
This painting shows it is an important moment, and those present seem to be reflecting on its significance.
It is one of the key works in the history of Flemish art..
Here, Bouts breaks with the tradition according to which Christ is always represented in the act of announcing the betrayal of Judas. Instead, he chooses to show the moment at which he institutes the Holy Communion, that is the sharing of the wine and bread among His disciples.
JESUS being Himself THE LAMB OF GOD, puts an end to the sacrifice of passover lambs, a warning of His Coming as son of Man to be punished for the sin of men. That is why He mentions in this meal that His Blood ( represented by the wine shared ) is going to be shed and His Body ( symbolised by the bread given away) is going to be broken for those that wait upon His deliverance.
The SACRIFICED LAMB is in the centre of the First Feast of Passover back in Egypt on the Night of the Death of the Firstborns, but not of the one in Jewish homes protected by the blood of the sacrificed lamb.
The sacrificial male perfect lamb that delivered the firstborn of each house from death pointed to the Sacrificial Death of Christ in favour of all those that turn to Him for salvation of eternal death.
The white table cloth is a symbol of the holiness, purity, righteousness of Christ alone.
