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The in-depth summary of each bible study is much different from the small group bible study laid out before the leader and the students.  The small group studies are intended to be interactive, provide a learning atmosphere for students, and open discussions allowing for interpretations of what the gospels’ witnessed.  The in-depth summary is designed to help the leader with comprehensive information, much more than what is in the text notes found at the bottom of every bible page.  An in-depth search was completed on each verse to help the leader answer questions that may come up during the study.

The Passover celebration commemorates Israel’s deliverance from over 400 years of slavery in Egypt. To understand the significance Israel’s deliverance had from Egypt, some background and explanation of key events are necessary.

Events Leading up to the (Old Testament) Passover

Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, also known as Israel, had 12 children (Genesis 35:23-26)[1]:  Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. These sons would later be known as the twelve tribes of Israel.  Joseph’s brothers envied him because he dreamed of greatness.  They conspired to kill him, but instead sold him for twenty shekels of silver to Ishmaelites.  Joseph, now an enslaved person, was then sold in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of the guard of the Pharaoh and captain.  Joseph found favor in the eyes of Pharaoh.  Joseph dreamed that Egypt would have seven years of great plenty followed by seven years of famine.  (Genesis 41:17-41)[2] Pharaoh put Joseph in charge to administer and prepare for the famine years.  Joseph created food storage bins to store up for the famine years.  After the famine years started, all countries were affected.  Joseph arranged for his father and 11 brothers, along with their families, to move to Canaan near Egypt. After a new King arose in Egypt, he did not know Joseph.  The Hebrews were so numerous that the new Pharaoh feared them.  He afflicted them and enslaved them.  (Exodus 1:1-22)[3].  After over 400 years of bondage, God came to rescue his people through a man named Moses.  When Moses was born, a new Pharaoh ordered that every Hebrew male born be thrown into the river.  But God spared Moses when his mother, Jochebed, set Moses in a basket down the river Nile.  The Pharaoh’s daughter found the baby and raised him.  Moses was born a Hebrew but was raised as an Egyptian in Pharaoh’s family.  Moses saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, so he killed the Egyptian and fled to Midian.  God appeared to Moses in a burning bush and sent Moses to Egypt to rescue his people (Exodus 3:7-10)[4].  Moses returned to Egypt and spoke to Pharaoh, telling him to let the Hebrews go free.  Pharaoh refused.  Through Moses, God sent down ten plagues. 

(1) Waters of the Nile River became blood (Exodus 7:14-22). 

(2) Frogs would leave the Nile River and cover the land of Egypt (Exodus 8:1-15).

(3) Lice became throughout the land (Exodus 8:16-19). 

(4) Flies filled the houses of the Egyptians (Exodus 8:20-32). 

(5) The livestock became diseased (Exodus 9:1-7). 

(6) Boils and sores would break out on the people (Exodus 9:8-12)

(7) Hail falls from a clear sky and burns as fire on the ground (Exodus 9:13-35)

(8) Locusts ate the green plants and every tree (Exodus 10:1-20)

(9) Darkness covered the land of Egypt for three days (Exodus 10:21-29)

(10) Death to all the firstborn of Egypt is announced (Exodus 11:1-10)[5]

Instructions for the (Old Testament) Passover

(Exodus 12:1-28) The Lord spoke to Moses and Arron, ordering them to speak to the congregation of Israel, telling each family to take a lamb for sacrifice. On the fourteenth day of the tenth month, at twilight, they are to kill the lamb and put its blood on the doorpost and lintel (top support of a door).  They are to roast the lamb and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.  At midnight, the Lord will send a destroyer to come and execute every firstborn in Egypt.  The blood on the doorpost will be the sign for the destroyer to “pass over” and not kill that family’s firstborn.  After the tenth plague of the firstborn’s destroyer was complete, the Egyptians cried out to send the Hebrews out of the land of Egypt.

The Hebrews (the Israel nation) went out of Egypt, and God led them to the Red Sea.  Pharaoh had a change of heart and was angry.  He went with his army of chariots and pursued the children of Israel. When Pharaoh and his army found them, they were trapped against the Red Sea.  Moses stretched out his hand, and the sea parted, allowing the nation of Israel to cross on dry ground.  The Egyptian army was held back by the pillar of fire, allowing the Israelites time to travel.  After a time, the pillar of fire was lifted, and the Egyptian army pursued them.  Moses then stretched out his hand over the Red Sea, and the waters on both sides returned to their full depth, and every Egyptian perished in the sea.

Preparation for (New Testament) Passover

Matthew 26:17, Mark 14:12, Luke 22:7-9.  All three disciples speak of preparing the Passover meal with unleavened bread.  Mark adds, “when they killed the Passover lamb.”  Luke adds the words of Jesus directly, instructing them to go and prepare the Passover meal so they may eat.  This verse is a demonstration of why it is so important not to read from only one disciple’s writings.  Matthew and Mark do not identify who are the two disciples; only Luke identifies the two disciples who were to carry out this task: Peter and John. This unleavened bread was to be prepared as a remembrance of the Israelites, who were freed from slavery in Egypt and left in haste because there was no time for the dough to rise; thus, the bread was baked without yeast.  The lamb represents substitution and protection.  The Israelites killed a spotless one-year-old lamb for its meat and blood in Egypt.  The lamb was to be cooked that night with bitter herbs to represent the suffering and slavery of hard labor.  The blood of the lamb was to be put on the doorposts.  The blood identification was for the destroying angel that passed through Egypt, God protected this house, and to “pass over” and not kill the firstborn of anyone in this house.  This is found in Exodus 12.[6]

The disciples were to prepare the same meal in accordance with the Jewish sacrificial practice and tradition.  Peter and John, ready to obey, approach Jesus about where the meal should be prepared.

Matthew 26:18, Mark 14:13-15, Luke 22:10-12. All three passages describe the same event.  Jesus directs Peter and John to prepare the Passover meal.  There is a harmony in combining these verses.  All three disciples state that Jesus’ instructed them to go into the city.  The city Jesus is referring to is Jerusalem.  They are currently about 2 miles away in Bethany.  Matthew provides a very important element when Jesus states first state, “My time is at hand.” Up to this point, Jesus has been referring to “His time has not yet come.” Jesus is self-aware; his time has finally come.  Both Mark and Luke describe Jesus’ sign of a man carrying a jar of water would meet them; a man doing so would stand out immediately.  In that culture, women usually carried water jars.  This allows the disciples to recognize him easily. The man is most likely a servant to the master of the house.  As Jesus tells Peter and John to follow the man and enter the house, he enters. And then to ask the master of the house, “The Teacher says, ‘Where is the guest room…?’”  The master of the house apparently understands and has been preparing for this moment, as there is a large upper room furnished, prepared, and ready for their use.  This room was large, so its purpose was probably for prayer or for eating.  If the room were to be prepared and furnished, there would be a large enough table for thirteen people.  Jesus tells Peter and John to make ready the room.  This literally means to spread, probably with carpets or rugs and couches to sit on.  There would also be enough lamps lit for them all to see.[7]

Matthew 26:19, Mark 14:16, Luke 22:13.  Peter and John went out and entered Jerusalem as Jesus had instructed.  The man with the water was there to meet them, the house was available, and an upper room was furnished.  They encountered the events exactly as He said they would.  Peter and John then prepared the Passover.  To prepare for the Passover, they would have to purchase a lamb, had it killed in the temple, have it brought to the house where they would have supper, have the lamb roasted, flayed, and the fat taken out, provide unleavened bread, a sauce called Charoseth, and wine and bitter herbs, in short, everything necessary.[8]

John 13:1: John begins the second half of John.  John provides detailed information on Jesus’ public ministry, usually referred to as the book of signs, chapters 1-12.  John describes Jesus’ private ministry and passion, often called the book of glory, in chapters 13-21.  There are several key messages and words in this verse that must not be overlooked.  First John states, “Before the Feast of the Passover.”  John established the timeline.  This is right before Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion.  Next, John states, “Jesus knew that His hour had come.”  Jesus was self-aware that His final time had come.  He is not surprised, but he deliberately moves toward it knowingly and willingly.  The hour Jesus is referring to is the betrayal, by one of His disciples.  The suffering He will endure, the crucifixion, his death, his resurrection, and His return to the Father.  The moment is not merely a moment in death, but it is the climax of His mission.  The words ‘He should depart from this world to the Father.”  “He should depart from this world,” suggests a transition, not defeat, but a return to God.  It is a movement toward glory and a completion of His mission.  Finally, John states, “Jesus loved His own those who were in the world,” Jesus proves his love by calling his disciples to follow Him; by patiently teaching them; by making them fishers of men.”  Jesus also states, “but also loved them to the end.” Jesus’ love does not change; he loves the same traits of character.[9]

Jesus’ Desire for This Final Meal

Matthew 26:20, Mark 14:17, Luke 22:14-16: All three provide a similar description, but Luke provides greater detail.  Mark states that Jesus came with the twelve, Matthew and Luke do not.  All three state that Jesus sat down with the twelve.  Luke now states, “When the hour had come.”  Similar to John 13:1, the hour Jesus is referring to is the betrayal by one of His disciples, the suffering He will endure, the crucifixion, His death, His resurrection, and His return to the Father.  Only Luke covers Jesus’ words in more depth in verses 15-16. In these two verses, Jesus expresses His deep longing desire to share this Passover with His disciples.  This was Jesus’ last Passover, which is why it was so important to Him, for He clearly knew what was about to happen after it, as He states, “before I suffer.”  Jesus states in verse 16 that He will no longer eat until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.  John notes this in Revelation 19:9, “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!”  Jesus states in verse 15, He desired to eat this Passover with them, and then in verse 16, Jesus states I will no longer eat of it.”  This implies Jesus was eating the Passover meal and stopped to make a point.  Jesus makes a vow to abstain from this meal until the Kingdom of God is established.  Revelation 19:9 refers to the Blessed who are called to have a marriage supper with the Lamb.  The “it” in Luke 22:16 is fulfilled here.

John 13:2-17

John 13:13: Prophecy fulfilled: Jeremiah 23:5-6 Messiah would be both God and Man.

Matthew 20:25-28, Mark 10:42-45, Luke 22:24-30

John 13:18-20

John 13:18 – Psalm 41:9 – Betrayed by a familiar friend

John 13:18 – Psalm 55:12-14 Betrayed by a friend, not an enemy

John 13:19 – Isaiah 46:9-10 Declares things not yet done.

Matthew 26:21, Mark 14:18, Luke 22:21, John 31:21

Matthew 26:22, Mark 14:19, Luke 22:23, John 13:22

Matthew 26:23-24, Mark 14:20-21, Luke 22:22

John 13:23-25

Matthew 26:25

John 13:26-30

John 13:31-32

Matthew 26:26, Mark 14:22, Luke 22:19

Prophecies fulfilled Last supper foreshadowed – Genesis 14:18

Matthew 26:27, Mark 14:23, Luke 22:17

Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20

Prophecies fulfilled the blood the lief of the flesh – Leviticus 17:11

Prophecies fulfilled The Messiah would be the new covenant: Jerimiah 31:31

Matthew 26:29, Mark 14:25, Luke 22:18

Matthew 26:30, Mark 14:26, Luke 22:39

We hope this in-depth summary of “The Last Supper” was detailed enough for your search of what you are looking for. 

The Passover connection from new to old testament is intentional.  Jesus and His disciples commemorate the Passover of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and the blood of the lamb protecting the Israelites from judgement.  Jesus then chooses His Passover to reveal Himself as the true Lamb, establish a New Covenant, and redefine deliverance, not from Egypt, but from sin.

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[1] Radmacher, Earl D., et al. NKJV Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, 2018, p. 59.

[2] Radmacher, Earl D., et al. NKJV Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, 2018, p. 68-69.

[3] Radmacher, Earl D., et al. NKJV Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, 2018, p. 86-87.

[4] Radmacher, Earl D., et al. NKJV Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, 2018, p. 90.

[5] Radmacher, Earl D., et al. NKJV Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, 2018, pp. 95-101.

[6] Radmacher, Earl D., et al. NKJV Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, 2018, pp. 101-104.

[7] “Mark 14:14 Commentaries: And Wherever He Enters, Say to the Owner of the House, ‘the Teacher Says, “Where Is My Guest Room in Which I May Eat the Passover with My Disciples?”’” Biblehub.com, 2026, biblehub.com/commentaries/mark/13-15.htm. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.

[8] “Mark 14 Gill’s Exposition.” Biblehub.com, 2026, biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/mark/14.htm. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.

[9] Barnes, Albert, and Robert Frew. Notes on the New Testament : Luke and John. Grand Rapids, Mich., Baker Book House, 1985. pp. 316.