Cultural Significance Of The Last Supper in the Luke's Gospel In Terms Of Anthropological Perspective

Abstract

This study is to examine about the relationship between Jesus and the disciples in the Last Supper in Luke's Gospel in terms of an anthropological approach. This article uses the following steps to examine four functions of the Last Supper. The form of the Last Supper in Luke 22:14-38 is compared with the structures of symposium, passover meal, and Jesus' farewell address. In the Last Supper Jesus is a host and the disciples are a chief guest or guests like all the Hellenistic symposia. In the Last Supper Jesus utilizes the Supper as the place to share his values and commissions and tasks with the disciples. The characteristics of Jesus' meal shows a social-scientific model, as ceremony, as mirrors of social systems, in terms of body symbolism, reciprocity, and social relations. Meals-as-ceremony replicates the group's basic social structure, its boundary or identity, and its values and classifications. To affirms clearer on the values of the meal, we need to describe these as map of persons, map of things, map of places, and map of time. There are various levels of status at a table even in the same class or social group. Jesus' position and role as a host at the meal bolster the disciples' identity and boundary. Concern of the place appears very clearly at the Last Supper. Although a place at a meal shows one's social status, Jesus wants his followers not to use the place at a meal as the place for showing off their position. At the Last Supper Jesus gives a farewell address which shows the relationship between Jesus and the disciples. Jesus recognizes that the disciples are the successors who should keep Jesus' value and interests. So he gives them a commission to be done in his church and promises their status in the Kingdom. Finally, the character of reciprocal exchange and patron/client relations in the Last Supper confirms the fact that Jesus feeds and supports his people. From this study, we see that Jesus, presiding over the Supper which is a ceremonial meal and a farewell meal is given at, shows his authority as a host and a patron of the Messianic banquet to come and gives his disciples, the clients, four-fold teachings; group identity, group structure, shared values, and a shared commission.