The Last Croatian Supper

Recently, the students in my New Testament class hosted the professors and other students from Teoloska Biblijska Akademija (TBA) to a reenactment of the last supper of the disciples with Jesus before his crucifixion, as part of their Last Supper Project. Here is the promo banner:
Students greatly anticipated the meal and some came with costumes. Since our focus was on the narrative of the gospel accounts, the meal resembled a middle eastern meal. We basically served soup for dipping, bread, and lamb (well...chicken).

We did mention some of the customs of modern passover seders but mostly our focus was on the dialogue and discourse taking place. The dialogue was derived solely from the gospel accounts, viewed harmonistically, and given in 6 parts with breaks in between for further explanation, reflection on Jesus' teaching, personal examination and conversation on current topics.

We were impacted by Jesus as servant, humbling Himself before men preoccupied with their exaltation, and how He left us an example to follow.



"After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives" (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26). To conclude the meal, we sang a song reflecting the words of Psalm 118 (which most likely is the hymn referred to): Ovo je dan (this is the day). I gave instruction concerning this song because it is very popular in Croatian church life and in American as well. We often sing the song (This is the day that the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.) and refer to each day as a day the LORD has made. The words certainly are true. God has made each day and we are to rejoice in His creation. But the New Testament often refers to Jesus as the fulfillment of this Psalm. To more appreciate the song, we ought to think of it in its context. Namely that the day of Christ's crucifixion (when Jesus sang it with his disciples) was the day that the LORD made. It is that day in history the Psalm is referring to. Maybe we ought to sing..."That was the day, That was the day that the LORD made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it." It is significant that Jesus invited His disciples to rejoice and be glad in it with Him. And perhaps, this is echoed in Hebrews 12:2 (For the joy that was set before Him...). On that day, the stone which the builders rejected became our chief corner stone (cf. 1 Peter 2)