Lesson 4. Palm Sunday and The Last Supper

• Religious education
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)

Pasen

 Palm Sunday and 

The Last Supper

Palm Sunday and the Last Supper are two significant events in the Christian tradition, marking the final days of Jesus' life. On Palm Sunday, Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem with cheers and palm branches, while the Last Supper was his final meal with his disciples, during which he shared important teachings and instituted the practice of communion.

Learning objectives

• You know what happened on Palm Sunday.
• You know what the "Holy Week" entails.
• You know the name of the prophet who predicted how Palm Sunday would unfold.
• You know who painted The Last Supper.
• You can explain why the artist positioned the figures in a certain way.

At Easter, Christians celebrate that Jesus rose from the dead.

Jesus has restored the relationship between God and humanity.

That makes Easter the most important holiday in Christianity.

Due to the wrongdoings of people (sins), the relationship between God and humanity was broken.

Easter:

Resurrection of Jesus: Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, three days after his crucifixion. This event is considered the central belief in Christianity, symbolizing Jesus’ victory over death and the promise of eternal life.

Triumph over sin and death: The resurrection represents Jesus’ triumph over sin and death, giving believers hope for their own resurrection and eternal life.

Fulfillment of prophecies: Easter is seen as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, who would suffer, die, and rise again to save humanity.

New beginning: The holiday marks a fresh start and renewal of faith, as Jesus' resurrection forms the foundation of Christian belief and the hope of salvation.

Community and celebration: Easter is a time for Christians to come together in churches, participate in special services, and celebrate the joy of the resurrection with family and friends.

In short, Easter holds deep spiritual significance, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus and offering Christians hope and the promise of eternal life.

What do we celebrate at Easter?

1. The Easter Bunny's birthday
2. The death of Jesus
3. The fertility of nature
4. The resurrection of Jesus

n 2025, Easter falls on Sunday, April 20th and Monday, April 21st (Easter Sunday and Easter Monday).

The week before Easter is called 'Holy Week' (or Passion Week or Quiet Week).

The week has special commemorative days such as Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.

Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter.

This day commemorates the day when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem.

People waved palm branches to greet Him, because they believed He was the king who would save them.

Palm Sunday: Palm Sunday is a Christian holiday that celebrates the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, one week before His crucifixion and resurrection.  

Events of Palm Sunday:

Entry into Jerusalem: Palm Sunday commemorates the moment when Jesus entered Jerusalem, riding on a young donkey. This took place on the Sunday before His crucifixion and is seen as the fulfillment of the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, which foretold of a humble king riding on a donkey.

Palm Branches and Hosanna: As Jesus entered the city, people greeted Him by spreading their cloaks and palm branches on the road before Him. They cried "Hosanna!" which means "Save us" or "Grant us salvation." This act symbolized honor and recognition of Jesus as the expected Messiah and King.

Beginning of Holy Week: Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the final week of Lent and the week leading up to Easter. It is a time of reflection on the events that lead to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

• Which prophet from the Old Testament predicted that Jesus would enter Jerusalem on a donkey?
• When did this prophet live?

De profeet Zacharia uit het Oude Testament heeft voorzegd dat Jezus op een ezel Jeruzalem zou binnenkomen. Deze profetie staat in Zacharia 9:9:

"Verheug u zeer, dochter Sion, juich, dochter Jeruzalem! Zie, uw koning komt naar u toe; hij is rechtvaardig en zegevierend, nederig en rijdend op een ezel, op een veulen, het jong van een ezelin."

Wanneer leefde Zacharia?

Zacharia was een profeet die leefde in de late 6e eeuw voor Christus. Hij begon zijn profetische bediening in het tweede jaar van de Perzische koning Darius I, wat overeenkomt met ongeveer 520 v.Chr. Zacharia was een tijdgenoot van de profeet Haggai en speelde een belangrijke rol in het aansporen van de Joden om de herbouw van de tempel in Jeruzalem voort te zetten na de Babylonische ballingschap. Zijn profetieën bevatten zowel directe boodschappen voor zijn tijd als visioenen en voorspellingen die ver in de toekomst reikten, inclusief de komst van de Messias.

00:20

What does the bread symbolize?

1. Abundance
2. Pain and suffering
3. The body of Christ
4. Life and death

00:12

How many people were at the meal?

1. 12
2. 13
3. 10
4. 11

00:24

What does the wine symbolize?

1. The blood of Christ
2. Death
3. Life
4. Joy

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci (1495-1498)Het Laatste Avondmaal van Da Vinci (1495-1498)

This painting, located in the former dining hall of the monastery Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, is one of the most famous murals in the world.

Look closely at the details. Questions about this will appear on the next slide.

The painting The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most famous artworks in the world. Here’s a brief description of the painting and some key details:

Description of the painting

• Title: The Last Supper
• Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
• Year: Painted between 1495 and 1498

Location: It is located in the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy.

Dimensions: Approximately 460 cm × 880 cm (15 ft × 29 ft)

Subject and Details

Theme: The painting depicts the moment during the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his twelve disciples, as described in the New Testament, when Jesus announced that one of them would betray him.

Reactions of the Disciples: Da Vinci brilliantly captured the different emotions and reactions of the disciples at the moment of the announcement of the betrayal. Each disciple reacts differently, creating a dynamic and lively scene.

Central Figure: Jesus sits in the center of the table. His calm and composed posture contrasts with the shocked and confused reactions of the disciples around him.

Perspective and Composition: Leonardo used linear perspective to create depth and realism. The lines of the walls and ceiling direct the eye to the head of Jesus, which is the focal point of the painting.

Symbolism: The painting is rich in symbolism. Jesus’ posture and the composition of the painting form a triangle, which is often seen as a symbol of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

Restoration and Preservation

Restorations: The painting has suffered considerable damage over the years, primarily due to environmental factors and improper restoration techniques in the past. The most recent and extensive restoration was completed in 1999.

Current Condition: Although the painting is no longer in its original state due to various restorations, it remains a masterpiece of the Renaissance and a crucial part of cultural heritage.

Influence and Culture

Art History: The Last Supper is one of the most studied, copied, and revered paintings in art history.

Popular Culture: The painting has played a significant role in popular culture, including books, films, and other media. A well-known example is the book The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.

Image Here is a link to an image of the painting: The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci.

This painting remains an impressive example of Leonardo da Vinci's artistic skills and his ability to depict deep emotion and human drama.

The hands of Jesus and Judas reaching for the same dish symbolize the betrayal. Jesus had said, "The one who dips his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me."

Philip points to himself after Jesus' announcement and asks, "Is it I, Lord?"

n contrast to His tablemates, Jesus is calm and ready to distribute the bread and wine. The use of space—placing Jesus in a doorway and directly under the central beam in the ceiling—draws the eye directly to Him. The apostles next to Him are arranged in groups of three.

Peter whispers in the ear of the youngest apostle, John, asking him to find out who Jesus is referring to. Officially, this figure is identified as the apostle John. As usual, he is depicted as a gentle and sorrowful disciple of Jesus.

Da Vinci did not isolate Judas from the rest of the group as other artists did. However, the betrayer of Jesus still seems to stand apart, partly due to the shadow cast on his face and the different skin tone. The pouch of silver that Judas clutches is his reward for the betrayal. The overturned saltshaker in front of him symbolizes bad luck.

Have the learning objectives been achieved?

• I know what happened on Palm Sunday.
• I know what "Holy Week" entails.
• I know the name of the prophet who predicted how Palm Sunday would unfold.
• I know who painted The Last Supper.
• I can explain why the artist placed the people in a certain way.