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Last Supper Drama
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The LAST SUPPER DRAMA Your SPECIAL INVITATION to join us See the famed wood burning of Call the church office at (480) 982-4081 for the exact date and time of the next performance.
A Characterization of the figures
presented in Left to right: 1. Bartholomew,
2. James, the lesser, 3. Andrew, 4. Judas Iscariot, 5. Simon Peter, 6. John, The saddest face in history or art is the face of Jesus as he says "One among you shall betray me." His left hand is spread open in innocency and surrender as he meditates on what he shall do in this crisis. His disciples upon hearing what he has said are talking among themselves: Bartholomew, with inclined body and feet crossed, stares incredulously as he springs to his feet in amazement trying to hear what John will ask of the Lord.
James, the lesser, is stretching out his hand to Peter, as though to ask,
"Can this be so?"
Andrew, one of the
first to follow Jesus and known as a genial and modest man, is so overawed by
such wickedness, he protests with upturned hands expressing his horror of the
news as he shrinks from Judas. Judas, looking up
with terrified countenance, leans over the table, tightly clutching the
money-bag in his right hand, while with the left he makes an involuntary nervous
motion as if to say, "What may this mean?" His face shows a startled fear and he
is smitten by a guilty conscience as he recoils from the Master. For the first
time he has discovered himself to be the evil principle in opposition to the
good. Peter, brother of
Andrew and referred to as "The Rock," rises suddenly in conformity with his
vehement character and places his hand on John's shoulder, seeming to say, "Ask
him, which one it is? Tell us who it is of whom he speaketh." He is ready to
seek vengeance on the traitor. The handle of a knife held in his right hand
touched Judas which caused the terrified forward movement upsetting the
salt-cellar, so clearly portrayed. John, the beloved
and youngest of the group, brother of James the greater, is in great distress
and all but overcome as with eyes closed he sinks back toward Peter. Jesus
entrusted his mother into John's care at the time of the Crucifixion. On the left of Jesus is
Thomas, who was little known in the Bible, and who does not believe what
Christ says. He raises his finger inquiringly as though he doubts Jesus' word,
thus he becomes known as "doubting Thomas." His later teaching had a part in the
founding of Missions in China and Asia. James, the greater,
known as the "Son of Thunder," gazed transfixed with outspread arms as with
horror he starts back in terror like one who imagines that he beholds with his
eyes what ears have heard. Philip, young, mild
mannered and demure, asserts his innocence by bending forward with his hands
crossed upon his breast and saying with great clearness, "It is not I, Lord!
Thou knowest my pure heart. It is not I!"
The last three figures are discussing the terrible news: Matthew, a tax
collector, who left his duties in a custom house to become a follower of Christ,
turns his face inquiringly to his companions on the left and stretching out his
hands, pointing accusingly toward Judas as though to say, "He is the one." Thaddeus (Jude),
about whom little is known but whose name means dear or beloved, is showing the
utmost surprise, doubt and suspicion. His left hand rests upon the table while
he has raised the right as if he intends to strike his left hand with the back
of the right. Lorenzo Ferri, sculptor, and painter in Rome, says he is convinced
that the painting of "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci contains a self
portrait of the artist, for a careful reconstruction of the lines in the
features of Thaddeus reveals that these features match Leonardo's well known
sepia self portrait. Simon, the eldest of
the group, sits at the end of the table with great dignity though his face shows
he is troubled and thoughtful as does also his gesture. He is a lawyer and very
zealous for the law. When Leonardo da Vinci had finished his painting of "The Last Supper," he had painted the cup in the right hand of Jesus. His hand is in the position as though holding the cup. He called a friend into his studio to inspect the painting.
Next is Simon Peter, who delivered the first soul-stirring sermon on the day Pentecost. In Acts 2:38 - "Then Peter said unto them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit". In front of Simon Peter is Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Next is John, the beloved Apostle who wrote the Gospel of John, Revelation and some epistles in our Bible. In the center we have Jesus, the Christ, the only begotten son of the living God, who was crucified on Calvary for our sins. On Christ's left we have Thomas. In John 4:6, "Jesus said unto him, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man comes unto the Father but by me". Next is James, the brother of John. Next is Phillip who brought Bartholomew to Christ. Then we have Matthew, also called Levi, a tax collector when Jesus called him. He wrote the Gospel of Matthew. Then Thaddeus and on the end is Simon the Canaanite.
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