Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper

A revelatory exploration of the Jewish roots of the Last Supper that seeks to understand exactly what happened at Jesus’ final Passover.

“Clear, profound and practical–you do not want to miss this book.”–Dr. Scott Hahn, author of The Lamb’s Supper and The Fourth Cup
Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist shines fresh light on the Last Supper by looking at it through Jewish eyes. Using his in-depth knowledge of the Bible and ancient Judaism, Dr. Brant Pitre answers questions such as: What was the Passover like at the time of Jesus? What were the Jewish hopes for the Messiah? What was Jesus’ purpose in instituting the Eucharist during the feast of Passover? And, most important of all, what did Jesus mean when he said, “This is my body… This is my blood”?
To answer these questions, Pitre explores ancient Jewish beliefs about the Passover of the Messiah, the miraculous Manna from heaven, and the mysterious Bread of the Presence. As he shows, these three keys–the Passover, the Manna, and the Bread of the Presence–have the power to unlock the original meaning of the Eucharistic words of Jesus. Along the way, Pitre also explains how Jesus united the Last Supper to his death on Good Friday and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Inspiring and informative, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist is a groundbreaking work that is sure to illuminate one of the greatest mysteries of the Christian faith: the mystery of Jesus’ presence in “the breaking of the bread.”
Foreword / Scott Hahn — Introduction — 1. The Mystery of the Last Supper — Jesus and Judaism — You Shall Not Drink the Blood — Through Ancient Jewish Eyes — 2. What Were the Jewish People Waiting For? — What Kind of Messiah? — The Jewish Hope for a New Exodus — Jesus and the New Exodus — 3. The New Passover — The Biblical Roots of Passover — What Was Passover Like at the Time of Jesus? — Jesus and the New Passover — You Have to Eat the Lamb — 4. The Manna of the Messiah — The Manna in the Tabernacle — The Bread of the World to Come — Jesus and the New Manna — This Is a Hard Saying — 5. The Bread of the Presence — The Bread of the Face — Behold, God’s Love for You — Jesus and the New Bread of the Presence — The Real Presence — 6. The Fourth Cup and the Death of Jesus — The Shape of the Jewish Passover Meal — Did Jesus Finish the Last Supper? — I Thirst — 7. The Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith — Pascha Means Passover — The Shadow of the Manna — In Remembrance of Me — 8. On the Road to Emmaus — Acknowledgments — Notes.