Eucharist

====Gospels====
In the [[synoptic gospels]], Mark 14:22–25,<ref>{{Bibleverse|Mark|14:22–25}}</ref> Matthew 26:26–29<ref>{{Bibleverse|Matthew|26:26–29}}</ref> and Luke 22:13–20<ref>{{Bibleverse|Luke|22:13–20}}</ref> depict Jesus as presiding over the Last Supper prior to his crucifixion. The versions in Matthew and Mark are almost identical,<ref>Heron, Alisdair >I.C. ''Table and Tradition'' Westminster Press, Philadelphia (1983) p. 3 {{ISBN|9780664245160}}</ref> but the Gospel of Luke presents a textual difference, in that a few manuscripts omit the second half of verse 19 and all of verse 20 ("given for you […] poured out for you"), which are found in the vast majority of ancient witnesses to the text.<ref>Metzger, Bruce M. ''A Textual Commentary on the New Testament'' UBS (1971) pp. 173ff {{ISBN?}}</ref> If the shorter text is the original one, then Luke's account is independent of both that of Paul and that of Matthew/Mark. If the majority longer text comes from the author of the third gospel, then this version is very similar to that of Paul in 1 Corinthians, being somewhat fuller in its description of the early part of the Supper,<ref>Heron, Alisdair >I.C. ''Table and Tradition'' Westminster Press, Philadelphia (1983) p. 5</ref> particularly in making specific mention of a cup being blessed before the bread was broken.<ref>Caird, G.B. ''The Gospel of Luke'' Pelican (1963) p. 237 {{ISBN?}}</ref>

In the one prayer given to posterity by Jesus, the [[Lord's Prayer]], the word [[epiousion]]—which is otherwise unknown in Classical Greek literature—was interpreted by some early Christian writers as meaning "super-substantial", and hence a possible reference to the Eucharist as the [[Bread of Life]].<ref>{{Cite CCC|2.1|2837}}</ref>

In the Gospel of John, however, the account of the Last Supper does not mention Jesus taking bread and "the cup" and speaking of them as his body and blood; instead, it recounts other events: his humble act of washing the disciples' feet, the prophecy of the betrayal, which set in motion the events that would lead to the cross, and his long discourse in response to some questions posed by his followers, in which he went on to speak of the importance of the unity of the disciples with him, with each other, and with God.<ref name="Harris">[[Stephen L Harris|Harris, Stephen L.]], Understanding the Bible. Palo Alto: Mayfield. 1985.</ref><ref>Tyndale Bible Dictionary / editors, Philip W. Comfort, Walter A. Elwell, 2001 {{ISBN|0842370897}}, article: "John, Gospel of"</ref> Some would find in this unity and in the washing of the feet the deeper meaning of the Communion bread in the other three gospels.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://vatikos.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/eucharist-and-gospel-of-john/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015050651/http://vatikos.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/eucharist-and-gospel-of-john/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-10-15|title=Eucharist and Gospel of John|date=2013-10-11|work=VatiKos Theologie|access-date=2017-12-10|language=en-US}}</ref> In John 6:26–65,<ref>{{bibleverse|John|6:26–65}}</ref> a long discourse is attributed to Jesus that deals with the subject of the living bread; John 6:51–59<ref>{{bibleverse|John|6:51–59}}</ref> also contains echoes of Eucharistic language.