Restoration of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece "The Last Supper" is bringing to light a whole new concept of the painting. In past centuries, other artists have daubed over Da Vinci's original, significantly changing some details.
These overpaintings seem to symbolize the multitudinous denominational interpretations that embellish the simple event Da Vinci depicted. Nevertheless, anyone today can find an original view of the Last Supper through pondering the brief gospel accounts of the occasion. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are largely in agreement about what was said and done. Yet how much basis do we find for ritualizing the event? Only Luke has Jesus saying simply, "This do in remembrance of me." Luke 22:19. John's account of this gathering makes no mention of such a ceremony, though he does detail a joy-filled breakfast on the Galilean seashore shared by the risen Jesus and his spiritually awakening disciples.
Christian Scientists commemorate the morning breakfast where the risen Master symbolically called forth in every follower—when he called forth in Peter—the obedience and love inherent in each child of God. This glad occasion heralded the solidarity and strength that the disciples would display in Pentecost and in persecution. It summarized in terms of ongoing discipleship the sacred lessons of Gethsemane, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection.
