[Recovering_Democrat]

Don’t give in on that point...this was a Jewish Passover meal.

The person serving the meal (in this case Jesus) did not go about feeding each individual one by one. That is preposterous.

I am not saying the practice is WRONG, but it certainly isn’t required. And it definitely isn’t how the Passover was celebrated. *If* Christ had done something that out of the ordinary, one would suspect the writers of the gospels would have noted the action.

The idea still lives on in even evangelical churches, that a pastor ought to lead or “bless” the elements before communion.

[JustSayNoToNannies]

this was a Jewish Passover meal. [...] *If* Christ had done something that out of the ordinary, one would suspect the writers of the gospels would have noted the action.

I dunno - none of the synoptics saw fit to note that, as John states, the meal took place on the night before Passover.

[maryz]

*If* Christ had done something that out of the ordinary, one would suspect the writers of the gospels would have noted the action.

Of course, we don't know what would have been considered "out of the ordinary" at the time. Modern Passover seders (especially as practiced in America) might not be an infallible guide.