Last Supper Sculpture

“Last Supper”
Artist Timothy P. Schmalz 
Installed and Dedicated November 24, 2024

Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz has been depicting sacred Biblical themes for over 30 years.  He describes his Christian art as a “visual sermon which speaks to people twenty-four hours a day.” 

Schmalz’s work “Last Supper” features a nearly life-size, bronze figure of Jesus seated at the table the very night He would be betrayed.  Jesus’ face shows an intensity of tenderness, and compassion.  His open tunic exposes his rib cage; the Bread He holds connects to his chest visualizing, “This is my Body given for you.”  Also in front of Jesus is the cup which He took and said, “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the New Testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.  Do this in remembrance of Me.”

Popularly known as interactive statuary, the twelve empty benches surrounding Jesus at the table invite us to sit across or next to Jesus—just as the Apostles did at the Last Supper.   Members of the community are invited to sit down at the table and enjoy the sacred art, spend time in prayer, or discuss with your children and grandchildren the significance of Jesus' sacrifice and His gift of grace in Holy Communion.

This sacred meal is more than a memorial for confessing Christians.  It is the heart of our worship and the foundation of our Christian life and faith.  That is why the Lord’s Supper is celebrated in this congregation every Sunday.

We believe that in this sacred meal Jesus incorporates us into His own suffering, death and resurrection, and bestows on us forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.  We can have no doubts that this forgiveness is ours when the body Christ sacrificed is placed into our mouths.  We can have no doubt that Jesus means to save us when He gives us to drink of His own blood shed on the cross.  To quote Rev. John Kleinig: “We drink the most holy blood of Christ, the blood that atoned for our sins, frees us from the stain of sin, protects us from the powers of darkness, fills us with the Holy Spirit, and transfuses us with the divine life of Christ … Here God’s holiness is offered to us physically as a gift, lavishly and safely, graciously and wholesomely…  Here the high holy God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, comes to reside in us so that our bodies become holy places, living temples of the living God.” [i]

We pray that this sculpture will be a blessing to our community as it speaks of God’s love, grace, and presence in our midst and serves as an invitation to deeper faith and discipleship.

Special thanks to The Lutheran Foundation, Ron and Wilma Ball, Summers Lawnscape Maintenance, Seiss Concrete Construction, and private donors who made this project possible. 

 

 

 

 

 


 

[i] Rev. John W. Kleinig, Grace Upon Grace: Spirituality for Today, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, 2008, p. 282

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