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Maundy Thursday is the Thursday of Passion Week, one day before Good Friday, (the Friday before Easter), and it commemorates the Maundy and Last Supper of Jesus Christ.
Maundy Thursday is believed to be the day when Jesus celebrated His final Passover with His disciples at which Jesus instituted the “Lord’s Supper” (what some denominations and churches call “Holy Communion” even though that phrase is not anywhere in the Bible and was probably introduced by the Roman Catholic Church).
“He (Jesus) took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then He broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me’.
After supper He took another cup of wine and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and His people – an agreement confirmed with My blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you’.” (Luke 22:19-20 NLT)
The word “Maundy” is originated from the Latin word called “mandatum,” which means “commandment.”
This day is named after Jesus’ commandment to His disciples to love one another.
Maundy Thursday demonstrates the importance of humility and service by remembering the example set by Jesus in washing the feet of His disciples. The Master serving His students, His disciples, in an extraordinary display of humility.
He then commanded them to serve each other.
Maundy Thursday reminds us of the question of whether we are observing Christ’s new command to love, especially those who deserve it least.
Observing a special Lord’s Supper service on Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday in remembrance of the Last Supper is a good thing to do.
Performing a foot-washing of others, in remembrance of how Christ humbled Himself and washed the feet of the disciples, is a powerful reminder of how we are to live the Christian life in love and humility.
The Apostle Paul wrote: “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from His love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” (Philippians 2:1-11).
Maundy Thursday is also the night that Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and into the Garden of Gethsemane, and knowing what was to come the next day (Good Friday), that He was about to be completely rejected, tortured, and executed by crucifixion, prayed earnestly in anguish to God His Father.
Jesus prayed “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup [of divine wrath] from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done.” (Luke 22:41 AMP)
So, Maundy Thursday also reminds us that it is not our will that counts, but rather it is God’s will for us and our lives that count both now and eternally.
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