The Week takes a somber turn on Thursday.
From Bethany, Jesus sent Peter and John to the Upper Room in Jerusalem to prepare for the Passover Feast. That evening after sunset, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet as they prepared to share in the Passover. By performing this humble service, Jesus demonstrated how believers should love one another by example. Some churches practice foot-washing as a part of their Maundy Thursday celebrations.
Afterward, Jesus celebrated the feast of Passover with his disciples and others, saying:
“I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:15–16)
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During the supper, however, Jesus introduced something new to the ceremony. “Take and eat, this is my body … take and drink, this is my blood of the covenant.” As the Holy Lamb of God, Jesus would fulfill the Passover by offering his body to be broken and his blood to be shed. Jesus offered his disciples both his body and blood, in the bread and wine, for the forgiveness of their sins. Called Holy Communion or the Eucharist, this is often the focus of Maunday Thursday worship.
The term “Maundy” comes from the Latin word “mandatum.” Mandatum means “to give” or “to order” — to command. After the Last Supper and as they walked towards Gethsemane, Jesus said: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (John 13:34).
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed while the disciples slept. He was obviously in agony. Luke’s Gospel says, “his sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44).
Late that evening in Gethsemane, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus with a kiss and had him arrested. He was taken to the home of Caiaphas, the High Priest, where the council gathered to begin making their case against Him.
Meanwhile, as Jesus’ trial was underway in the early morning hours, Peter denied knowing his Master three times before the rooster crowed.
That is an awful lot of heavy stuff. Where might my focus rest? Service and the foot-washing? Forgiveness and the meal? Love and the new command? The agony of our Lord’s time in Prayer? Peter’s failure, as well as my own? I pray you find peace knowing that all of this was for you. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide your devotions and prayers today to focus on those things that will be most helpful to you.
Thursday’s events are recorded in Matthew 26:17–75, Mark 14:12–72, Luke 22:7–62, and John 13:1–38.
Tomorrow is an even bigger day. See you then.