MAUNDY THURSDAY: THE PASSOVER & THE LORD'S SUPPER

MAUNDY THURSDAY: THE PASSOVER & THE LORD’S SUPPER

The day of Holy Week preceding “Good Friday” is known throughout Christendom as “Maundy Thursday.”  It is also called “Holy Thursday,” or “Great Thursday,” or “Covenant Thursday” by various denominations.  The term “maundy” derives from the Latin word, “mandatum,” which best translates into English as “commandment.”  Hence, Holy Thursday commemorates Christ’s mandate for his disciples 1) to remember and celebrate his sacrificial atonement on the cross [Holy Communion or The Eucharist], and 2) to demonstrate agape love by ongoing and humble service of one another [the symbolic washing of feet].

That Thursday night, Jesus celebrated the Passover in an upper room with his disciples. (Matthew 26:20-30 and Mark 14:17-18 and Luke 22:14-18)  During those sacred moments, Jesus translated and transformed the Passover Seder [consisting primarily of wine, matzos (unleavened bread) and maror (bitter herbs)] into a covenant celebration that would forever commemorate “the lamb of God.” (John 1:29;36) 

Mark 14:22-25

²² And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and break it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

²³ And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

²⁴ And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

²⁵ Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

Next, Jesus modeled true humility as he girded himself with a towel and washed his disciples’ feet.  (John 13:4-11)  Afterwards, he instructed them to do likewise.

John 13:12-14

¹² So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

¹³ Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

¹⁴ If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

During the last supper, Jesus identified the one who would betray him: Judas Iscariot. (John 13:26-28)  Despite the fact that he would soon experience excruciating pain, tasting of death for all mankind, Jesus took the time to teach three vital lessons.  The first was a lesson on love, recorded in John 13:33-35 and John 15:12-17.

John 13:33-35

³³ Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.

³⁴ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

³⁵ By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

The second lesson that Jesus taught his disciples was ‘The Parable of the True Vine.’  He advised his apostle-apprentices that they were “clean through the word” which he had spoken unto them, and that he would continually prune and purge them as branches of The True Vine.  Nevertheless, in order to actualize the best for themselves and for the Kingdom, they must “abide” in Christ Jesus. (John 15:1-11)

The third lesson that Jesus taught his disciples was actually a dynamic promise.  The Holy Spirit (Comforter) would come in order 1) to reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; 2) to guide believers into all truth; 3) to show believers things to come; 4) to glorify God as revealed in Christ; and, 5) to empower believers for Kingdom service. (John 16:7-15 and Acts 1:8)

That evening, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He asked the disciples for help.  Watch and pray “for (my) soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death.” (Mark 14:34)  It was the hour of final decision before his vicarious suffering and death, and it was such an agonizing moment that Jesus experienced a medical condition known as hematohidrosis, a rare condition when human beings actually perspire blood.

Luke 22:41-44

⁴¹ And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

⁴² Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

⁴³ And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

⁴⁴ And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Finally, as Judas betrayed him with a kiss, Roman soldiers arrested him and delivered him to the religious and civil authorities for judgment.  A terribly trying night-and-day lay ahead for the Savior of the world. 

Thank you, Jesus!