Alex Crain
Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter, believed to be
the day when Jesus celebrated his final Passover with His disciples.
Most notably, that Passover meal was when Jesus washed the feet of His
disciples in an extraordinary display of humility. He then commanded
them to do the same for each other.
What does Maundy Thursday Mean?
Christ's "mandate" is commemorated on Maundy Thursday---"maundy" being a
shortened form of mandatum (Latin), which means "command." It was on
the Thursday of Christ's final week before being crucified and
resurrected that He said these words to his disciples:
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (John 13:34).
What Was the New Commandment?
Well, for one thing, it raised the definition of love to a new and
higher standard. Jesus sacrificially met His followers' deepest
need---that of new spiritual life and the forgiveness of sins. He even
loved His enemies, and He calls us to show love to those who don't
appear to deserve it. Just as Jesus loved sinners "to the end" (or "to
the max" John 13:1) when He had nothing to gain from them, so must we. The Bible says that there was nothing attractive about sinful mankind that drew Him to love us. God loved us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). Salvation is not only a wonderful gift that protects us from the penalty that we deserve Romans 6:23, the work of Christ also embues new life, grants spiritual strength, and motivates godly action in those who believe:
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." (Titus 2:11-14)
While Scripture doesn't forbid us to commemorate days like Maundy
Thursday, the main question is are we observing Christ's new command to
love---especially those who deserve it least?
"Beloved, let us love one another. For love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:7-8)
Maundy Thursday Bible Verses
Luke 22:27-38
- " When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.
15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover
with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until
it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he
gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you
I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of
God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to
them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of
me.” .."
John 13:2-17 -
"Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and
that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from
the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his
waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his
disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash
my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but
later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my
feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my
head as well!”
Philippians 2:1-11
- "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with
Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the
Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by
being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one
mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in
humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own
interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your
relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself
nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human
likeness...
Maundy Thursday Prayer
This article is part of our larger Holy Week and Easter
resource library centered around the events leading up to the death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. We hope these articles help you understand
the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays and dates and
encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that God has done for
us through his son Jesus Christ!
