Maundy Thursday

Reading:  Luke Chapter 22 
The events of Jesus' final night 

• Judas agrees to betray Jesus
• The last supper
• Jesus prays on the Mount of Olives      
• Jesus is arrested
• Peter disowns Jesus
• The guards mock Jesus
• Jesus before the chief priests & the teachers of the law

This single chapter in Luke is jammed full with so many details and emotions. It is Jesus' final night before his death and He takes the opportunity to teach his disciples. The evening begins with the traditional Passover meal commemorating the exodus from Egyptian slavery and Jesus constitutes the meal to now be for remembering what he is about to do to free people from the slavery of their sins. As the body and blood of a lamb was used during the passover meal, so now Jesus is referring to Himself as the Lamb of God; His body given and His blood poured out for the washing of sins from our lives.

This night is sometimes called Holy Thursday,or Maundy Thursday. But what does the “Maundy” in “Maundy Thursday” mean? It’s certainly not a commonly-used word or something you’re likely to hear outside the context of Easter. What did this term mean, and where did it come from?  The word comes from the Latin word Mandatum which is translated as commandment.

In the context of Holy Week it refers to the commandment Jesus gave to his disciples while washing their feet, as recorded in John 13:34-35.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

How amazing it must have been for those disciples of Jesus to have Him humble himself to become their servant and wash the grime from between their toes.  "Love one another as I have loved you" is a powerful command from our Lord. The sacrificial love of Jesus wasn't just for His disciples but for all of us.  The disciples first needed to be washed by the Lord and then to follow his example to love others.  This is absolutely true for us as well.  Let us remember to take time this day to let Jesus wash the grime from our lives and then live love the way He has loved us.  There is no greater sermon than loving others unconditionally. They will see Jesus in us.