Today was Maundy Thursday, the name some people call the Thursday before Easter. But what in the world does it mean? After all, “Maundy” isn’t a word most of us go around using every day.
It all began on the last night that Jesus spent with His disciples. It was the time of year to celebrate Passover, so Jesus and His disciples joined throngs of other people in Jerusalem for the occasion. The group celebrated the Passover feast together, but Jesus did a couple of very important things in addition to all the usual traditions.
Here’s what the Holman Bible Dictionary says about it:
Christians began to regard Thursday of Holy Week as a special time for participating in the Lord’s Supper. The day came to be called ‘Maundy Thursday,’ a reference to Christ’s giving a ‘new commandment’ (John 13:34) to His disciples. The word ‘maundy’ comes from the Latin word for ‘commandment.’ Usually the early Maundy Thursday observances included a ceremonial foot-washing, in imitation of Christ’s washing the feet of the disciples (John 13:5-11).
Webster’s Dictionary tells about the Latin root of the word ‘maundy’ (‘commandment’), but also traces the word back to the Middle English word ‘maunde,’ which was a ceremony of washing the feet of the poor.
So … two reasons Christians observe Maundy Thursday are to remember Jesus’ new commandment (”Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.” [John 13:34-35]) and to remember that Jesus performed a servant’s job that night when He voluntarily bent to wash the disciples’ feet.
John the Baptist had said that he wasn’t even worthy enough to untie Jesus’ sandals. Yet now Jesus didn’t just untie the disciples’ sandals. He washed their feet and made them clean — calluses, dirty toenails and all. It was another way of showing them that in God’s world, the ones who serve are the greatest – not the ones who are sitting around being served.
Although it doesn’t tie in with the meaning of the word ‘maundy,’ Jesus did another thing that night that proved immensely important. As they finished their Passover meal, He instituted what we call Communion, or the Lord’s Supper. He took the bread and wine and told how they represented His body and blood that were about to be broken and spilled out for them.
Wow. What a package of lessons for the disciples to absorb in a single evening. Jesus knew His time was limited – that He literally was only hours away from His crucifixion. He used that time like any parent does when they’re about to be separated from their children — to squeeze in the most important advice in hopes that they’ll remember it.
Serve others. Love others. Remember what I’m about to do for you.
I’d say Jesus’ last night of teaching couldn’t have gotten any more powerful than that.
