Maundy Thursday -- On the Night

Meditation on Maundy Thursday

Psalm 116: 1-2; 12-19; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26; John 13: 1-17; 31b-35

Photo by Debby Hudson

Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, commemorates the day Jesus Christ shared the Last Supper with his disciples before his crucifixion. During this meal, Jesus established the Last Supper, also known as the Eucharist or Holy Communion, and performed the foot-washing ritual, demonstrating humility and service to others. The term "Maundy" originates from the Latin word "mandatum," meaning "commandment," which refers to Jesus' instruction to love one another.

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.  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. (John 13:1-6)

When he came to Peter, Peter objected, saying, "You shall never wash my feet." He then went on to argue with Jesus about the meaning of the gesture.

It was clear that, once again, Peter, maybe the most loyal of all of the Twelve, misunderstood who Jesus was. Peter and all of the disciples had not yet really got their heads around what it meant for the Christ,. the Messiah, to be a servant. They never really grasped the logic of "first shall be last, and the last, first."

But this was to be the last moment that Jesus would be with all twelve, to be their teacher, to live the message of extravagant love that he embodied. So he followed their last meal together and the very dramatic foot washing with the painful prediction of Peter's denial.

But he begins with a command:

“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.” (John 13: 34-35)

The foot washing and even the ritual gifts of his body and blood at the Last Supper, were all based on the fact that God so loved the world.

Love was the message,

Service was the means.

Peter's "You will never wash my feet" was answered by Christ's "This is my body, my blood... for you."

This is the message of Maundy Thursday.

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On the Night

You will never wash my feet!

This is my body, my blood...for you...