The Meaning of Maundy Thursday

Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, 

During the next two days we will recount the suffering of Jesus. It all begins tonight. Jesus gathered the disciples together to celebrate the Passover meal. Before the meal started, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples as an example of service. Afterward, I can only imagine the mood of the disciples following their Master humbling himself to wash their feet. Their affection for Jesus was magnified in those moments. Then at the end of the meal, Jesus takes the bread and says the words we share each Communion Sunday, “This is my body given for you.” They must have been shocked, "What does this mean?" Jesus now takes the cup and says, “This is my blood shed for you.” 

No Jesus. Why Jesus? Why must your body be broken and your blood shed? Why? Why? Why?

Why indeed? The answer lies in our humanity. We come before God broken and dirty. Our bodies move toward death with no hope. Jesus provides the answer. In the broken body and shed blood of Jesus a price is paid for us. For everything that has been broken and soiled, Jesus washes it clean with His love. Our sin is forgiven. Our relationship with God is restored. We are given a second chance. 

The price that is paid for us is only the beginning. Not only do we see the sacrifice of God in Jesus, but we also see the power and victory of God’s love. Suffering and death is not the end – not with God. All things are possible with God. Jesus suffers the worst kind of betrayal, denial, suffering, and death so that God may establish for all time the most glorious of resurrections that history cannot deny. 

Join us tonight for a Maundy Thursday Holy Communion service beginning at 7:00 p.m.

We call this day Maundy Thursday for the great commandment “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love neighbor as self.” The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin “mandatum” which means command. As we remember the words of Jesus spoken on this night, let us examine the depth of our love for God and neighbor. As you return home following our serving tonight, remember that Jesus made his way to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray... where afterwards He is betrayed by Judas and arrested by the Jewish High Counsel. 

Here are a few scriptures to consider before tonight’s service; Luke 22:15-16, Matthew 26:20-30, John 13:5-15, Matthew 26:36-46, Matthew 26:69-75, and Matthew 27:1-14. 

See you tonight.

Pastor John Allen