Holy Thursday
Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday, commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with His disciples. Maundy comes from the Latin mandatum (commandment) referring to Jesus’ mandate to love and serve one another.
Hopefully the references will help to paint a picture of Jesus and His teachings with more depth than the typical Easter flannel graph.
Jesus begins by washing the disciples’ feet, including Judas’s, demonstrating servant leadership (Matt. 20:28) and embodying His command to love even one’s enemy (Matt. 5:44). Judas’s betrayal involves spiritual influence (Luke 22:3; John 13:27), showing that the battle is not merely physical but spiritual in nature (Eph. 6:12). Judas’s betrayal shows the dreadful reality of sin, unbelief, and satanic influence. Yet Judas remains morally responsible for his actions.
Jesus announces, “One of you will betray me” (Matt. 26:21). Far from being a victim, He reveals that He is fully aware and in control of His mission.
He then takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and declares: “This is my body.” He takes the cup and calls it “my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Jesus said His flesh is “true food” and His blood “true drink” (John 6:55), echoing Deut. 8:3 signifying that the Eucharist is not merely symbolic but a spiritual participation in Christ. Eucharistia means “thanksgiving,” forming communion through grace among believers and uniting them as one body in Christ.
Jesus then gives the New Commandment “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34-35), teaching that love is the defining mark of His disciples.
Jesus tells Peter he will deny Him three times. Later, the risen Christ restores Peter by asking three times, “Do you love me?” (John 21:15-17). Here the Greek matters: Jesus first asks Peter, “Do you agapao me?” -divine, self-giving love. Peter answers, “Lord, you know I phileo you” -a lesser, brotherly affection. Jesus meets Peter where he truly is, valuing honest confession over empty spiritual claims. Truth becomes the path to restoration.
In all of this, Jesus is not merely giving moral instruction. He is preparing His disciples to understand that access to the Father comes through Him alone.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me (John 14:6).
Hopefully the references will help to paint a picture of Jesus and His teachings with more depth than the typical Easter flannel graph.
Jesus begins by washing the disciples’ feet, including Judas’s, demonstrating servant leadership (Matt. 20:28) and embodying His command to love even one’s enemy (Matt. 5:44). Judas’s betrayal involves spiritual influence (Luke 22:3; John 13:27), showing that the battle is not merely physical but spiritual in nature (Eph. 6:12). Judas’s betrayal shows the dreadful reality of sin, unbelief, and satanic influence. Yet Judas remains morally responsible for his actions.
Jesus announces, “One of you will betray me” (Matt. 26:21). Far from being a victim, He reveals that He is fully aware and in control of His mission.
He then takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and declares: “This is my body.” He takes the cup and calls it “my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Jesus said His flesh is “true food” and His blood “true drink” (John 6:55), echoing Deut. 8:3 signifying that the Eucharist is not merely symbolic but a spiritual participation in Christ. Eucharistia means “thanksgiving,” forming communion through grace among believers and uniting them as one body in Christ.
Jesus then gives the New Commandment “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34-35), teaching that love is the defining mark of His disciples.
Jesus tells Peter he will deny Him three times. Later, the risen Christ restores Peter by asking three times, “Do you love me?” (John 21:15-17). Here the Greek matters: Jesus first asks Peter, “Do you agapao me?” -divine, self-giving love. Peter answers, “Lord, you know I phileo you” -a lesser, brotherly affection. Jesus meets Peter where he truly is, valuing honest confession over empty spiritual claims. Truth becomes the path to restoration.
In all of this, Jesus is not merely giving moral instruction. He is preparing His disciples to understand that access to the Father comes through Him alone.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me (John 14:6).
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