Celebrating Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday is one of those special services that even many Christians know nothing about. That is a shame because it can be a very meaningful and special part of Holy Week.

Many Christians celebrate Maundy Thursday with a Love Feast, a Foot Washing service, and the Eucharist. All of this to better remember the events of the Last Supper.

Christians have many different ideas about this service. They range from neglecting it, to “washing feet – yuck”, to “Wow, this is really meaningful.” Also among those who observe it there are many different traditions and ideas about how to do it, who can participate, and what it all means. So, in getting ready for it this year I decided to look again at the Gospel accounts and see what they say about it. I rediscovered some interesting things!

This was the last meal Jesus would have before his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. He had very important things to say and I suppose a good, peaceful meal with his best friends would have been very helpful to him. Because of those factors, I was struck by whom he spent it with. He spent it with the disciples who would run and leave him later during the arrest. He spent it with Peter, James, and John who would not even stay awake to pray with him in the Garden. He spent it with Peter who would deny him three times later that same night. He even spent it with Judas Iscariot who would betray him!

Then I noticed some other things. Luke records how Jesus made this solemn comment, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” {2:15-16} Then He shared the bread and the cup. The Disciples respond with “a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.” {22:24} Jesus gently corrects them as he does throughout the meal and discourse that is part of it.

A similar thing happens when Jesus washes Peter’s feet. I also noticed again that none of them humbled themselves to do that task and Peter is the only one on record who protested. Yet Jesus did not seem offended rather he used it as a teachable moment.

t is Judas Iscariot who really caught my eye though. Jesus knew what he was up to. Jesus had him at the meal anyway. Jesus washed his feet anyway! Jesus then tells him that his plot is not a secret and enables him to leave.

This really challenged me. I have heard that we need to prepare ourselves for this service and communion. This is proper Paul writes about it in 1 Corinthians 11. But, I also have heard that we can only participate with people we are totally at peace with. This often has the connotation that we agree on everything, be good friends, like each other, and so on. Yet Jesus’ example shows how those ideas are wrong. Look whose feet he washed. Look who he celebrated the first Communion with!

So this Maundy Thursday, I need to come prepared, making sure that I have confessed and repented of sin in my life, making sure that I have forgiven and hold no grudges against anyone. However, I can still go even if there might be someone there I do not totally agree with, I can go if there might even be someone there I do not particularly care for. Those things do not mean they are not fellow Christians, that I can not serve them in the name of Christ, and certainly not that I cannot love them in Christ! The least we can do is follow Christ’s example in all this.

This Holy Week, prepare yourself for special times of celebration and worship. May we gather together as brothers and sisters in Christ to serve and love each other in obedience and honor to our Lord.

Written by Rev. Daniel Baker March 2005



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