Maundy Thursday- Passover and The Last Supper - By Liz Vander Griend

Holy Week takes a somber turn on Maundy Thursday. The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word for, “command” and refers to Jesus’ commandment to “Love one another as I have loved you.”

After Jesus and his disciples spent the night in Bethany, they returned to Jerusalem to prepare for the Passover Feast. This familiar picture depicts Jesus sharing a meal with his disciples where he also establishes the Lord’s Supper or Communion. He instructs them to continually remember his sacrifice by sharing the elements of bread and wine.

After the meal, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane where he prayed to God the Father. He was filled with agony, so much so that it is said in the Bible that his sweat became like drops of blood as they fell to the ground. He knew that Judas would betray him later that evening and he knew that Peter would deny knowing him, not once, but three times.

Take a moment to reflect on what God the Father witnessed and heard his Son say as his Son emotionally suffered in that garden.

Today’s Activity:

Before Jesus and his disciples’ broke bread together, Jesus humbly washed their feet to show how we should love one another. It is a beautifully humbling act to wash another’s feet, so if you would like to share in that experience with your child or spouse, please do, but if not, perhaps you might consider washing and drying one another’s hands to the song below before partaking in Communion.

Communion is a symbolic act. Eating a bite of bread and taking a drink of wine or juice in remembrance of Christ can be done alone or with others. The bread represents Jesus’ body and how he suffered brokenness for our sake. The wine or juice represents his blood and how he shed his blood on the cross to pay for all of mankind’s sins. His sacrifice makes it possible for all who believe in Him, to share eternity with Him and God the Father in Heaven.

Communion can be a daily remembrance, so we are inviting you to partake in communion on this Maundy Thursday and on Good Friday as well?

*Thursday's events are recorded in Matthew 26:17–75, Mark 14:12-72, Luke 22:7-62, and John 13:1-38.