Today is known as Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday.
“Maundy” is Latin for “command” and is associated with the command that Jesus gave His disciples at the Last Supper to love others as He loved them.
A new commandment I give to you,
that you love one another;
as I have loved you,
that you also love one another.
By this all will know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34 NKJV
“Maundy” also has to do with the ceremonial washing of feet which Jesus did for each of His disciples that evening. While I struggled to develop a servant’s heart, I thought about this event many times. How could I justify having so much pride when Jesus Himself performed this lowly act twelve times?
Bible Verse of the Day
So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
John 13:12-17 NKJV
Can you imagine the Son of God washing your feet?
This was the night of the Last Supper when Jesus and His disciples were celebrating the Passover, commemorating the night when God sent His angel throughout Egypt killing the firstborn of each family. Only those who had put lamb’s blood (symbolizing the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God) on their lintels and doorposts were spared; those houses were Passed Over. This was the breaking point for Pharaoh and he released God’s people out of bondage and Moses led them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.
So it was fitting that this night, Maundy Thursday would be the night before the Lamb of God was sacrificed to save all of us from death. During the meal, Jesus offered His disciples bread and wine to create a new covenant.
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it,
and gave it to them, saying,
“This is My body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of Me.”
Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
Luke 22:19-20 NKJV
Prayer
Dear Father God, we are in awe of Your love and mercy. To send Your only Son to die for our sins is the greatest sacrifice the world has known. Father, may we share Your love with everyone we meet. May we show the same grace to everyone that You have shown us. Lord, we pray for servant hearts. Help us to be more Christlike, better image-bearers for Your glory. In Jesus’ precious name, we pray. Amen.
