Holy Week: Maundy Thursday
Our Holy week series continues as we focus on the day known in the Christian faith as Maundy Thursday.
Maundy Thursday recognizes the day Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples in the Upper Room, and partook in the Lord's Supper. Here Jesus creates the custom that is practiced to this day throughout churches all over the world, Holy Communion.
Jesus took a loaf of bread and broke it, and explained to His disciples that the bread represents his body, and He passed a cup and He and the disciples drank it, the contents representing his blood.
The symbolism of the Holy communion was to demonstrate the sacrifice that Jesus would soon make, by dying on the cross. The sacrifice was done so that we may have a chance to be forgiven of our sins and gain eternal life.
Also at the Lord's Supper, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. By His example, Jesus demonstrated how Christians are to love one another through humble service. For this reason, many churches practice foot-washing ceremonies as a part of their Maundy Thursday services.
Also, we remember that on this night, Jesus told his disciples that one of them would betray Him.
John 13: 18-35 details Jesus informing his disciples that one would betray Him.
18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Join us tomorrow as we observe the events of Good Friday, the day Jesus laid down his life for you and for me.
Maundy Thursday recognizes the day Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples in the Upper Room, and partook in the Lord's Supper. Here Jesus creates the custom that is practiced to this day throughout churches all over the world, Holy Communion.
Jesus took a loaf of bread and broke it, and explained to His disciples that the bread represents his body, and He passed a cup and He and the disciples drank it, the contents representing his blood.
The symbolism of the Holy communion was to demonstrate the sacrifice that Jesus would soon make, by dying on the cross. The sacrifice was done so that we may have a chance to be forgiven of our sins and gain eternal life.
Also at the Lord's Supper, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. By His example, Jesus demonstrated how Christians are to love one another through humble service. For this reason, many churches practice foot-washing ceremonies as a part of their Maundy Thursday services.
Also, we remember that on this night, Jesus told his disciples that one of them would betray Him.
John 13: 18-35 details Jesus informing his disciples that one would betray Him.
18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Join us tomorrow as we observe the events of Good Friday, the day Jesus laid down his life for you and for me.