Maundy Thursday is sometimes referred to as Holy Thursday, or Thursday of the Lord’s Supper, among other names. It’s a Christian feast during Holy Week. This year it is today, April 2. My wife and I will celebrate and worship with thousands of other believers at PCPC. We find it to be a very moving and special worship celebration, ending in Communion, or the Lord’s Supper.
Without going into great theological testimony, it is a very significant remembrance of Christ with his disciples. Jesus asked them to secure the upper room for them to have their last supper. While in Israel several years ago, we were taken to what is supposedly the Upper Room. We happened to be there with several other groups of varying languages. We broke out in song, everyone joined in and it was one of the most moving experiences we’ve ever had. It was a great reminder of what Christ came for. To be the Savior and King, Lord of all the nations.
Jesus and the disciples entered the room. No one washed his feet so he washed the disciples’ feet. That was significant as it was a life altering teaching moment. He came to serve and not be served. That is our mantra also. They then reclined around the table for their meal, and undoubtedly many significant thoughts were shared from the Lord that they would remember later. I believe that they asked him questions and tried to understand everything that was going on. We have to remember that they were living on that side of the crucifixion and resurrection. We are on this side of it looking back.
As an aside, how would you react to this situation, knowing that one of your disciples was going to betray you? Jesus taught, love your enemies. So many teaching moments in this Last Supper. And as they recline there and the meal was over, he established communion, the Lord’s Supper. Bread and wine were common elements for a meal at that time. So he used those elements and as always, he gave them examples that they would remember forever. He took the bread, broke it, and declared that this is my body broken for you. Then, appropriately, he held the cup of wine, and said this is my blood shed for you. As often as you eat this bread, and drink this wine, you do it in remembrance of me. The Apostles must have been thinking, what is he talking about?
I am certain he gave Judas Iscariot the opportunity to repent. But he, being God, knew that he wouldn’t. And he told him to go do it quickly. Judas sold him out for a little bit of money, and eventually hung himself for he knew what he had done to the Son of God. They finished the meal and communion. Judas left early, and Jesus and the disciples went out to the Garden of Gethsemane to ponder and pray. All of this was ordained before the foundation of the world. The exact moment and the exact place were predestined. Jesus is arrested, tried unfairly, the disciples scatter, leaving Jesus to face his destiny alone. And one of the worst betrayals was Peter’s denying Jesus three times beside an open fire outside the mock trial that was going on by the Sanhedrin.
This was Thursday night, and on Friday he was crucified. On Sunday, he rose from the grave, appeared to many witnesses, forgave Peter and ascended to the right hand of his Father, where he now rules, and reigns with full authority. And he desires for us to have communion with one another, and remember him as you’re doing it. Don’t focus on the elements, but on the One whose body was broken and blood shed for our redemption. Rejoice this Maunday Thursday! Hallelujah, he has risen!