Holy Week – Day 5

Each blog this week will have two parts: 1. What happened? 2. What does it mean to us?
1. What happened on Thursday of Holy Week?
Like everyone else in Jerusalem that night, Jesus and his disciples observed the Passover meal. Among Christians today, Thursday of Holy Week has come to be known as “Maundy Thursday.” “Maundy” is Latin for “mandate.” It refers to the “New Commandment” given to them that night by Jesus: “Love one another.” He gave new meaning to the wine and bread of the Passover: thereafter they were to think of him and his body and blood. It would become a new ordinance observed by Christians to this day. He performed the work of a servant by washing their feet, emphasizing that a willingness to humble oneself in service to others is a sign of greatness in the Kingdom of God. He spoke of himself as the way of salvation. They then walked to Gethsemane, where he prayed, “Not my will, but thine be done.” Then came the arrest, trials and crucifixion on the next day.
2. What does it mean to us?
Like the disciples, we have a craving for “greatness.” Our sinful nature prompts us to climb to the top of the human heap, above our peers, wielding power over others. When Jesus, clothed as a slave, knelt before each of his disciples to wash their feet, he was teaching them humility, emphasizing the very nature of what it means to belong to Jesus. Jesus emphasized throughout his ministry that true greatness with God means being able to humble ourselves and be of service to others. As he plainly taught us that Thursday night, we are to “love one another.”
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Click here to read an account of the day’s events (Last year’s blog about Day 5 of Holy Week).
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You may review last year’s blogs on Holy Week by clicking on “April 2011” in the “Archive” column in the right column of the index page. The blogs began on April 17, 2011 and concluded on April 24, 2011. The blogs give more details about each day during Holy Week.