A mandate to love one another
April 9, 2009 (Thursday)
Thursday of Holy Week is known as “Maundy Thursday” by many Christians. The word, “Maundy” comes from a word meaning “mandate,” which is another way of saying “commandment.” Remember at the Last Supper Thursday night Jesus said to His disciples, “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
In the Jewish system of reckoning time, the day begins at sunset, so Thursday night to us is Friday to the Jews. That made it the eve of the Sabbath, and time for the Passover meal, a custom that dates back to their deliverance from Egyptian slavery and continues to the present day.*
Jesus and His disciples observed the Passover meal together, and afterwards, using the bread and wine already on the table, Jesus instituted what we Baptists call, “The Lord’s Supper,” also known as the “Eucharist (giving of thanks),” and “Communion (participation).” All groups participate in it with great reverence, because of its significance. It is a solemn celebration of the death of Christ in our behalf. We are moved by the thought that “Christ is our Passover,” the sacrificial lamb that saved us from spiritual death (1 Corinthians 5:7).
Jesus also dressed as a servant and washed the feet of His disciples, teaching them, and us, humility. We learn from this also that Jesus humbled Himself by becoming a human being and our Savior. Read Philippians 2:5-11 for a lesson on his “kenosis (self-emptying).”
The gospel of John quotes much of what Jesus taught them (and us) that night, beautiful and timeless messages of His love for us and His will for us. From the upper room, they went to Gethsemane for prayer, and from there, through the Jewish and Roman courts, to the Cross.
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* A special meal is observed, known today as the Seder meal, which is explained here: