Thursday of Holy Week was one of the most important. It holds the beginning of an important part of our faith journey we know as communion or the Lord’s Supper. That happened during the Passover meal that Jesus had with those closest to Him. The other part of Thursday was the arrest of Jesus and what took place in the Garden that night.
It is known at Maundy Thursday which relates to the latin word for command speaking to the instruction Jesus gave His disciples during the last supper. It is also called Holy Thursday. Let’s pull it in to the two happenings and watch how they unfold.
Matthew 26:26-29 NLT
As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. 29 Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”
The first communion speaks of the significance of the body of Jesus which was given as a sacrifice for us. He was literally broken similarly to how Jesus broke the bread. And the cup symbolizes the blood of Jesus poured out for our sins. This act reminds us of som Old Testament truth of a need for sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin. But Jesus’ death and shed blood aren’t annual event but a once for all.
We celebrate the Lord’s Supper or communion and as we are instructed to do this in remembrance of Jesus. His sacrifice is a gift and is enough for our need.
Another of the important aspects of the meal is what Jesus did at the end as an act of serving while reminding His followers that we are to follow His example.
John 13:4-5,14-17 NLT
So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
Now it is our turn. Wash the feet of others. Serve others. Be the servant!
We find Jesus later that same night in the Garden with His three closest followers, Peter, James and John. There are so many things that we can mention about that night. The guys couldn’t stay awake. Peter cut off the ear of one of the officers coming to arrest Jesus. The beginning of the trial and more.
But I point you to a couple places that stand out for me.
Matthew 26:39,42 NLT
He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” … Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.”
Not my will, Jesus said, but your will Father. He was willing, yet Jesus literately sweat drops of blood. This was a difficult moment when the Father determined to turn His back on His son. Jesus was born for this, to give His life as a ransom for many.
We must look at this day in Easter, in Holy Week, knowing that the institution of the Lord’s Supper and the will of God being fulfilled in Jesus’ life change us. So much more is going on. We will take all this in and celebrate Jesus.
Spend time today with Jesus. Celebrate Him and this Easter reality. He gave all for us. He was and is willing to be who God called Him to be.
Matthew 20:28 NLT
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.
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