What is Maundy Thursday?
Historically, Maundy Thursday is celebrated on the Thursday before Easter Sunday, commemorating the act of Christ washing His disciples’ feet and giving them a new commandment. The word maundy is taken from the Latin mandatum, which means mandate (command) in English. So, Maundy Thursday really is Mandate (or Command) Thursday.
Is Maundy Thursday Biblical?
From a biblical standpoint, the setting of Maundy Thursday is found in John 13–the beginning of Christ’s Upper Room Discourse. Here, Christ laid aside His garments, took a towel, and made Himself ready to lead as a servant.
By the end of John 13, Christ states, “A new commandment I give to you.” Whoa. To give a new commandment is unthinkable in the Jewish religious system. For thousands of years, their laws and commandments were given only by God and explained only by men of God. Yet, Christ turns things on their end by giving a new commandment. In essence, this announcement directly opposes Him to the ruling religious authorities. He is, in effect, making Himself out to be God.
But then, He clarifies what the new commandment is. In John 13:34, Christ says this new commandment is “that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” In other words, this new commandment is that Christ’s followers love each other the same way Christ loves them. It’s a love with incomprehensible bounds. However, the Lord goes on to provide the “why” or the purpose for this new commandment:
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35
Thus, Christ’s new commandment is built on the principle of a love shared from a love received so that all men know they are Christ’s followers. It has a purpose.
What is the Purpose of Maundy Thursday?
The purpose of this new commandment is identification for evangelism, specifically, identification with Christ. This Upper Room Discourse is Christ’s last word for His disciples before He is captured, tried, convicted, and brutally murdered.
The gravity of the situation, combined with the understanding of our Lord, was made clear because He knew the only thing to bind His followers would be love for each other. Love remains because it is eternal.
How Does This Apply To Us Today?
Before Jesus readied Himself to wash His disciples’ feet and gave them a new commandment, He identified Himself with the Father. “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God” John 13:3.
- Based on His identity, Christ led as a servant.
- Jesus knew that:
- The Father had given Him all things–Christ’s authority.
- He had come from God–Christ’s identity.
- He was going back to God–Christ’s future.
- Jesus knew that:
- Maundy Thursday calls Christ’s followers to identify with Him as they lead as servants.
- The Christian’s authority is Christ, rooted in identity with Christ, so we may be with Him in fellowship for eternity.
- Thus, the Christian–based on Christ’s new commandment–leads from identification with Him.
- Maundy Thursday calls Christ’s followers to view their love for other followers of Christ as their primary evangelist tool.
- The Christian understands their love for other Christians is evangelistic and desired by Christ.
- Thus, the Christian chooses to love through the triumphs and tragedies of interacting with other Christians.