What is Maundy Thursday About?

By Amanda Keys, Worship Assistant
We all know the routine: wake up, cook meals, run errands, go to work, sit in traffic, attend class, do homework, go to rehearsals or practices, race home, do some laundry, wash dishes, and hopefully find some time to relax, carry on a conversation, or even open up the Bible before heading to bed – just to start it all over the next morning.
This lifestyle could very easily be paralleled to the years of Jesus’ ministry – we see several times in the gospels where Jesus intentionally removed Himself from the crowds and activities to pray, reflect, and prepare. It is no wonder then that Jesus chose to take His last hours on earth retreated from the busyness of the world, in a private room with only His twelve disciples. This was where He chose to express the heart of the Father and His desire to do whatever was necessary for us to have eternal life.
Maundy Thursday has grown to reflect and represent this final meal of Jesus, just hours before He was crucified. The Maundy Thursday service, which derives its name from the Latin word ‘mandatum,’ meaning ‘commandment,’ begins this solemn remembrance of the four events of this day: Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, the institution of the Lord’s supper, Jesus’ agony in the garden, and the betrayal by Judas Iscariot. It is an opportunity to slow down, prepare our hearts, and reflect on what Jesus’ final days were like and the new commandment He left for us – to love one another.
We hope to see you Thursday, April 21, at 7 p.m. in the Worship Center for an evening of remembering the sacrifice of Christ through music, silence, and acts of humility. Due to the reflective nature of this service, childcare will be provided for children five years and under.