Maundy Thursday

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  

John 13:14

Today is Holy Thursday. It has also been called Maundy Thursday, taken from the Latin word Mandatum, and shortened to “Maundy”. Mandatum is the Latin word from which we get the word “mandate” in English- that which is commanded.

It was of course at the Last Supper – the celebration of the Hebrew Seder meal- that Jesus commanded his disciples to carry on and remember to share bread together in remembrance of his body being broken as a sacrifice for people. The Passover meal is rich in symbolism of a people being redeemed by a special and miraculous work of God.

He also washed the feet of the disciples, something that Peter rebelled against, until he realized that taking on the role of servant to one another, even in the most menial of ways, is the way that Jesus followers should act.

Your church may have special services on this day to commemorate this Maundy Thursday. But whether or not you have such a service, this is a good day to remember that Jesus became the suffering servant as a model for us to follow.

Prayer: Lord, help us to remember that following Jesus is an act of serving others, Amen