Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday
John 13:4 - 5 The selfless act of washing the feet of His disciples was the most important parable of all, teaching them about true humility.
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“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, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.”
John 13:3-5 NASB1995
Today is Holy Thursday, known also as Maundy Thursday. This day during the Christian Holy Week commemorates two events in the last days before the arrest, trial, scourging, crucifixion, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The events? The washing of the feet of His disciples by Jesus, and the Last Supper at which this act was performed. The footwashing is the origin of the English word “maundy”, which is still practiced in many churches during services on this holy day. Maundy came from the Middle English and Old French “mandé”, from the Latin mandatum, the first word of the Latin phrase “Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatus invicem sicut dilexi vos”. For those of you who did not go to Catholic Latin masses back when they were a thing (and for those of us who are too old to remember what the Latin words meant), that is translated as “A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another”.
Sound familiar? It’s from John 13:34
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””
John 13:34-35 NASB1995
Chapter 13 of the Gospel of John describes the Last Supper in much more detail than any of the other Gospels. In verses 4 and 5, Jesus does something unexpected and amazing. David Guzik describes this beautifully in his Enduring Word commentary:
b. Began to wash the disciples’ feet: At this moment of deep meaning, Jesus did something that must have almost seemed crazy. He began to do the job of the lowest servant in the household. He began to wash the disciples’ feet.
i. At this critical moment, at this evening before the torture of the cross, Jesus did not think of Himself. He thought about His disciples. Truly, this was loving them to the end. After all, Jesus’ disciples treated Him badly and were about to treat Him even worse, forsaking Him completely; yet He loved them.
ii. Jesus completely gave Himself to washing their feet. He was thorough in the work. First, He rose from supper. Then Jesus laid aside His garments, which had to remind Him of what waited in just a few hours, when He would be stripped of His garments and be crucified. Jesus then took a towel and girded Himself. Finally Jesus poured water into a basin. If Jesus wanted to just display the image of a servant, He would have had a servant or one of the disciples do all this preparation work. He then would have quickly wiped a damp cloth on a few dirty feet and consider the job done. That would give the image of servanthood and loving leadership, but Jesus gave Himself completely to this work.
iii. This was an extreme act of servanthood. According to the Jewish laws and traditions regarding the relationship between a teacher and his disciples, a teacher had no right to demand or expect that his disciples would wash his feet. It was absolutely unthinkable that the Master would wash His disciple’s feet.
Later in the same commentary:
d. Began to wash the disciples’ feet: In all of this, Jesus acted out a parable for the disciples. Jesus knew actions speak louder than words. So when He wanted to teach the proud, arguing disciples about true humility, He didn’t just say it – He showed it. He showed it in a way that illustrated His whole work on behalf of His own.
· Jesus rose from supper, a place of rest and comfort.
· Jesus rose from His throne in heaven, a place of rest and comfort.
· Jesus laid aside His garments, taking off His covering.
· Jesus laid aside His glory, taking off His heavenly covering.
· Jesus took a towel and girded Himself, being ready to work.
· Jesus took the form of a servant, and came ready to work.
· Jesus poured water into a basin, ready to clean.
· Jesus poured out His blood to cleanse us from the guilt and penalty of sin.
· Jesus sat down again (John 13:12) after washing their feet.
· Jesus sat down at the right hand of God the Father after cleansing us,
In this one act, Jesus provided an object lesson for all Christians. Not that we should wash another’s feet — although that would demonstrate love — but that we should serve others selflessly as the most visible proof of loving one another.
Maundy Thursday and the Last Supper often take a lesser role in Holy Week, but to me it seems like this day should be a reminder to us of our mandatum (mandate) to love one another through our service.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father, Jesus lived in spirit and truth, and may I emulate His life doing the same, in submission to the Holy Spirit and through obedience to Your will. May I become humble and love as Christ loved so that Your Son may be seen in me, and I can demonstrate His love in my life to Your praise and glory. I pray this in Jesus’ name, AMEN.