Maundy Thursday: A Commandment of Love

Facing the horrific, tortuous death on the cross, Jesus primary intent was to communicate a mission of love to his disciples. People often wonder, what is Maundy Thursday?

Today, we call it the Last Supper. It would be the final time Jesus and His disciples would meet over a meal before his bloody march to Calvary. There was a heaviness in the room—a foreboding. Something sinister was afoot and both Jesus and His followers knew it.

Despite preaching a gospel of love and forgiveness, Jesus had become an increasing threat to the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem. At first, they were merely jealous of his popularity. But as His teaching began to confront their hypocrisies and their stringent legalism, Jesus went from a nuisance to an enemy in their eyes.

When Jesus boldly declared, “I and the Father are one (John 10:30),” the Jewish leaders picked up rocks to stone him. Somehow, miraculously, Jesus escaped from their hands.

The confrontations continued and intensified. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness (Matthew 23:27).”

Earlier that week, Jesus had entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah (chapter 9, verse 9). As Jesus rode through the streets, people spread their coats or palm branches on the path before him. Crowds pressed in around him crying out “Hosanna to the Son of David (Matthew 21:9). Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord (Luke 19:38).”

This outburst angered the Pharisees and filled them with fear—not only of the Jews following after this seeming nobody from Nazareth, but also of the potential reprisal from the Romans. The Jewish religious leaders implored Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” But Jesus refused. “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”

This was the final straw for the Jewish leaders. Unaware that he was actually prophesying, the high priest, Caiaphas, calling for Jesus’ death, declared, “…it is expedient for you that one man die for the people… (John 11:50).”

So as Jesus and His disciples planned to eat the Passover meal together, Caiaphas and the Jewish leaders were planning to murder Him. To find him in the night, they had recruited one of Jesus’ closest disciples, Judas Iscariot.

The trap was set, but this was all in God’s plan.

Jesus the Lamb of God

Jesus understood that the time had come for Him to fulfill the ultimate calling on His life (John 13:1) – to be the final Passover Lamb, shedding His blood to pay for the sins of all mankind. What a profound event it must have been for Him to lead His disciples in the Passover meal, knowing that it symbolized the suffering He was about to endure.

Jesus would be the sinless, spotless Lamb, just as the Old Testament prophets had foretold.

Jesus would taste the bitterness of torture and death. (Isaiah 53:7-12)

None of His bones would be broken. (Psalm 34:20, Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12)

The blood of Jesus would be poured out as a sacrifice. (Luke 22:20, Revelation 1:5, Romans 3:24-25)

Then that blood would be placed spiritually and symbolically over the doorway to the heart of every person who would receive Him as their Savior by grace and faith. (Exodus 12:7, Leviticus 17:11, Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:13-14)

The Command to Love

As the meal concluded, Jesus gave some final instructions to His disciples—and to all who would follow Him in the centuries to come. Then He did something quite remarkable. He took a towel and poured water into a basin and began washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:5).

In First Century Israel, most people wore sandals and walked on dusty or muddy roads that were often covered by animal droppings. The task of cleaning people’s feet was given to a slave, or the lowliest servant in the home. But Jesus knelt before each of His disciples—even Judas who would betray Him—and took the role of the humblest servant.

Then He spoke the words that would give this solemn day its name, “Maundy Thursday.”

The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin word mandatum – from which we get the words “commandment” or “mandate.” Jesus commands us to love in His final instructions before going to the cross.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you… (John 13:34)

Facing the impending torture of a scourging and crucifixion, Jesus’ focus was on love. That is the message of Maundy Thursday.

Jesus took on the sins of the world on Calvary—including your sins and mine—to make a way for us to have a restored relationship with God. That is what Maundy Thursday is all about. In the world, filled with so much sorrow and sadness, Christ’s command to love one another shines like a beacon in the darkness. By grace, let each of us pick up this torch and shine the love of Jesus to lost and hurting people everywhere—thus fulfilling His final wish on earth.