I did not grow up in a liturgical church so never heard of a Maundy Thursday service. As an adult, I have attended churches that blend liturgical elements into the services and I love the meaning behind these traditions. Maundy Thursday is one of them.  It is part of  Holy Week leading to Easter Sunday and is celebrated on the Thursday before Good Friday.

The word, “Maundy” is derived from the Latin word mandatum, meaning commandment. It refers to the commandments Jesus gave His disciples at the Last Supper, the night He was betrayed. He told them to love with humility by serving one another and to remember His sacrifice through the breaking of bread and wine that was about to be received. It was his Last Supper with his disciples.

During that time, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples and commanded them to do the same for each other. This extraordinary display of humility was followed by His famous words, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34).

Jesus took bread and wine and blessed it. With the bread, He said this represented His body given for us and that we are to break this bread and eat in remembrance of Him. He then took the cup of wine, blessed it and told His disciples it represented His blood, poured out for us. Do this also in remembrance  of  Him. This is what is celebrated at Maudy Thursday. It is a communion service, remembering the Last Supper and Jesus’ commands.

For me, it is a night o be reflective and commemorate the life of Christ, His crucifixion and glorious resurrection–to remember the incredible sacrifice of our Savior, what He did for us and to be thankful. Good Friday is always a solemn day as we remember the crucifixion, but then Easter, the best day of the year, follows!

So my friends, remember what Christ did for you this Maundy Thursday. Give thanks, love with humility and serve one another.