Today is April 1, 2010. Many recognize today as April Fool’s Day. Even more importantly, today is Maundy Thursday. And that is no joke!
We celebrate Maundy Thursday on the Thursday before Easter during Holy Week. It doesn’t necessarily fall on April 1 every year, but is dependent upon the date of Easter. Maundy Thursday is the day Jesus shared his last supper with his disciples. It was also on this day he was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives.
There have been many artists who have depicted this meal in painting and sculpture. The most famous is Leonardo DaVinci. Most however, falsely depict this meal as it has Jesus and his disciples sitting around the table on chairs. The reality is they would not have sat at chairs but rather reclined around the table on the floor. But that is another matter.
The Gospel of John has the most detailed account of the events of this night. The events of Maundy Thursday take up more than five chapters, almost 1/4, of the Gospel of John. He begins the account in chapter 13 and continues into the beginning part of chapter 18. John has more to say about the events of Maundy Thursday than he has to say about Good Friday and Easter combined (less than four chapters). Yet, the Gospel of John is the only gospel that does not document Jesus instituting the Lord’s Supper, the one thing we might most associate with Maundy Thursday.
You might ask why we call it Maundy Thursday. Maundy is not a word that we are accustomed to use. There is some debate, but the most widely accepted explanation is that it is derived from the Latin word mandatum from which we get our English word mandate. In John 13:34, Jesus says, “A new command (mandate) I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. “
Maundy Thursday represented an incredible turning point in the story of the Gospel. This would be the last time Jesus would interact with his disciples until after the resurrection. This is likely the reason John gives such a detailed account of these events. Jesus knew what he would share with his disciples on this night would stick with them for a long time, longer than they realized in the moment.
On this night Jesus shared the traditional Jewish Seder with his disciples. Last Sunday at Lord of Life, we re-enacted the Seder. To understand the Seder dinner helps us understand the so much better the events of this night. If you have never participated in a Seder I would highly recommend doing so. Lord of Life will likely host the Seder again next year. So make sure to keep an eye out for it.
Tonight, Lord of Life will observe Maundy Thursday as we will worship at 7pm and receive the Lord’s Supper. It lead us into the Easter Triduum, which are the 3 day of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday when we remember Jesus passion, death, and burial, but end with the celebration of his resurrection. Additional worship opportunities at Lord of Life will include Good Friday at 7pm and Easter Sunday at 8:30 or 10am.
