Holy Week: Maundy Thursday
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
Thursday morning dawns, and it’s an important day. Have you ever woken up to the smells of cooking and known that this was a special festival day? Your mother has work for you to do, cleaning and dusting. The good plates are brought out and the table set. Your favorite foods are being made and there are bowls to lick and samples to enjoy.
The Passover feast was such a familiar day. The house must be cleansed of every trace of yeast, the symbol of sin. Special unleavened bread must be baked. Someone must take the lamb to the temple and offer it in sacrifice, bringing home the portion that would be used in the meal. Other symbolic foods are readied. Glasses of wine are poured. At last all is ready.
This was not just any Passover. This is the last time that Jesus will share this feast with his friends. He had already arranged a place for them to be together. It’s in the city because that is where he needs to be in order to be arrested and tried, but in a secret place so that they would not be interrupted until this special time is done.
Now they gather in the upper room. Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. This is a task normally left to a servant, but none of the disciples would stoop to fill the role, so Jesus does it himself. It is a fitting introduction to the events to follow. Jesus will put himself last, beneath us all.
Interrupting the Passover liturgy, the familiar words they had often shared, Jesus adds his own. “Take and eat, this is my body.” “Drink of it all of you, this is my blood of the covenant…” Jesus gives himself to them… and to us.
After the meal is finished, they sing a hymn together and then go out to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. As Jesus prays, he hopes to be strengthened by the prayers of his friends, but they are too sleepy after a long day and a good meal. The angels watch and wait with Jesus.
We know what it’s like to be exhausted after a day of feasting and visiting. Perhaps in your house there have already begun to be preparations for an Easter meal. Decorations brought out. Cleaning begun.
But in the midst of celebration there is a more important story being told beneath the surface. In our worship and in our communion, in our family meals and in our prayers, God desires to give us more than happiness. He desires to strengthen us for the tasks ahead. He desires to build us up in faith. He desires us to be prepared to follow Jesus to the cross, and beyond to the victory over the grave!
In all the celebration, pray for these things first.
Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus, be my guest. Not only at my meals but in every moment of my day, be my companion so that I may grow strong and follow you faithfully. Help me to bear my cross, whatever it may be. Amen.