Maundy Thursday
MUSIC BLOG
04-17-2024
Maundy Thursday
As I have written before, I grew up in a Southern Baptist church with strong Southern Baptist ties. Although it seems that many Baptist congregations ignore the traditions of Holy Week, I was blessed to grow up in a church that at least partly observed the church calendar. We did not have daily services, but we often had Thursday communion as a congregation.
I remember hearing the word Maundy and wondering why Monday was misspelled. There are many words in the English language that have Latin roots, and we can figure out what they mean based on the closeness of the ancient word to one we use currently. Maundy is not one of those words. Observing communion on Thursday before Easter Sunday has always been a good way for me to reflect on the suffering, humility, and sacrifice of Jesus. The somber moment of reflection makes the joy of the resurrection even greater.
If you have time and the opportunity to attend church today, let me encourage you. Even if it’s not in your comfort zone or with your normal church family, it can be a significant experience for you.
Focus on the family had a good word for today, and I’d like to share it with you:
The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin for “commandment.” Jesus commands us to love in His final instructions before going to the cross.
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.
We don’t often see the parts of the puzzle come together in our lives. It often feels like we are spinning our wheels or simply going through the motions of our day. Here in the scripture, God pulls back the curtain. We see prophecy fulfilled, we see the plots of the Pharisees, Judas' bitter betrayal, the confusion and heartbreak of the disciples, and the strength, amazing love, and sacrifice of Jesus. It begs the question, “Why would God Himself want to come and be a part of His creation if this was the end game?” That, my friend, is the mystery and beauty of the cross.
Be grateful today, be in tears today,
Be Blessed.
Marty