I never understood where the term Maundy Thursday came from. Maybe you’ve never even heard of the term before. In the church, it is the Thursday before Easter and commemorates Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. This event is recorded in John, chapter three:
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. John 13:3 - 5 (NKJV)
Jesus then proceeded to explain to them why He had done that...
And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. John 13:14 - 15 (NLT)
His explanation continued and reinforced the fact that He wanted them to know beyond doubt that He was the Messiah…and then,
When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.” John 13:21 (NASB)
Jesus already knew who it was and what he had already done. The account in Matthew shows us that Judas went to the chief priests right after the incident with the costly perfume being poured out on Jesus’ head and before the First Day of Passover:
Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him. Matthew 26:14 - 16 (NKJV)
Well, you may think that I have digressed from my original wonderings at the origin of the term “Maundy Thursday,” but hang in there.
The Encarta Dictionary North America (online) says that the term “Maundy” is “the distribution of Maundy money by the British sovereign.” They also mention the Christian observance of the foot washing, but isn’t it interesting to note that the leadership of the Jews “distributed money” for the purpose of getting rid of Jesus!
Well, I hope I didn’t bore you with that little adventure. The most important thing I think that we can dwell on today, Maundy Thursday, is that Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, stooped to serve others on this day. We must not see ourselves as to high and mighty to serve even the lowliest of people, for they are all God’s children.
SEEK FIRST THE
