Significance of Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday is celebrated on Thursday before Good Friday during Holy Week which begins on Palm Sunday the preceding Sunday. Maundy Thursday comes in the last week of Lent and just three days before Easter: the day Jesus rose from the dead.
Maundy Thursday Symbolism
Maundy Thursday is known to Christians for a lot of things and one of them is the symbolic day that we observe the Last Supper: the day Jesus had his last meal before being betrayed and then crucified. The word maundy can be viewed to convey a command and its symbolism lies in the belief that Jesus commanded his disciples to love and serve one another. As can be seen from the New Testament (John 13:14) Jesus washed his twelve disciples feet on Maundy Thursday to show his willingness to be humble; washing your guest's feet in those days was a task given to the servants. He in effect put himself in a position of a servant to show his disciples the importance of serving each other (John 13: 15). He said they should do for each other as he has done for them. He additionally told his disciples that they will be blessed if they in effect honor each other by serving and loving each other.
Contemporary Meaning
It's symbolic today of a broader concern to serve humanity and not be self-centered and selfish. Some say the important symbolism of Maundy Thursday is a reference to the familiar communion words spoken by the pastor which in part say "take, eat my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." This command can be seen to be derived from the word maundy. A similar phrase is spoken as wine is offered to those taking communion. The communers are told this is his "blood. Drink this in remembrance of me."
Judas Iscariot Betrays Jesus
In the New Testament (John 13:18) Jesus predicts his betrayal by one of his disciples Judas Iscariot. Judas was also the man with the money: the one who was tasked with buying the food for the Last Supper which took place on Maundy Thursday. It is symbolism that is inescapable today; a man fraudulently represents his intentions and turns Jesus over to the Romans for a bag of silver coins. Jesus knew of the betrayal and let him carry out his plan as had been prophesied in scripture in order to fulfill the prophesy of the Passover Supper and have his last precious time with his disciples.
