Maundy Thursday: What It Is and How to Honor It
Holy Week is a noteworthy time for Christians around the world. It marks the week of Jesus’s death and resurrection, and many believers observe the entire week leading up to Easter, following God’s journey to the cross. The observance of Maundy Thursday follows this tradition, marking the day before Good Friday.
The word “maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum, which refers to commands or orders. Christians observe Maundy Thursday by following the commands Jesus gave his disciples as they shared a final meal together before His death and resurrection — The Last Supper, as it’s now called.
In ancient Jewish culture, foot washing was a common practice, cleaning the dirt from a guest’s feet after a day of walking on dusty footpaths. But this gesture went beyond practicality, demonstrating the hospitality of the household. This practice was often performed by servants or slaves, but Jesus took on the task Himself during this pivotal dinner. His disciples were indignant about this, but He insisted. He then went on to explain that this kind of hospitality and servanthood was the example they should follow.
After washing their feet, Jesus broke bread and shared wine with the disciples, introducing a new concept as He did. He explained that the bread and wine would now serve as His body and blood. When they ate and drank these together in the future, they would remember His sacrifice of love for them.
This was the first Holy Communion, and Christians still participate in the practice today. On Maundy Thursday, many churches open their doors for a service or meal. Some practice foot washing, others take communion, and others host an “Agape meal.” This special meal consists of bread, wine, and other simple offerings. As believers share food around the table, they’re following Jesus’s mandate to love and serve one another.
Today, we have the opportunity to continue Maundy Thursday traditions as a part of our faith communities and in our own homes. If you have children, this day in Holy Week offers a simple way for them to engage with the ideas of love and servanthood. Invite others over for a shared meal, practice hospitality with neighbors and friends, or simply wash each other’s feet as a family.
Maybe you’ve long observed Maundy Thursday as a part of your Holy Week practice, or maybe you’d like to begin for the first time. Either way, I’ve written a liturgy that I hope will bless you and guide you to love and serve others just as Jesus did. Download it below for just a dollar and welcome in the beauty of the Easter season.
