The Final Week of Jesus' Life - Thursday

Maundy Thursday. A term used in the church for this day of the Holy Week leading up to Christ's crucifixion. Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday is the day before Jesus’ crucifixion. On this day Jesus had His Last Supper with His disciples before His death. On this day, Jesus took a normal "Passover meal" and changed it forever.

Jesus did several things on Maundy Thursday, according Matthew 26:17-75. He washed the disciples feet. This symbolizes Jesus’ humility and His servanthood. Think and muse over "When was the last time that I truly displayed a servant's heart, not for recognition, but because of my love for God and my fellow man?"

On this night, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. Holy Communion is a reminder that just as physical food and drink nourish our physical bodies, Jesus’ death and resurrection give eternal life to our spirit. This time we spend as Christians at the table of our Lord symbolizes the broken Body and spilt Blood of Jesus. We are called to remember what He did for us, so that we could be reconciled and forgiven before God the Father. "What does Communion really mean to me? Is it more than just a time spent in church? Do I look inwardly, outwardly, and upwardly? Do I think about His return?" 

They finished their time in the Upper Room by singing of some Psalms (Matthew 26:30). Six Psalms in the Old Testament are called the "Hallel" Psalms that are to be sung on the eve of Passover. These are probably the songs that Jesus and His disciples sang. Consider the words in these Psalms (NKJV) -

• "The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me;I found trouble and sorrow." (116:3)
• "I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord." (116:13)
• "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it." (118:22-24)
• "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord." (118:26)

Muse over, "What songs speak to me about Christ, His Crucifixion, His forgiveness, His relationship to me as Savior, and His great and glorious love?"