Holy Week 2020: Maundy Thursday

The Christian high holy day of Maundy Thursday is a subdued occasion when God’s Church remembers the final occasion on which Jesus of Nazareth gathered with his Twelve Disciples before his arrest, trial and crucifixion. Events which are remembered on Maundy Thursday include:

The foot washing. (John 13:15-17)
The Passover Feast.
The breaking of the bread.
The pouring of the cup.
The betrayal.

The name “maundy” is derived from the Latin word “mandatum,” used as a name for the commandment (commission or “mandate”) which Christ Jesus gives his followers in the upper room. Specifically, Christ’s “novum mandatum” is the new commandment to “wash one another’s feet.”

After he had washed their feet,… and had returned to the table, Jesus asked, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord… So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also must wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example to follow,’ says Jesus. “You also must do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them… I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that ‘I am.’ Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives the One who sent me.” (John 13:12-17, 19-20)

After saying this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” (John 13:21) “Lord, who is it?” asked the disciple whom Jesus loved. (John 13:25) Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread…” So when Jesus had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. (John 13:26) After Judas had received the piece of bread… Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you must do.” (John 13:27)

Hymns

In the Garden

1. I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear,
Falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.

REFRAIN

And He walks with me,
and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

2. He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

REFRAIN

3. I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling;
But He bids me go,
Through the voice of woe,
His voice to me is calling.

REFRAIN

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