On this "Maundy Thursday" over two thousand years ago, Jesus and His disciples gathered together for what we call the Last Supper, for it is the last occasion where our Savior gathers together with them before his arrest, trial and execution. Maundy comes from the Latin word which means command and it is used by many of the faith to remind us of his command to His followers to love one another.
All in the group were Jews, so the meal was a Passover Seder, a long lasting gathering where different items of food were used symbolically as part of the ceremonial feast. There was also wine and laughter, but it was originated to remember God's gift to the Jews by the Passover of death in Egypt and the resultant freedom to leave under the leadership of Moses.
Jesus used the occasion to explain to His disciples what was about to happen. Some weren't sure what to make of it, but He wanted to prepare them for His departure. And as part of the meal He offered them the sacrament of Holy Communion by which they should remember Him. The bread represented the body and the wine the blood and by drinking of the cup and eating of the bread, the representation was of the life that He would give for them and all mankind.
Jesus also took the time to wash the feet of each disciple. This symbolized service and love since dusty feet being washed was quite a giving event and he used it to exemplify the love that they should share for others. Then Judas Iscariot was identified when Jesus told them that one of their group would betray Him and, as if on cue, Judas hastily departed, not to be seen again until later that night in the Garden.
Later, after hours of discourse where he laughed some but also showed signs of being pensive as he further explained what was about to come, they headed for the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. It was here that He asked them to stand guard as He went off separately for private prayer. It was during His communion with God that He asked to be spared, yet He knew that would not be done because His death was part of God's master plan and the reason why He was on earth. He was racked with grief and fear and trembled while sweating profusely. Some report he actually sweated blood, symbolic of just how stressed He was and the disciples watched and were concerned, yet they also fell asleep. They were chastised for this when He returned to their side, asking them why they couldn't even stay awake for Him.
Soon thereafter, the flickering of torch lights drew near and the sounds of the Temple soldiers grew louder. They were accompanied by Judas the Betrayer, who identified Jesus to them with a kiss on the cheek. A small skirmish erupted as Peter drew a sword and cut the ear off of a guard, but Jesus signaled them to stop any violence. Then Jesus knelt down and picked up the ear and replaced it on the man and the soldier was back to normal, not understanding how this could happen. Jesus was then roughly led off to see Caiaphas and the other priests where, in the wee hours of the next day his trial, a farce, was conducted. Since they wanted to condemn Him to death, it required the High Priest to convince Pontius Pilate to order it, but we'll pick up the story at that point tomorrow, on Good Friday.
The brutal truth of the Prophesy was coming alive and the disciples still didn't understand the full ramification of what was happening. Peter denied Him three times before sunrise and Judas, realizing the gravity of His actions for a mere thirty pieces of silver, hanged himself.
TOMORROW: The Brutal Death on Calvary's Cross
All in the group were Jews, so the meal was a Passover Seder, a long lasting gathering where different items of food were used symbolically as part of the ceremonial feast. There was also wine and laughter, but it was originated to remember God's gift to the Jews by the Passover of death in Egypt and the resultant freedom to leave under the leadership of Moses.
Jesus used the occasion to explain to His disciples what was about to happen. Some weren't sure what to make of it, but He wanted to prepare them for His departure. And as part of the meal He offered them the sacrament of Holy Communion by which they should remember Him. The bread represented the body and the wine the blood and by drinking of the cup and eating of the bread, the representation was of the life that He would give for them and all mankind.
Jesus also took the time to wash the feet of each disciple. This symbolized service and love since dusty feet being washed was quite a giving event and he used it to exemplify the love that they should share for others. Then Judas Iscariot was identified when Jesus told them that one of their group would betray Him and, as if on cue, Judas hastily departed, not to be seen again until later that night in the Garden.
Later, after hours of discourse where he laughed some but also showed signs of being pensive as he further explained what was about to come, they headed for the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. It was here that He asked them to stand guard as He went off separately for private prayer. It was during His communion with God that He asked to be spared, yet He knew that would not be done because His death was part of God's master plan and the reason why He was on earth. He was racked with grief and fear and trembled while sweating profusely. Some report he actually sweated blood, symbolic of just how stressed He was and the disciples watched and were concerned, yet they also fell asleep. They were chastised for this when He returned to their side, asking them why they couldn't even stay awake for Him.
Soon thereafter, the flickering of torch lights drew near and the sounds of the Temple soldiers grew louder. They were accompanied by Judas the Betrayer, who identified Jesus to them with a kiss on the cheek. A small skirmish erupted as Peter drew a sword and cut the ear off of a guard, but Jesus signaled them to stop any violence. Then Jesus knelt down and picked up the ear and replaced it on the man and the soldier was back to normal, not understanding how this could happen. Jesus was then roughly led off to see Caiaphas and the other priests where, in the wee hours of the next day his trial, a farce, was conducted. Since they wanted to condemn Him to death, it required the High Priest to convince Pontius Pilate to order it, but we'll pick up the story at that point tomorrow, on Good Friday.
The brutal truth of the Prophesy was coming alive and the disciples still didn't understand the full ramification of what was happening. Peter denied Him three times before sunrise and Judas, realizing the gravity of His actions for a mere thirty pieces of silver, hanged himself.
TOMORROW: The Brutal Death on Calvary's Cross
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