This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12
These words, spoken by Jesus, is where we get the name of this day – Maundy Thursday. Maundy means “mandate” or “command;” (mandatum novum = new mandate). It was on this day that Jesus gave the command to love one another. This command was not a new one for the disciples. They had heard this command many times over the course of their lives. After all, the original command is found in the Law (Lev 19:18). The difference this time was that Jesus modeled how to love others by his act of servanthood of washing the disciples feet. He made the connection of loving others with serving others.
Preparations for the Passover were made Thursday afternoon. Jesus and his disciples ate the Passover meal, with Jesus instituting the Lord’s Supper.
There are significant events that occurred in the Upper Room as they gathered for Passover:
• Jesus and his disciples celebrated Passover. This annual feast was very significant to the Jewish people as they remembered their deliverance out of Egypt. (Mark 14:12–16)
• Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper (Matt 26:26–29)
• Jesus washed his disciples feet (John 13:1–20)
• Jesus revealed his betrayer (Matthew 26:20–25)
The events in the Upper Room concluded with Jesus and his disciples singing a hymn together. They then crossed the Kidron Valley and entered a garden called Gethsemane to pray. Gethsemane was familiar to them as they often spent time there while visiting Jerusalem (cf. Luke 22:39). Jesus spent time in the garden praying – asking God if there was any other way, rather than the cross (Mark 14:35–36). He also gave an account of his earthly mission to the Father who sent him (John 17:1–5); he prayed for his disciples (John 17:6–19); and he prayed for you and me, concerned for our unity and love (John 17:20–26).
As Jesus prayed, his disciples slept. It was hard for them to stay awake. When I think about this situation, it could be easy for me to judge the disciples for falling asleep at such a critical time. But it is hard for us to stay awake, too, isn’t it? I'm not talking about being awake physically—I'm talking about being awake spiritually. Jesus’ prayers were so intense that he needed an angel to come and strengthen him (Luke 22:43). And yet the disciples slept. The powers of this world continue to battle against Jesus and his Truth, and yet many of us sleep. We easily get drawn into the culture and temptations of our world. Our spirits want to do what is right, but our flesh is weak (Mark 14:38). We can easily fail to fulfill our calling as Christ followers merely by giving into various physical needs or desires. And so Jesus must awaken his disciples and lovingly rebuke them . . . and he does the same for us.
Prayer
Oh Lord, may we be ever watchful. May we keep our eyes focused on you, Jesus. When you return, may you find us “awake.” May we live our lives in such a way that at the end of our time, we hear, “Well done!”
My Song Is Love Unknown
My song is love unknown, my Savior’s love to me,
love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
my Lord should take frail flesh and die?
He came from his blest throne, salvation to bestow;
but men cared not, and none the longed–for Christ would know.
But oh, my Friend, my Friend indeed,
who at my need his life did spend!
Sometimes they strew his way, and his sweet praises sing;
resounding all the day hosannas to their King.
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
and for his death they thirst and cry.
Why, what hath my Lord done? What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run, he gave the blind their sight.
Sweet injuries! Yet all his deeds
their hatred feeds; they 'gainst him rise.
They rise, and needs will have my dear Lord sent away;
a murderer they save, the Prince of Life they slay.
Yet willing he to suff'ring goes,
that he his foes from thence might free.
In life, no house, no home my Lord on earth might have;
in death, no friendly tomb but what a stranger gave.
What may I say? Heav'n was his home,
but mine the tomb wherein he lay.
Here might I stay and sing, no story so divine;
never was love, dear King, never was grief like thine.
This is my Friend, in whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.
Samuel Crossman, 1664