Maundy Thursday

The joy and celebration of Easter are almost upon us. We will soon delight in the happy pastels of men’s ties and little girls’ dresses, the cheerful and jubilant songs (especially if accompanied by brass instruments), the indulgence of candy and candied ham, and exultation of the ancient dialogue,

“Christ is Risen!”

“He is Risen Indeed!”

But right now, on Maundy Thursday, we must wait. And not just wait, but palpably undergo something other than Easter victory and triumph. Maundy Thursday begins the last leg of the season of Lent. And part of Lent’s job is to provide a contrast to Easter. Sour before the sweet. Lament before the rejoicing. Dark before the light.

For Jesus Christ himself, the darkness builds over the Three Days immediately preceding Easter. He dies an unjust, forsaken, and gruesome death on Friday. He descends to the bottom of hell on Saturday. But for us who would follow Jesus, the darkest day is Thursday. 

Maundy Thursday has deep roots in the Christian tradition. For centuries, the main scripture for the day came from John 13. There, Jesus shares a meal with his disciples. Knowing that he will soon die, he begins giving them his parting words, among which are, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.” (v 13). The word “commandment” (or “mandate”) in an earlier version of English was “Maundy,” giving us the traditional name for this day. 

But for the arc of Lent-Easter, more important than Jesus’ command to his disciples is Jesus’ sad knowledge that his impending death is no accident. And neither is his abandonment on the cross. For Jesus shares this last meal not with devoted and faithful followers, but with his betrayers and deserters. As John tells us from the beginning of the meal, the devil had already convinced Judas to betray Jesus (v 2) and Jesus knew it (v 11). And despite Peter’s confidence that he will die for Jesus, Jesus knows that Peter will repeatedly deny even knowing him (v 38).

The stories of Jesus’ disciples (especially their fumbles and missteps) were not written so that we, thousands of years later, could shake our heads, wag our fingers, and tell ourselves we would do better. The stories are a mirror for all of us who would follow Christ, showing us that Jesus only collects followers who betray, abandon, and deny him. 

For believers, this is the real darkness that comes before the light of Easter. Even though Jesus washes our feet and shares his bread with us, we are not willing to follow him to the cross. We sell him out, deny knowing him, and let him die alone. Rejecting our Savior is our own descent to hell. 

But like all things Lent, this darkness gives way to light. Jesus accomplished many things when he rose from the dead. But for his deniers and deserters, the most important thing was that he came back to them with words of forgiveness and peace (John 20:21). He will have the same words for you. Although it pales in comparison to the radiance of the gift, it is fitting to celebrate this with bright colors, sunny songs, and tasty treats.   

Written by Christopher Richmann, Ph.D.

Associate Director, Academy for Teaching and Learning

Affiliate Faculty, Department of Religion

Baylor University