The Day
The Thursday of Holy Week is commonly called “Maundy Thursday” (from the Latin of John 13:34, “I give you a new commandment [mandatum]”). On this day, Jesus ate the Passover meal with his disciples, instituted the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, commanded his disciples to love one another, gave his Farewell Discourse, and prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. These events likely took place on April 2 (Nisan 14), AD 33.
Scriptures
The following passages are commonly read in Maundy Thursday church services:
- OT: Exodus 12:1–14a
- Psalm: Psalm 78:14–20, 23–25; or Psalm 116:1–2, 12–19
- Epistle: 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 (27–32)
- Gospel: John 13:1–17, 31b–35; or Luke 22:14–30
Hymns
- Psalm 78 (Seedbed Psalter)
- Psalm 116 (Seedbed Psalter)
- Keep the Feast
- Behold the Lamb
- Go to Dark Gethsemane (hymnary.org)
- More coming soon
Collect (Prayer)
The BCP features the following Collect:
Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
This prayer beautifully unites the past, present, and future aspects of the Lord’s Supper. The Eucharist is a remembrance of Christ’s suffering, instituted on a day in history; the bread and wine are a sacrament, holy mysteries by which we participate in Christ even now; and they are a pledge of eternal life, a foretaste of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Artwork
- Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles, Duccio di Buoninsegna
- The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci
Books
- Andreas J. Köstenberger and Justin Taylor, The Final Days of Jesus (Crossway, 2014). Pages 50–93 harmonize the Gospels and offer commentary on the events of Holy Thursday.
- …
More resources coming soon.
