Thursday

Maundy (from Latin Mandatum), or Washing of the Feet, is a religious rite observed as an ordinance by several Christian denominations. John 13:1–17 mentions Jesus performing this act. Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, Sheer Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries) is the Christian feast, or holy day, falling on the Thursday before Easter. It commemorates the Maundy (washing of feet) and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in the Canonical gospels. It is the fifth day of Holy Week, preceded by Holy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday. This day begins the Easter Triduum, the period that commemorates the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ; this period includes Good Friday and Holy Saturday and ends on the evening of Easter.   

May we reflect on one important event that is not talked about enough in the Christian world, and that is the events surrounding the Garden.  It was on this day that Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane and took upon Himself the sins and sorrows of the world.  Hardly anyone else in the Christian world really understands what happened in Gethsemane.  This is the place scholars point to as to where the actual Atonement took place, with the crucifixion being the final event.  What took place in the Garden was so painful that Jesus asked His Father for relief.  This obedient Son, the Great Jehovah, knew that this event was a necessary part of God, His Father’s Plan, but, perhaps, Jesus was not aware or prepared for the emotional or physical pain that would transpire.  Matthew says, He “fell on his face and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”  Mark says that Jesus “began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy…My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death…” The stress and pain were so acute that He was profusely sweating, and Luke says, “…his sweat was as it were great drops falling down to the ground.”  The word Gethsemane means “wine press.”  The Garden contained many olive trees whose fruit was used for producing the precious olive oil, which was valuable in New Testament times.  In order to obtain oil from the olives grown on those trees requires a machine that uses enormous force to produce the oil from these small olives.  Initially, the color of this oil when forced out of the press…is red.

We are so inexpressibly blessed by what Christ did for us this evening, as He endured the anguish and agony alone. 

With our limited mortal understanding, it is hard to even comprehend how the Atonement works, the sins of mankind from Adam until those who have yet come to Earth can be forgiven.  But this we know: The power of Jesus Christ extends to every human being.  May we believe and have trust in this truth.