Your church is having a Maundy Thursday service. What in the world is that? What does that have to do with this Holy Week?
Maundy comes from the word mandate. Originally, it would have been Mandate Thursday, but through the years the terminology changed to maundy. A mandate is an authoritative command. But, what does mandate have to do with the Thursday of this Holy Week?
Jesus gathered with his disciples in the upper room to celebrate Passover. This commemorated when the death angel passed over those of God's people who had the blood of the lamb upon their doorposts. A Passover meal entails several items eaten to symbolize and remind the Jewish people of God's delivering them from Egypt.
But, after that Jesus instituted what we call the Lord's Supper or Communion. This is when he blessed the bread and said: "This is my body." He also blessed the cup saying, "This is my blood." As He performed this first Lord's Supper, He mandated that the believers do this to remember Him. He also said it should be done until He comes back.
As we attend Maundy Thursday services, let's strive to follow Jesus' command to remember His sacrifice for us. He became the Lamb whose blood was poured out to cleanse all sin - once and for all.