“Maundy Thursday”
“Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Matthew 26:36-38
It is Holy Week. Today is Maundy Thursday, or “Holy Thursday”. It is a day that is sometimes overlooked or misunderstood. But it is good to discover or remind ourselves of the events that took place before Jesus’ death on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter. Each moment spent with His disciples and those He dearly loved is significant and without coincidence.
First, Jesus met with His disciples for a meal together – “The Last Supper”. During this particular time recorded in the Bible, it was the Jewish holiday of Passover. Thousands of Jews made pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate and remember how they were delivered from the bondage of slavery in Egypt when God passed over the homes of the Israelites who had the blood of the lamb marked on their doorposts (Exodus 12).
Therefore, this last supper would have been the seder or Passover meal. The disciples probably thought nothing more of it than celebrating tradition as they would in any Jewish household. But of course, as usual, Jesus had so much more for them!
Jesus would become the Passover Lamb for the world. Instead of the punishment of death because of our sin, we have mercy and life through His blood shed for us covering the doorposts of our hearts. God “passes over” us and sees that our debt is paid with the blood of Jesus! Hallelujah!
Next, Jesus washes His disciples’ feet. As was the custom, before entering a house, one would remove their shoes and wash their feet. This removed dirt and also provided refreshment. In more affluent homes, this would be done by a servant. Jesus performs this lowly act of servanthood to His students to demonstrate the importance of humility in leadership. Jesus knows they will go on to be His apostles, representing Him.
Not only was this a teaching moment but it was also another act of love. Jesus was removing the physical dirt from their feet symbolizing washing away the dirt of sin. Jesus is the water of life and He washes us clean, leaving us refreshed and ready to do His will.
Jesus then prays in the garden of gethsemane. Gethsemane wasn’t the name of the garden. The word “gethsemane” in Hebrew is “gat shĕmānīm” which means “oil press”. The garden where Jesus prayed was in an olive grove where olives were harvested and then pressed to make oil. In Bible times, this process was done on a concrete basin where the olives were crushed with a large, round stone wheel – a cold press. The oil was then separated and the left over olive pieces were gathered and put into bags. These bags were then pressed until every last drop of oil was extracted from the olive. Whatever was leftover from the olive was then burned for fuel.
When Jesus prayed in the garden, He was experiencing the crushing weight of His purpose coming to fulfillment. He felt the pressing burden of anxiety as He says, “My soul is crushed with grief.” (Matthew 26:38). Jesus knew that what He was about to experience would be painful torture and yet He prayed, “Not my will but Yours be done.”
Isaiah 53:5 says, “He was crushed for our iniquities.” The olive grove and pressing of oil also symbolizes Jesus’ body being pressed…His blood being pressed out, every drop extracted for our sins. What a beautiful act of pure love.
As you reflect on these significant events of Jesus’ life, prepare your heart for tomorrow – Good Friday. As Jesus was pressed, He invites you to press into Him and know the magnitude of His love for you.
God bless you this Holy Week.
Heather Hanton
Ministries and Media Specialist
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
Women’s Ministries Department
