The word maundy appears to come from the Latin mandate, which means, “commandment.” After Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, he said to them, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).
Jesus showed his love in action by not only washing the feet of his disciples, but by submitting to the torture of the hours ahead in going to the cross for us.
After he washed their feet, he had his last meal with them, the Passover feast. The Passover was celebrated every year to commemorate God bringing the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt. They slayed a lamb and put its blood over the door so that the angel of death would “pass over” their houses. When Jesus commemorated this meal and told his followers to eat his flesh and drink his blood, he was pointing to a new Passover, one where he offered himself in place of the lamb. One where he invites us into the Father’s kingdom. This is what we acknowledge when we share in communion together!
As we remember these events, let’s remember Jesus washing us clean, let’s remember his love in action, let’s remember the good things he fills us with in place of the bad. As we approach the cross with him, let’s remember all he has done for us.