Here's the Bible Story:
FROM LUKE
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
FROM MATTHEW
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
JOHN
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.
"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them.
Maundy Thursday is often celebrated with a foot washing service or a stations of the cross service. If a church wishes to have a Good Friday service with Holy Communion, then the Sacrament to be used for that service must be consecrated now. In other words, on Good Friday reserve Sacrament must be used, and this service is a good opportunity to make consecrate it.
Maundy Thursday grace and peace,
EDITED TO ADD: I realized at church on Thursday that I have been gravely remiss in this post, and have left out an important part of the Maundy Thursday service.
What I have left out is related to the foot washing ceremony.
Here is the Gospel story that I originally omitted:
FROM JOHN 13:1-17
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."
This is where the custom of foot washing comes from. The reason we do this in Jesus' example is so that we can learn to wash one another's feet as Jesus did. To serve others, to love others, just as Jesus set the example.
What have you, or I, done lately that has been "foot washing" for us? What have we done to love others or serve others selflessly as Jesus has? If nothing comes to mind, think about loving or serving someone in the example of Jesus. You'll be glad that you did!
NOTE: All scripture is from the NIV (Copyright Zondervan, via www.biblegateway.com)
