What is celebrated on “Maundy Thursday?” I mean for real? Sometimes we throw around these Christian terms as if everyone should know what they mean, when ironically, we don’t even know what they mean!

Well Maundy Thursday is one of those terms, but we’re ending the confusion today! In this quick Q & A, we learned what Maundy Thursday was, and how it instructs us to always love each other.

Journey Through Lent, Day 38

Q: What is Celebrated on Maundy Thursday?

A: “Maundy” comes from the Latin word “Mandatum,” from which we get the word “mandate” or “commandment.” On this day, we celebrate the final meal Jesus had with his disciples when he gave them a new commandment—to love one another. How cool is that?! Sometimes we read the Bible and we feel so much pressure to remember everything and live it out. But Jesus graciously simplified the whole message of the Bible by drawing attention to the spirit of God’s instruction. Love. That’s what the cross and resurrection were about. Jesus’ love for us. And that’s the simple invitation God offers to us, to love one another as a response to his love.

John 13:34: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Reflect
What does it look like practically to love one another? How can you love on someone today?

Whether you’ve been following our Lent study since day 1, or you’re just now starting your Lent journey, we’ve got loads of helpful resources for you. Check out this link for the complete 40 days of our journey through Lent—read a short personal testimony, or any of our Lent prayers and Scripture meditations!