For followers of Christ, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday are powerful, hope-filled moments in the story of redemption. Yet, before the cross and the empty tomb came a night filled with purpose—Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday. It’s the quiet before the storm, a sacred chapter that leads us into the heart of Jesus’ sacrifice.
But what exactly happened on Maundy Thursday?
This day marks the first communion.
On this night, as Jesus gathered with His disciples to celebrate the Passover, He instituted what we now call the Lord’s Supper. It was during this meal that Jesus gave them—and us—a tangible way to remember the price He would pay on the cross.
“As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take and eat. This is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and after He gave thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you. For this is My blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins’” (Matt. 26:26–27).
At the time, the meaning may have been veiled to the disciples. But in the days to come, they would understand—His body would be broken, His blood poured out, all for the forgiveness of sin.
Holy Thursday is when Jesus humbly washed the disciples’ feet.
In a stunning act of humility, Jesus took the role of a servant, kneeling to wash the feet of His followers. Peter resisted, but Jesus made it clear—this was more than just an example. It was a message: the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve.
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands and that He came from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside His garments, and took a towel and wrapped Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was wrapped” (John 13:3–5).
This act was a reflection of the greater cleansing to come—only through Jesus are we made clean. It was also a foreshadowing of the cross, where He would lay down His life for His friends.
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Maundy Thursday is the night Jesus prayed in Gethsemane.
In the garden, Jesus poured out His soul to the Father. Fully divine, yet fully human, He felt the crushing weight of what lay ahead. His prayer reveals both His agony and His surrender.
“He prayed, ‘O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done’” (Matt. 26:42).
The suffering He faced was more than physical—it was the burden of bearing the sin of the world. Yet even in this, Jesus submitted Himself to the will of the Father so that we might be saved.
Maundy Thursday is the night of Judas’ betrayal.
Under the cover of night, Judas led a crowd to where Jesus was praying. The sign of betrayal? A kiss.
“Now he who betrayed Him had given them a sign, saying, ‘Whomever I shall kiss is the Man. Seize Him.’ He immediately came to Jesus and said, ‘Hail, Rabbi!’ and kissed Him” (Matt. 26:48–49).
Overwhelmed by what he had done, Judas later returned the 30 pieces of silver and took his own life. The religious leaders used the blood money to buy a potter’s field, unknowingly fulfilling the prophetic words written centuries earlier.
“‘They took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of that which was priced by the sons of Israel, and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me’” (Matt. 27:9–10).
This is the night Peter denied Jesus.
Peter had once boldly declared his loyalty to Jesus, even if it meant prison or death. But just as Jesus foretold, Peter’s courage faltered.
“Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: ‘Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ Then he went out and wept bitterly” (Matt. 26:75).
His denial wasn’t the end of the story—but it showed just how deep the need for grace truly is. Even the most devoted among us can fall. That’s why Jesus came.
Maundy Thursday is a solemn yet sacred turning point in the story of redemption. It’s the night of covenant, humility, surrender, betrayal and brokenness—all leading to the cross. And without it, there would be no Resurrection. Let it draw our hearts into deeper gratitude for the One who gave everything for us.
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Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
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