Today, the Church celebrates Holy Thursday or “Maundy” Thursday. The word Maundy comes from the Latin “mandatum,” meaning “commandment.” On that first Holy Thursday, Jesus Christ said to His disciples: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34 ESV).
On that first Holy Thursday, Jesus also instituted the Sacrament of Holy Communion for His disciples and us. This sacred meal of our Lord and Savior’s Body and Blood – in, with, and under the bread and wine – is a means by which we receive His grace, mercy, and forgiveness of our sins. Jesus’ Words are performative, meaning that when He says it, then it happens.
“Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My Body.’ And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is My Blood of the [New] Covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” (Matthew 26:26-28 ESV)
Tomorrow, the Church celebrates Good Friday, a solemn day of reflection and remembrance of the brutal suffering and death of Jesus Christ. He was scourged, crowned with thorns, and nailed to the cross. Jesus hung on the cross for hours until He died.
From the cross, Jesus forgave His attackers and preached His Gospel message of the forgiveness of sins, which He was achieving at that very moment. Then, He said: “’It is finished,’ and He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit.” (John 19:30b ESV)
With His final Words from the cross, Jesus revealed to us that His work of salvation was fully completed, once and for all who believe in Him.
On the first Holy Saturday – being the Sabbath Day – Jesus victoriously rested in His tomb from His work of redemption. In His work, He had defeated the power of sin and Satan. As He rested, His disciples hid in the Upper Room where they had eaten the Passover Seder with Jesus, fearing those who had killed Jesus.
But the grave could not hold Jesus Christ – the Lamb of God – the only begotten Son of God.
On Sunday, the Church celebrates Easter Sunday, the resurrection of our victorious Lord and Savior from the dead! In His resurrection on that first Easter, Jesus defeated the final enemy of death. In His resurrection, Jesus made a way for all who believe in Him to have eternal life with Him in heaven.
“God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved – and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-6 ESV)
Soli Deo Gloria!
(Published on the Devotional Page of the Alpine Avalanche Newspaper on Thurs, April 17, 2025)
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