Maundy Thursday

Definition and Meaning

In the church calendar, Maundy Thursday is the Thursday three days before Easter and is part of Holy Week. It commemorates the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples on the night before his crucifixion, his washing of the disciples' feet, and his prayer in Gethsemane and arrest. It is also known as Foot-Washing Thursday.

The English name "Maundy Thursday" is widely explained as deriving from the Latin mandatum ("commandment"). The word refers to the commandment Jesus gave that night: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another" (John 13:34).

Biblical and Historical Background

The events of this day are recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and John 13). The Synoptic Gospels portray the meal as a Passover meal and report the words Jesus spoke as he shared the bread and the cup, instructing his disciples to do this in remembrance of him (Luke 22:19–20). Paul also recorded this tradition in 1 Corinthians 11:20–26. The Gospel of John records that during the supper Jesus washed his disciples' feet and taught them to serve one another (John 13:1–17).

The custom of commemorating the events of each day of Holy Week is generally understood to be attested in records of the church in Jerusalem from around the fourth century. Maundy Thursday subsequently came to be observed as an important holy day in liturgical churches such as the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, and the Anglican and Lutheran churches. By contrast, after the Reformation some Reformed churches were cautious about making obligatory the observance of holy days not commanded in Scripture.

Practice in the Korean Church

In Korean Protestantism, Maundy Thursday is observed mainly as part of Holy Week activities. Many churches hold special early-morning prayer meetings during this week and celebrate the Lord's Supper on the evening of Maundy Thursday or on Good Friday. Some churches also hold a foot-washing service, in which the pastor washes the feet of church members or officers.

Practice varies by denomination:

• The Anglican Church of Korea and the Lutheran Church in Korea observe Maundy Thursday with a prescribed liturgy according to the church calendar, often celebrating foot washing and the Lord's Supper together.
• In the Korean Methodist Church and the Presbyterian denominations, a growing number of churches make use of the church calendar, but how Maundy Thursday is observed is often left to each local congregation.
• Among Baptist and independent churches, some do not observe church-calendar holy days at all.
• The Catholic Church celebrates the Mass of the Lord's Supper on the evening of this day, including the rite of foot washing.