What Happened on Maundy Thursday?
- Eljoh Hartzer, MTh
- Feb 11
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 20
Thursday of Easter week, also known as Maundy Thursday, is an important day on the holy calendar. This day marks the climax of the Easter story we've covered so far, as Jesus is arrested and we finally understand what He's been talking about all along.
Hint: At the very end of this article is a free worksheet for you to personally and prayerfully engage deeper
This series of articles will cover the key events of Easter in the order that they're celebrated in in the Christian tradition.
Click the following titles to read about the true meaning of Easter and each day of Holy Week:
What happened on Easter Thursday
In the broader story of the Easter timeline, this is right after Wednesday (when Judas Iscariot agreed to betray Jesus) and before Friday (the crucifixion).
Since the early days of Jesus' ministry, He'd been telling His followers that He wouldn't be with them for very long, but they never understood what He was saying. Lately, since they arrived in Jerusalem, He'd been talking about it non-stop.
Yet they didn't understand what He was saying. So, He called out to God, withdrew to the quiet place often, and prayed.
On Thursday, the Gospels tell us that Jesus instructed His disciples to prepare a place where they could celebrate the Passover meal. Around the table - at the Last Supper - Jesus told them again what would happen to Him and He even identified Judas Iscariot as the one who'd be responsible. But the disciples did not know what He was talking about - His body, His blood?
Peter, one of the disciples, said He'd stand by Jesus and protect Him - whatever comes. Jesus replied that Peter would betray Him that very day before the rooster crows for morning...
After the meal, they went to Jesus' favorite place - an olive grove nearby where He spent a lot of time. He prayed to God again and asked His followers to do the same, but, full from the food and tired, they fell asleep time after time.
At this point, Jesus became anxious, knowing what was about to happen. He experienced hematohidrosis, a severe stress reaction where the blood vessels under one's skin bursts and it appears that your sweat turns to blood.
As He was praying, a mob arrived with weapons and flame-torches. Judas Iscariot was with them. He walked up to Jesus, kissed Him, and then they arrested Jesus.
All the disciples ran away and deserted Him.
Our Bible's telling of Thursday's events ends with Peter hiding away in a crowd, just outside from where they kept Jesus. People in the crowd recognized Peter and asked: "Weren't you with Him?" and so, sadly, Peter did deny His Lord three times before the rooster crowed.
Journaling Prompts about Maundy Thursday
Draw a one-line drawing of the bread and the wine used at the Last Supper
When you read about the events on Thursday, what emotions does it bring up for you?
Think of what Jesus must have felt in the olive grove, knowing what's coming. Write a prayer to Jesus, using vocabulary found in the Bible verses about this day.
Who do you relate with in this story? Are you like the disciples preparing a place for the Lord? Like Judas who betrayed Him? Like the leaders who arrested Him?
This day in the Gospels
Matthew 26:38-39 (NIV)
38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
(All of Thursday's events: Matthew 26:17-75 - read it here)
Mark 14:44-46 (NIV)
44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him.
(All of Thursday's events: Mark 14:12-72 - read it here)
Luke 22:43-44 (NIV)
43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
(All of Thursday's events: Luke 22:7-65 - read it here)
John 17:1-2 (NIV)
2“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him."
(All of Thursday's events: John 13-18 - read it here)
Understanding this Easter day in the Old Testament
The Bible tells one beautiful story: God's big story.
If we want to really understand what is going on in any portion of Scripture, we need to see how it fits into the whole. Like a puzzle, the Bible often has thematic parallels running through each story.
What we call the Last Supper was actually Jesus and His followers gathering for the Passover Meal - "a Jewish thing" most readers think, and skip past this. But its significance is profound.
Back in the days of Moses, when the Israelites were trapped in Egypt, God sent many plagues to convince the Pharaoh to free His people. Rivers turned to blood, frogs hopped along, snakes, sickness, you name it. But the Pharaoh's heart was hard and he still refused to let God's people go.
So came the final blow - the plague that made the Pharaoh release the Israelites.
Exodus 12:7-8 and 12-13
7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.
12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
So before the exodus, God saved His people. And how did He know to save them? They were marked by the blood of lambs. They also ate unleavened bread and then they escaped that very same night.
What does this mean for us?
When we read things like 'Jesus is the Lamb of God', we don't always understand. When we hear Him say 'My blood poured out for you', we cannot fathom what it means.
This is what it means - Just like the Old Testament lambs' blood saved the Israelites from death, Jesus' blood over you and me saves us from eternal death.
The Bible is really quite beautifully written. We just lost the art of reading it.
If you've been wanting to dive deeper into the Bible yourself, I want to invite you to consider the following encounter tool:
A Prayer on Maundy Thursday
Dear Jesus, what You must have felt kneeling down in that olive grove. Literally, the weight of the world on your shoulders... Yet You went through with it anyway, carrying on, carrying my sin, and carrying me to this very day. Help me to remember Your sacrifice. Amen.
Next up: The following day in Holy Week
The following day, Friday, is where we will cover Jesus' trial and crucifixion. This day, Good Friday, is when Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we could be reunited with God. The curtain in the Temple tore and God's Holy Spirit filled the Earth like it did at the very beginning...
Explore other events in the Easter story:
Below is a free printable worksheet PDF to go deeper with today's topic on the Easter timeline:
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