Maundy Thursday: The Last Supper and the washing of feet – a call to serve others

Maundy Thursday, observed on the Thursday before Easter, marks one of the most profound moments in Christian history: The Last Supper. This sacred event, chronicled in the Gospels, encapsulates Jesus Christ’s final teachings of love, sacrifice, and servanthood. As Christians worldwide reflect on the institution of the Eucharist and the humble act of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet, Maundy Thursday becomes a timeless invitation to embody compassion and selflessness in a fractured world.

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The Last Supper: A covenant of love and remembrance

The Last Supper, shared by Jesus and His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion, is far more than a historical event—it is the cornerstone of Christian faith and practice. During this Passover meal, Jesus transformed bread and wine into symbols of His impending sacrifice, declaring, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). Known today as the Eucharist or Communion, this act established a perpetual covenant, uniting believers across generations through the shared memory of Christ’s redemptive love.

Yet the Last Supper’s significance extends beyond ritual. In John’s Gospel, Jesus delivers His farewell discourse here, urging disciples to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). This commandment, or mandatum (from which “Maundy” derives), reframes faith as active service. The meal becomes a blueprint for Christian living: a call to nurture community, forgive freely, and prioritize others’ needs.

The washing of feet: Humility as sacred act

Interwoven with the Last Supper is Jesus’ startling act of washing His disciples’ feet—a task reserved for servants. In a culture where feet symbolised journey-worn brokenness, this gesture dismantled hierarchies. Peter’s initial resistance mirrors our own discomfort with vulnerability, yet Jesus insists: “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me” (John 13:8).

This moment transcends hygiene. By kneeling before His followers—including Judas, His betrayer—Jesus models radical humility. He challenges societal norms that equate power with dominance, instead framing greatness as stewardship. “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them,” He concludes (John 13:17). The washing of feet becomes a lived parable, urging believers to “get low” and serve without reservation.

A dual legacy: Sacrament and service

Together, the Last Supper and foot washing form a dual legacy. The Eucharist nourishes believers spiritually, while the act of service mobilises that faith into action. Early Christians grasped this synergy, sharing meals with the marginalised (Acts 2:46) and caring for widows and orphans (James 1:27). For Jesus, worship and justice were inseparable—a truth echoing through centuries.

Maundy Thursday also confronts complacency. In a world marred by inequality, Jesus’ actions rebuke passive piety. The disciple who shares Communion but ignores the hungry, or prays yet neglects the oppressed, misses the heart of His message. As theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “The church is the church only when it exists for others.”

Modern implications: Embodying the mandatum today

How, then, do we live this mandate? Maundy Thursday compels introspection: Whose feet remain unwashed in our communities? Who is excluded from the table?

1. Serve without barriers

Jesus served Judas, knowing betrayal loomed. Likewise, service demands loving without conditions—feeding the homeless, advocating for justice, or listening to the lonely. It means prioritising people over politics, dignity over convenience.

2. Foster inclusive communities

The Last Supper’s table was open, yet today’s churches often fracture along lines of race, class, or ideology. Building inclusive spaces—where all are fed and valued—mirrors Jesus’ radical hospitality.

3. Embrace sacrificial love

The Eucharist’s bread and wine symbolise Christ’s body broken for others. Our lives, too, are called to be “broken and poured out”—whether through mentoring, forgiving old wounds, or sacrificing comfort for another’s sake.

4. Lead with humility

In an age of self-promotion, foot washing redefines leadership. True influence lies in elevating others, amplifying silenced voices, and celebrating unnoticed acts of kindness.

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The enduring invitation

Maundy Thursday is not a static memorial but a living invitation. The Last Supper and foot washing remind us that faith flourishes not in grand cathedrals alone but in soup kitchens, hospital rooms, and quiet acts of mercy. As we partake in Communion, let us also commit to being Christ’s hands and feet—transforming brokenness into hope, one humble gesture at a time.

In the words of Saint Teresa of Avila, “Christ has no body now but yours.” This Maundy Thursday, may we answer the call to serve, love, and remember—not just in ritual, but in relentless, grace-filled action.

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