“And He took a cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is being poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.’” – Matthew 26:27-28, NASB
Thursday of Holy Week is a day filled with tenderness, tension, and truth. It’s the day of the Last Supper, the washing of feet, the high priestly prayer, and the agony in Gethsemane.
Jesus knew the cross was just hours away. Yet He spent His final evening not escaping but serving, teaching, praying, and preparing His disciples for what was to come.
This day shows us both the depth of Christ’s love and the weight of His mission.
A Table of Grace
In the upper room, Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, transforming it into what we now call the Lord’s Supper.
The bread and wine, once symbols of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, became signs of a greater deliverance—the forgiveness of sins through the body and blood of Christ.
“This is My body… This is My blood of the covenant…” (Matt. 26:26-28)
Jesus knew Judas would betray Him. He knew Peter would deny Him. And He knew the rest would scatter. Yet He broke bread with them all.
A Basin and a Towel
In John 13, we’re told that Jesus washed their feet—a servant’s task, an act of humility from the King of glory.
“If I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14)
He didn’t just teach them truth—He embodied it. He showed them what greatness looks like in the kingdom of God: not power or status, but sacrificial love.
A Garden of Sorrow
Later that night, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and went out to Gethsemane. There, we see a glimpse of His humanity and holy submission:
“My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death… Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” (Matt. 26:38-39)
Jesus didn’t fear death but the cup of wrath He would drink on our behalf (Isaiah 53:4-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21). In that moment, He surrendered fully to the Father’s will, so that we might be saved.
What Thursday Teaches Us
Thursday reminds us of the humility of Christ, the cost of grace, and the call to love and follow Him with full surrender.
It invites us to:
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Worship Him at the table,
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Serve like Him with the towel,
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And submit with Him in the garden.
Reflection Questions:
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Have I truly embraced the grace offered through Jesus’ blood?
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Am I serving others with Christlike humility—or seeking to be served?
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What would it look like for me to say, “Not my will, but Yours be done”?
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