Today is the day that thirteen men entered a room in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover and came out with a different understanding of the deliverance of God's people. I have always appreciated Easter, but it is hard to appreciate Easter completely unless you start with Maundy Thursday. I wouldn't want to miss this evening any year.
When I was a child, we didn't celebrate Maundy Thursday in the churchs that I attended. It was only when I joined First Presbyterian in Griffin before I had the opportunity to attend a service on Maundy Thursday. With the exception of the little service we hold on Good Friday, it is the smallest of services, but holds so much significance. Easter is almost nothing more than bunnies, chicks and Spring flowers without Maundy Thursday. The day sets the tone for the miracle of Easter.
When Jesus met with his disciples in the upper room, they started off as thirteen Jewish men, gathering to celebrate the deliverance of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. When they left, Jesus had placed the deliverance on his shoulders and expanded salvation to his disciples and to the world. By the end of the day, he was taken prisoner, whipped and placed on display and finally executed on a wooden cross.
There is no proper perspective at the empty tomb unless you understand what started tonight. It could just as easily be a carpenter's son who was executed then his body removed from its resting place. Maundy Thursday expands the message of Easter to all time and all people.
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