What is Maundy Thursday / Holy Thursday?

Maundy Thursday, also known as “Holy Thursday,” is the Thursday of Passion Week, one day before Good Friday (the Friday before Easter). Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples. It was also the day of His betrayal and arrest. Maundy Thursday commemorates the actions of Jesus associated with the Last Supper. Two important events are the focus of Maundy Thursday:


The first event is Jesus’ institution of the Lord’s Supper, or communion (Luke 22:19–20). This is one of the ordinances of the church. Some Christians observe a special communion service on Maundy Thursday to commemorate Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples.

The second event that remains the focus of Maundy Thursday is Jesus’ washing the disciples’ feet. His act of humility and service set an example for us to love and serve one another in humility (John 13:3–17). Today, some Christians observe a foot-washing ceremony on Maundy Thursday to follow the example of Jesus’ washing the feet of His disciples.

The Gospel of John details what happened that night of the Last Supper: “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (John 13:3–5). He then told His disciples that “you should do as I have done for you” (verse 15).

The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word mandatum, meaning “mandate” or “commandment.” So, Maundy Thursday could be thought of as “Commandment Thursday.” The specific mandate is the new commandment Jesus gave the disciples that night. Before He was arrested, Jesus said,

Jesus repeats the command to love one another in John 15:12, and the apostles echo the theme throughout their epistles (Romans 13:8; 1 Peter 3:8; 4:8; 1 John 3:11; 4:7; 2 John 1:5). The command to love one another is called the “law of Christ” in Galatians 6:2: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Should Christians observe Maundy Thursday? The Bible neither commands nor forbids it. It is a good thing to remember the Last Supper and the Lord’s example of service and humility. At the same time, we should avoid ritualistic observances of holidays unless they are truly focused on God and our relationship with Him.

Observing a special communion service on Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday is a good thing to do. A foot-washing ceremony in remembrance of how Christ humbled Himself and washed the feet of the disciples can also be a powerful reminder of how we are to live the Christian life (Philippians 2:1–11). The very best way to observe Maundy Thursday, though, is to make sure we are following the mandate: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).

Maundy Thursday Calendar:
2025 — April 17
2026 — April 2