Maundy Thursday — Last Supper & Gethsemane

Thursday began with practical preparations. Jesus sent Peter and John ahead to Jerusalem: “Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.”

They asked where. Jesus gave them a curious sign — they would meet a man carrying a water pitcher (unusual, since women typically carried water; a man with a pitcher would stand out). They were to follow him to a house and ask the master for the guest chamber. There they would find a large upper room, already furnished and ready.

Why the secrecy? Jesus knew Judas was looking for an opportunity to betray Him “in the absence of the multitude” (Luke 22:6). By keeping the location secret until the last moment, Jesus ensured He could share this final meal with His disciples without interruption.

The disciples prepared everything: the Passover lamb (slaughtered at the Temple that afternoon), the bitter herbs, the unleavened bread, the four cups of wine. By evening, all was ready.

“With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer,” Jesus said. The language is unusually intense — literally, “I have longed with longing.” The Greek construction (epithymia epithymēsa) conveys deep emotional yearning. Jesus knew what was coming. He knew this was His last night. And He wanted to be with them.

The meal progressed through the traditional Passover elements. But then Jesus did something shocking.

He rose from supper, laid aside His outer garment, wrapped a towel around His waist, poured water into a basin, and began washing the disciples’ feet.

This was the work of the lowest household slave — a task so menial that Jewish slaves were exempt from it. Yet here was the Master, the Lord, the Son of God, kneeling before His disciples with a basin and towel.

Peter was horrified: “Lord, dost thou wash my feet?”

Jesus replied that Peter would understand later. Peter refused outright: “Thou shalt never wash my feet!”

Jesus’ response cut to the heart: “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.”

Peter immediately overcorrected: “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

When Jesus finished, He returned to His place and explained:

“Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

The King of Kings had become the servant of all. His followers must do likewise. Greatness in His kingdom would be measured not by power but by service.

The mood shifted suddenly.

“Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.”

The disciples looked at each other, grieved and confused. They began asking, one by one: “Lord, is it I?” Even Judas asked.

John, reclining next to Jesus in the place of honor, leaned back and asked who it was. Jesus answered: “He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it.”

He dipped a piece of bread and gave it to Judas — ironically, a gesture of special favor from the host. Then He said: “That thou doest, do quickly.”

The other disciples didn’t understand. Some thought Jesus was sending Judas to buy something for the feast or to give something to the poor. Judas took the bread and went out.

John records four haunting words: “And it was night.”

With the betrayer gone, Jesus transformed the Passover meal into something new.

He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.”

He took the cup (likely the third cup of the Passover, called the “cup of blessing”): “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. Drink ye all of it.”

For 1,500 years, the Passover meal had commemorated Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. The lamb’s blood on the doorposts had saved Israel’s firstborn from the destroying angel. Now Jesus revealed what Passover had always pointed to: He was the Lamb. His blood would deliver humanity — not from Pharaoh, but from sin and death.

Every time His followers ate the bread and drank the wine, they would remember His broken body and shed blood. They would renew their covenant with Him. The old covenant, sealed with animal sacrifice, was giving way to the new covenant, sealed with the blood of the Son of God.

The new commandment rang out:

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

Not merely “love your neighbor as yourself” — the standard Jesus Himself had cited from Leviticus. Now the standard was higher: “As I have loved you.” The measure of love was Christ’s own self-giving sacrifice.

This is why Maundy Thursday is called “Maundy” — from the Latin mandatum (commandment).

Then came the Farewell Discourse — Jesus’ longest and most intimate teaching, recorded only in John (chapters 14–16). On this last night, He poured out His heart:

The Way to the Father: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

The Promise of the Comforter: “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth.”

The Vine and the Branches: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

Peace Amid Tribulation: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Finally, Jesus prayed aloud — the great Intercessory Prayer of John 17, sometimes called the “High Priestly Prayer.”

He prayed for Himself: “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.” He prayed to be glorified in the work He was about to accomplish — that through His suffering, the Father’s glory would be revealed.

He prayed for His disciples: “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me… Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.”

He prayed for all believers through all time: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.”

On the night of His betrayal, facing torture and death, Jesus’ concern was for His followers — then and forever.

Jesus prophesied what was about to happen: “All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.”

Peter protested: “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.”

Jesus responded with sobering specificity: “Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.”

Peter doubled down: “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.” All the disciples said the same. Within hours, they would all flee.

When the hymn was sung — likely the second half of the Hallel (Psalms 115–118), traditionally sung at the close of the Passover meal — they went out into the night, crossed the Kidron Valley, and came to the Mount of Olives.

The Hallel’s words would have been especially poignant: “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” (Psalm 118:6). And: “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner” (Psalm 118:22).

In a garden called Gethsemane (Hebrew gat shemanim, “oil press”), Jesus told most of the disciples to sit and wait. He took Peter, James, and John further in.

“My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.”

He went a stone’s throw further, fell to the ground, and prayed: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

Three times He prayed. Three times He returned to find His disciples sleeping — “for their eyes were heavy.”

Luke alone records what happened during this agonized prayer: “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

This phenomenon, called hematidrosis, occurs under extreme psychological distress — the capillaries in the sweat glands rupture, mixing blood with sweat. Medical literature confirms its reality.

Luke also records that “there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.” Even with angelic help, Jesus did not ask to be delivered from the cup. He asked for strength to drink it.

What was happening in Gethsemane? Latter-day revelation provides additional understanding:

“Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit — and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink.” — D&C 19:18

In Gethsemane, Jesus took upon Himself the sins, pains, and sicknesses of all humanity. The full weight of mortal suffering — every sin, every grief, every illness, every abuse, every heartbreak across all human history — pressed upon Him until He bled from every pore. What began here would continue through the scourging, the mocking, and the cross. The Atonement had begun.

Then came torchlight through the olive trees — lanterns, torches, a mob with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders.

Judas approached with a kiss, the prearranged signal: “Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.”

Jesus knew everything that was happening. He asked: “Whom seek ye?”

“Jesus of Nazareth.”

“I am he.”

At those words — egō eimi, “I AM” — the soldiers drew back and fell to the ground. Even in this moment, His divine identity flashed forth.

Peter drew his sword and struck the high priest’s servant Malchus, cutting off his right ear. Jesus stopped him: “Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” Then He touched the servant’s ear and healed him — His last miracle before the cross, an act of mercy toward His enemies.

To the mob He said: “Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.”

The disciples fled. Mark records that a young man (possibly Mark himself) followed, wearing only a linen cloth; when soldiers seized him, he fled naked, leaving the cloth behind.

Jesus was bound and led away to face His accusers. The longest night had begun.

From the garden of Gethsemane, soldiers brought Jesus first to Annas, the former high priest. Though he had been deposed by Rome in 15 AD, Annas remained the power behind the throne — his son-in-law Caiaphas was the current high priest.

From Annas, Jesus was sent to Caiaphas for a formal hearing before the Sanhedrin. The council had assembled in the middle of the night — a proceeding that violated Jewish law on multiple counts.

False witnesses came forward, but their testimony contradicted. Finally, Caiaphas demanded directly: “I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of the Blessed.”

Jesus answered: “I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

Caiaphas tore his robes: “What need we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy.”

“He is guilty of death.”

Meanwhile, in the courtyard below, Peter waited by a charcoal fire.

A servant girl peered at him: “Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.” Peter denied it.

Another girl recognized him. He denied again, with an oath: “I do not know the man.”

About an hour later, bystanders approached: “Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee.”

Peter began to curse and swear: “I know not the man!”

Immediately, the rooster crowed. Jesus, being led through the courtyard, turned and looked at Peter.

Peter went out and “wept bitterly.”

At dawn, the Sanhedrin brought Jesus to Pontius Pilate. The charge was changed from blasphemy to sedition:

“We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ, a King.”

Pilate asked: “Art thou the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered: “My kingdom is not of this world.”

Pilate found no fault. He offered a choice: Jesus, or Barabbas. The crowd shouted for Barabbas.

“What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?”

“Let him be crucified!”

Pilate washed his hands: “I am innocent of the blood of this just person.”

Learning Jesus was Galilean, Pilate sent Him to Herod Antipas. Herod hoped to see a miracle. He questioned Jesus at length.

Jesus answered nothing.

Herod and his soldiers mocked Jesus, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.

Before crucifixion came scourging — the Roman flagellum. This multi-thonged whip embedded with pieces of bone, metal, and glass tore skin from muscle. Many prisoners died from scourging alone.

After the scourging, soldiers wove a crown of thorns and pressed it onto Jesus’ head. They clothed Him in a purple robe, placed a reed in His hand, and knelt in mockery: “Hail, King of the Jews!”

Pilate brought Jesus out: “Behold the man!” — Ecce homo.

It did not satisfy them. “Crucify him, crucify him!”

Jesus carried His crossbeam until He could not — the scourging had taken too much. Simon of Cyrene was pressed into service.

At Golgotha (“place of the skull”), they offered Him wine mixed with gall — a narcotic. He refused to drink. He would face death fully conscious.

They nailed Him to the cross — spikes through the wrists and feet.

Above His head, Pilate posted: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS

From the cross, Jesus spoke seven final statements that fulfilled Messianic prophecies. See the detailed analysis with Psalm connections in “The Seven Last Sermons of Christ” section below.

At about three in the afternoon — the ninth hour, the very moment when Passover lambs were being slaughtered in the Temple below — Jesus cried out and yielded up His spirit.

“It is finished.” The Greek tetelestai means “paid in full.”

“Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” Jesus chose to lay down His life.

At the moment of Jesus’ death, the Temple veil — 60 feet high, several inches thick — tore from top to bottom. An earthquake shook the city.

A Roman centurion declared: “Truly this man was the Son of God.”

Joseph of Arimathea went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body. Nicodemus brought about a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes. They laid Jesus in Joseph’s new tomb, hewn from rock in a garden near Golgotha.

The sun was setting. The High Sabbath was beginning.