Maundy Thursday, as the fifth day of Holy Week is known, was truly the beginning of the end for Jesus. Already on Spy Wednesday, He had warned of His coming death, and Judas had conspired with Caiphas, the high priest, to hand Him over in exchange for thirty pieces of silver.
Thursday was the day of the Passover, and Jesus prepared to eat the Passover meal with His disciples in the guest room of a house on Mount Zion.
“I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God,” He told them.
For Catholic and Orthodox Christians, this was the first Eucharist. Breaking bread, Jesus told the disciples, “this is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Pouring wine, He told them, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.”
Then, the warning: “But the hand of him who is going to betray Me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays Him!”
THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN.
The Athanasian Creed, affirmed by most Western Christians, including Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, and Calvinists, recognizes Jesus Christ as “God and Man,” with the Third Council of Constantinople in 681 A.D. acknowledging two natures and two wills within Him – one human, and one divine.
The Gospels tell us He did not go to His torture and death cheerfully. Coming to a place called the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper, He told St. Peter: “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
“O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me,” He prayed, hoping He might accomplish His mission by another means than the cross.
He added, however, that “if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
WHEN DARKNESS REIGNS.
And so it was. The chief priests and the officers of the temple guard entered the garden — led by Judas Iscariot. Jesus greeted the traitor as a “friend,” and the traitor greeted his master with a kiss, to identify him to guards.
There was a commotion as they moved to seize Jesus. St. Peter armed himself with a sword and struck off the ear of the high priest’s representative — but Jesus put an end to it and even healed the injured man.
If He wished, Jesus explained, He could pray to His Father, and legions of angels would descend to protect Him. It was by His will that His arrest was going ahead so the Scriptures could be fulfilled.
“Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?” He said, turning to His captors. “Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour — when darkness reigns,” He added.
And they took Him away.
