Holy Week
Holy Thursday: John 13:1-14, Matthew
26:26-30
WASHING OF THE FEET AND INSTITUTION OF THE HOLY QURBANA
INTRODUCTION
On Holy Thursday we celebrate with Jesus, the
Passover of the old and the new. The old Passover was Israel’s
remembrance of their liberation from the Egyptian slavery by shedding
the blood of innocent lambs. In the new Passover, we celebrate Jesus
saving all humanity from Satan’s slavery by shedding the blood of the
perfect Lamb of God, Jesus. Besides circumcision from the time of
Abraham that involved human bloodshed, God confirmed the old covenant by
asking Moses to sprinkle animal blood on the Israelites at Mount Sinai.
Jesus made the new covenant by asking us to drink from his blood. To
prepare for this, we also join in Jesus’ washing the feet as a pledge of
our humble service and cleanliness of our souls.
BIBLE TEXT
The Washing of the
Disciples’ Feet (John 13:1-14)
(John 13:1) It was before the Feast of the
Passover. Jesus realized that his hour had come to pass from this world
to the Father. Having always loved those who were his own in the world,
he loved them to the end. (2) They were at supper; and the devil had
already put into the mind of Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray
him. (3) Jesus knowing that the Father had entrusted all things to him,
and as he had come from God, and was going to God, (4) got up from the
table, removed his outer garment, and taking a towel wrapped it around
his waist. (5) Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the
disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing. (6) When
he came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, do you mean to wash my
feet!” (7) Jesus said, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but
afterwards you will understand it.” (8) Peter replied, “No, you shall
never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you can
have no part with me.” (9) Then Simon Peter said, “Then, Lord, wash not
only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” (10) Jesus replied,
“Whoever has taken a bath does not need to wash, except the feet, for he
is clean all over. You are clean, though not all of you.” (11) Jesus
knew who was to betray him; that is why he said, “Not all of you are
clean.” (12) When Jesus had finished washing their feet, he put on his
outer garment again, went back to the table and said to them, “Do you
understand what I have done to you? (13) You call me Master and Lord,
and you are right, for that is what I am. (14) If I, then, your Lord and
Master, have washed your feet, you also must wash one another’s feet.
The Lord’s Supper
(Matthew 26:26) While they were eating, Jesus
took bread, said the blessing and broke it, and gave it to his disciples
saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” (27) Then he took a cup and
gave thanks, and passed it to them saying, ”Drink from this, all of you,
(28) for this is my blood, the blood of the Covenant, which is poured
out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (29) Yes, I say to you: I will
not taste the fruit of the vine from now until the day I drink anew with
you in my Father’s kingdom.” (30) After singing psalms of praise, they
went out to the Mount of Olives.
INTERPRETATION
The Washing of the Disciples’ Feet
It was before the Feast of the Passover.
Jesus realized that his hour had come.
To pass from this world to the Father
Having always loved those who were his
own in the world
He loved them to the end
(2) They were at supper; and the devil
had already put into the mind of Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray
him.
The Evangelist John adds here Judas’
intention to betray Jesus for money under the devil’s influence. By
this, John reveals what was going on in the minds of Jesus and Judas in
that gloomy context of farewell Passover. The contrast in the mental
status of Jesus and Judas that no one else knew gives the readers a
dramatic mood of the situation.
(3) Jesus knowing that the Father had
entrusted all things to him, and as he had come from God, and was going
to God…
This verse of the power of Jesus that he
inherited from his Father, sets the background for the humble act of
washing the apostles’ feet. Before returning to his Father, Jesus wished
to show a memorable message to his apostles who had been competing for
noble positions.
(4) … got up from the table, removed
his outer garment, and taking a towel wrapped it around his waist.
Got up from the
table.
People in the past walked on dirty roads with
sandals on their feet. They used to eat the meal reclining so the feet
might be on the sofa and close to the face of the person reclining
nearby. So, it was important that they wash their feet before entering a
house. A slave, servant, or host (Luke 7:44) would wash the feet of the
guest. Since the apostles had no host or servant to wash the feet, they
skipped it. None of the apostles wanted to be at the service of others,
not even to wash the feet of their Lord. So, they might have started the
supper by washing themselves and without the ceremonial washing of feet.
Jesus had noticed it and taught them a lesson by making himself a humble
servant of his disciples. According to the Jewish practice, washing the
feet should take place before the Passover celebration and not during
the supper as Jesus did.
Removed his outer garment, and taking a
towel wrapped it around his waist.
(5) Then he poured water into a basin
and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he
was wearing.
The family used to keep towel, wash basin,
and a jug of water inside the house for repeated washing of hands in
between different courses of food during the meal. Jesus used them for
the feet washing. He did not seek the help of anyone in this service,
like pouring water in the basin. He did everything himself, like a
humble slave. According to the custom of the time, if there was no slave
or a servant, an inferior would wash the feet of a superior like wife to
her husband, children to the parents, disciples to the master; but not
vice versa. By doing this act, Jesus touched the hearts and minds of his
disciples. Besides washing the feet, Jesus was affectionately wiping the
feet clean with the towel girded around his waist.
(6) When he came to Simon Peter, Peter
said to him, “Lord, do you mean to wash my feet!”
He came to Simon Peter.
“Lord, do you mean to wash my feet!”
(7) Jesus said, “What I am doing you do
not understand now, but afterwards you will understand it.”
Jesus later clarified the meaning of what he
did in John 13:13-17. “If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed
your feet, you also must wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14).
8) Peter replied, “No, you shall never
wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you,
you can have no part with me.”
“No, you shall never wash my feet.”
If I do not wash you
You can have no part with me.
(9) Then Simon Peter said, “Then, Lord,
wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!”
Peter did not understand what Jesus meant. He
continued to take washing in the literal sense. So, out of enthusiasm,
he asked the Lord to wash his hands and head, the uncovered parts of his
body. He was ready to offer anything to inherit the Kingdom of God with
Jesus. So, he requested Jesus to cleanse all actions of his hands and
all the thoughts of his head.
(10) Jesus replied, “Whoever has taken
a bath does not need to wash, except the feet, for he is clean all over.
You are clean, though not all of you.”
Whoever has taken a bath does not need
to wash, except the feet, for he is clean all over.
Here also, Jesus has a physical and spiritual meaning in the
statement. Those who came after a bath, needs only washing the dust or
dirt off the feet. In the spiritual sense, those who received baptism in
the blood of Jesus and his Holy Spirit need only a cleansing like the
Sacrament of Reconciliation or an act of contrition. Only after that he
shall partake in the Holy Eucharist, which is a foretaste of the eternal
banquet in heaven.
You are clean, though not all of you.
(11) Jesus knew who was to betray him;
that is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
Jesus knew what was in Judas’ mind while he
was taking part in the Last Supper and in the washing of the feet. Jesus
was polite not to identify the person who would betray him. Judas heard
Jesus’ words as a warning to him. However, he was so attached to wealth
that he could not resist the temptation and accept the discourse of
Jesus. Those who are under the devil’s possession will not be willing to
open their minds to the Word of God. Those who are slaves of terrible
addiction would avoid any spiritual warning.
(12) When Jesus had finished washing
their feet, he put on his outer garment again, went back to the table
and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?”
Reclined at table again
Do you understand what I have done to
you?
(13) You call me Master and Lord, and
you are right, for that is what I am.
Students were not used to call their teacher
by name among the Jews. So, they called “teacher,” “Master” or “Lord”
with respect.
(14) If I, then, your Lord and Master,
have washed your feet, you also must wash one another’s feet.
Jesus, who washed his disciples’ feet like a
slave, also emphasized his position above them by repeating and
reversing the words “Master and Lord” to magnify their role to be
servants to one another regardless of their position in the community.
It is not a suggestion, but a commandment is clear from the term “you
must.” Jesus had shown his law of humility and service in action.
The Lord’s Supper (Matthew
26:26-30)
Jesus instituted the
Holy Eucharist (Qurbana) while he celebrated the Passover with his
disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem. So, we need to understand the
Last Supper in the background of the Jewish Passover. Israelites
celebrated Passover, one of the three pilgrim feasts, in Jerusalem
(Leviticus 23: 4-14, Deuteronomy 16:1-8). They sacrificed a lamb in the
Temple and took home its meat and ate during the Passover meal. They
followed seder, which means an “order” for the procedure of Paschal
feast. This procedure has 15 steps with prayers given in a book known as
Haggadah. The fifteen corresponds to the 15th day of Nissan when
Passover starts or the 15 semi-circular steps from the Court of Women to
the Court of Israel in the Temple. Levites sang the fifteen “Psalms of
the Steps” (Psalms 120-134 of Degrees or Ascents) with musical
instruments there.
The procedures for Passover meal, along with
how Jesus observed it, are:
1. Selection of the lamb on the tenth
of Nisan. Family would select a one-year-old unblemished male lamb for
sacrifice. In Jesus’ case, he was the unblemished male lamb, whom the
family of Israel selected and brought to the Temple, and the priests
approved him for slaughter. This happened on the Palm Sunday that was
the tenth of Nisan. The slaughter would take place on the 15th
of Nisan that starts at 6:00 P.M. on the 14th according to
the Gregorian calendar and ends at 6:00 P.M. on the 15th.
According to Jewish calendar, Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist, and
the soldiers crucified him on the same date, 15th of Nisan.
2. Searching Leaven on 13th
of Nisan. The family would check and remove any leaven in the house
based on God’s commandment: “For seven days, no leaven shall be seen
throughout your territory.” (Deut. 16:4). Jesus did this on Palm Sunday
by expelling the unjust merchants who defiled the House of God and
wiping out their livestock from the Temple area.
3. Foot washing on 14th of Nisan. When
the guests and family members arrive at the house for the Passover meal,
a slave or servant would wash their feet. Since his disciples did not
perform this, Jesus did this for them during the meal, which was
unusual. It was to teach them how they should follow his ‘servant
leadership’ in their ministry.
4. Table setting: The family sets the
Passover table Charoseth (a sweet dark-colored paste made of fruits and
nuts), unleavened bread, vegetables, vinegar (karpas), four wine
glasses, red and warm wine bottles, and several candles. The people
would recline with the support of pillows around a low table about 18
inches high. They arrange seating according to age or social position of
the participants.
THE 15 STEPS OF
THE PASSOVER MEAL
Step 1. Kadeish (Sanctification): The
head of the family who sits at the place of honor would take the first
of the four wine cups and fill it with wine mixed with water (grape
juice for children) and pronounce a thanksgiving over it. He would taste
it first and then pass it to all present. The four cups of wine stand
for the four “I will,” in Exodus 6:6-7. “I will free you from the
burden of the Egyptians (The Cup of Sanctification) and I will
deliver you from their bondage (The Cup of Deliverance); I
will redeem you with the blows of my powerful hand and my mighty
acts of judgement (The Cup of Redemption). I will take you
for my people and I will be your God (The Cup of Restoration);
you will realize that I am the LORD your God who delivered you from the
burden of the Egyptians.” (Exodus 6:6-7).
Step 2. Urchatz (Washing of Hands):
Participants wash their hands by pouring water on the right hand three
times and then the left had three times to prepare for eating the herbs
dipped in saltwater. This was necessary because they were eating without
using utensils like the spoon and fork.
Step 3. Karpas or Bitter Herbs (parsley):
People eat karpas after dipping it in saltwater. The vegetable is
symbolic of Israelites’ poor background, and the saltwater represents
their tears shed in Egypt during the slavery and throughout their
history. The saltwater also reminds them the crossing of the Red Sea
with God’s providence while leaving Egypt. Then they pour wine into the
second cup.
Step 4. Yachatz (Breaking of middle matzo
bread): The family places three matzo breads in three pockets of
matzo cover. Matzo bread is unleavened flat bread with stripes and
piercings on it, symbolic of the scourging and nailing of the Messiah
according to the Christian interpretation. These three breads, according
to the Christian interpretation, stand for the Most Holy Trinity. The
head of the family breaks the middle bread standing for Messiah into two
pieces reminding the broken body of Christ for our sins. The leader
returns the smaller piece symbolic of the “bread of affliction” to the
pocket and keeps the larger one representing Pesach Sacrifice in a
hidden place in another cover. For Christians, this stands for the
burial of Jesus.
Step 5. Magid (Story telling) of
Exodus from Egypt as a question-answer session. The youngest son or the
least significant person would ask four questions on why that night
differs from the banquet of other nights. The head of the family would
give the answers and clarify the significance of the special food items.
Participants then drink the second cup of wine. They then recite first
half of the Hallel Psalms 113-114.
Step 6. Rachtzah (Second hand washing):
The participants wash their hands a second time with a blessing to
prepare for eating the matzah, the unleavened bread. The family then
serve Paschal Lamb, charoseth (a paste of nuts and fruits) with
vegetables, and two of the unleavened bread wafers.
Step 7. Motzi. The blessing for bread
holding the remaining matzah bread.
Step 8. Matzah (Unleavened Bread):
Everyone eats a part of the top and the middle matzah. They lean to the
left when they eat.
Step 9. Maror (Bitter Herbs): The
participants eat bitter vegetable-like raw horseradish or romaine
lettuce after reciting a blessing over it. Bitter Herbs remind the
bitterness of slavery. They dip the bitter herb in charoset, a sweet
dark-colored paste made from mixing apples, nuts, cinnamon, and wine.
They signify the mortar Israelites used for the construction work in
Egypt during their slavery.
Step 10. Koresh (Matzah Sandwich): The
participants fill two pieces of Matzah with Maror and Romaine lettuce.
They recite a special prayer and eat the Koresh while leaning to the
left.
Step 11. Shulchan Orech (Dinner): The
head of the family cuts the Pascal lamb into pieces and gives a part to
each family member with unleavened bread and bitter herbs dipped in
sauce.
Step 12. Tzafun / Afikoman (Half-piece
Matzo bread): The head of the family asks children to find the piece
of matzah bread that he hid earlier. Its finding represents Jesus’
resurrection according to the Christian view. Once recovered, they break
that into pieces and eat saying, “This is the bread of affliction that
our fathers ate in Egypt.” (Exodus 13:3). At this point Jesus
established the Holy Eucharist using the Afikoman bread. “While they
were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing and broke it, and gave
it to his disciples saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’” (Matthew
26:26).
Step 13. Barech (The Cup of Redemption):
The head of the family then serves the third cup of wine, saying a
blessing over the cup. All the participants share it. Jesus instituted
the second part of the Holy Eucharist at this part of the Passover
observance. “Then he took a cup and gave thanks, and passed it to them
saying, ‘Drink from this, all of you, for this is my blood, the blood of
the Covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of
sins.’” (Matthew 26:27-28). Jesus and his apostles left the room to the
Garden of Gethsemane at this moment. The rest of the Passover continued through his
sacrifice as the Lamb of God on the Cross.
Then the participants pour wine on the fourth
cup. They set aside an additional cup for the prophet Elijah, who would
announce Messiah on a Pesach day. Then one of them opens a door to
invite the prophet into the house.
Step 14. Hallel (Praises): The
participants recite the rest of the psalms (Hallel) (Psalms 115-118)
followed by a blessing over the fourth cup of wine and drink it. Jesus
considered the fourth cup as his suffering, and prayed at the Garden of
Gethsemane, “Father, if it is your will, remove this cup from me; yet
not my will but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42). However, Jesus accepted
and tasted this fourth cup when he was on the cross.
Step 15. Nirtzah (Closing): The
Passover concludes saying “It is finished” and with the prayer, “Next
Year in Jerusalem” hoping that they might celebrate Pesach the following
year in Jerusalem with the Messiah. Jesus also said, “It is finished”
after tasting the fourth cup on the cross just before his death.
(Matthew 26:26) While they were eating,
Jesus took bread, said the blessing and broke it, and gave it to his
disciples saying, “Take and eat; this is my
body.”
While they were eating, Jesus took
bread.
Melchizedek
offered bread and wine to God. He was the priest of Salem which is
Jerusalem (Genesis 14:18). Jesus became the High Priest after the order
of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4). He revived
Melchizedek’s offering and replaced the animal sacrifice in the Temple
with the Holy Eucharist.
Said the blessing and broke it and gave
it to his disciples.
“Take and eat; this is my body.”
(27) Then he took a cup and gave
thanks, and passed it to them saying, “Drink from this, all of you.”
He took a cup.
Drink from this, all of you.
(28) … for this is my blood, the blood
of the Covenant, which is poured out for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
The blood of the
Covenant
Jesus here used the
same phrase used for the Old Covenant that God made with Israelites
through Moses at Mount Sinai as given in Exodus 24:3-8. People agreed to
all the ordinances of the Lord when Moses came down from the mountain
and reported to them. Moses then built an altar at the foot of the
mountain. The Israelites offered burnt offerings of young bulls. Moses
took half of the blood in large bowls and the other half he splashed on
the altar. He read aloud from the book of the covenant to the people who
responded, “All that the LORD has said we shall do and obey.” Moses
splashed the blood on the people, saying, “Here is the blood of the
covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these
words.”
Just as Moses was the mediator of the old
covenant, Jesus became the mediator of the New Covenant established at
the Last Supper and fulfilled on Calvary. After using wine for his
blood, Jesus shed his blood for humanity through the torture and
crucifixion he underwent. This was the fulfillment of the new covenant
Jeremiah prophesied (31:31-33).
Which is poured out
For many
For the forgiveness
of sins
(29) “Yes, I say to you: I will not
taste the fruit of the vine from now until the day I drink anew with you
in my Father’s kingdom.”
In my Father’s kingdom
The day I drink anew
(30) After
singing psalms of praise, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
After singing psalms of praise
They went out to the Mount of Olives
MESSAGE
1. Jesus washed even Judas’ feet, though he
knew Judas would betray him that night. Jesus, who taught us to love our
enemies and bless them, showed that in action by washing Judas’ feet and
kissing them. Let us follow Jesus’ model of being tolerant to those who
plot against us.
2. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples
just before establishing and sharing the Holy Eucharist. This reminds us
of the relationship between the sacraments of confession and Holy
Communion. Before participating and receiving the Holy Eucharist
(Qurbana), we need to cleanse our souls by confession or by an act of
contrition. We should do with more attention, the penitential service
during the Holy Mass (Qurbana) before we receive the Holy Communion.
3. Judas, along with the other apostles, had
received the baptism, washing of feet, the Holy Eucharist, and even
ordination from Jesus. Still he failed, not because of the fault of
anything Jesus offered, but by his shift of interest in the wealth that
Jesus had warned to give up for heavenly treasure. Judas even ignored
the warnings Jesus gave at the Last Supper. Satan is after the holy
people with offers of wealth and temporal glory. They will resist the
Word of God if worldly desires become their priority.
4. Passover was a feast of the unleavened
bread. Leaven was symbolic of sin, and the family removed it thoroughly
before the Passover. Our mothers use new utensils and vessels to prepare
the Passover food remembering this. This also reminds us of our need for
spiritual cleanliness, especially during the Holy Week.
5. During the Passover in Egypt, the angel saved slaying the first-born sons of only those who obeyed the commandment of God through Moses to sacrifice the lamb and mark the doorposts of their houses with its blood. Being an Israelite was not the only criteria for redemption from the last plague in Egypt. Though we are Christians through baptism, Jesus will reward us at the last judgement only if we practice his teachings.