Thursday After Palm Sunday: The Table, The Towel, and the Tears
Thursday After Palm Sunday: The Table, The Towel, and the Tears
By Thursday, everything becomes deeply personal. The public ministry of Jesus slows. The cross is only hours away.
And now, in an upper room in Jerusalem, Jesus gathers with His disciples for a final meal—one last chance to show, to teach, and to love before the betrayal and the suffering begin.
What Did Jesus Do on Thursday?
A lot. Thursday is rich with meaning and sacred action. Here’s what the Gospels record:
🕊️ The Last Supper (Luke 22:14–20)
Jesus sat down with the Twelve and celebrated the Passover meal. But He gave it a new meaning.
He broke the bread and said, “This is my body.”
He poured the cup and said, “This is my blood of the covenant.”
In this, Jesus instituted what we now call Communion—a lasting symbol of His sacrifice and presence.
🧼 The Foot Washing (John 13:1–17)
In a shocking moment of humility, Jesus washed His disciples’ feet—the task of a servant.
Peter resisted, but Jesus insisted. This was more than an act of kindness—it was a call to follow His example:
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”
💔 The Prediction of Betrayal and Denial (Matthew 26:20–25, 31–35)
Jesus declared that one of them would betray Him.
The disciples were confused—“Surely not I, Lord?”
He also told Peter, the bold one, that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed.
🙏 The Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36–46)
After the meal, Jesus led the disciples to Gethsemane to pray.
Here, He wrestled with the coming cross:
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow… Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me.”
Yet He surrendered:
“Not My will, but Yours be done.”
In the quiet of the garden, Jesus was arrested. Judas arrived with a kiss, and the path to the cross officially began.
What Was Jesus Thinking?
Thursday was the eve of His suffering. And yet, Jesus didn’t withdraw.
He was thinking about love.
“Having loved His own… He loved them to the end.” (John 13:1)
Jesus was intentional with every action.
The bread and wine: symbols of sacrifice.
The towel and basin: symbols of service.
The prayer in the garden: surrender in action.
He knew pain was coming—but He chose love anyway.
How Did the Disciples Feel?
The disciples were probably overwhelmed and confused.
The tension was rising.
Jesus was speaking in strange ways.
He talked of leaving… of dying… of betrayal.
They didn’t fully understand yet. But they knew this wasn’t just another Passover.
Peter tried to be brave.
John leaned in close.
Judas slipped into the night.
And all of them—within a few hours—would scatter.
What Does This Mean for Us?
Thursday after Palm Sunday is a call to humility, love, and surrender.
Will we love and serve even when it’s uncomfortable?
Will we remain faithful when Jesus doesn’t meet our expectations?
Will we stay near when things get dark?
Jesus gave everything—even before the nails.
The towel, the table, the tears—these were acts of love, too.
Final Thought
Thursday reminds us that Jesus didn’t just die for us—He lived for us.
He showed us how to lead with love, serve with humility, and surrender with trust.
In the flicker of candlelight and the shadow of the cross, the greatest act of love was already underway.