A lot happens on Maundy Thursday. The text that Gafney chooses to focus on in her lectionary for this year is Matthew 26:17-56.
On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain person, and say, 'The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples." So the disciples did just as Jesus instructed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve, and while they ate, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me. And they became deeply grieved and each one began to say to him, "Not me, is it Rabbi," He responded and said, "The one who dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. Indeed, the Son of Woman goes away as it is written of him, but woe to the person by whom the Son of Woman is betrayed! It would have been better for that person not to have been born." Judas, who betrayed him, responded and said, "It wasn't me was it, Rabbi?" He replied, "You said it."
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and blessing it, he broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take, eat; this is my body. Then he took a cup, and giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins, I tell you all, I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you all in the realm of my Abba."
What do you notice in this renaissance painting of the Last Supper?
The Passover meal is a family meal, with everyone, young and old at the table. Artists reduce this to Jesus and his disciples but it is totally appropriate to picture yourself at the table with them.
And when they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Then Jesus said to them, "You will all become scandalized to the point of desertion because of me this night; for it is written,
"For I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered?
But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you all to Galilee." Peter said to him,
“Though all become scandalized and desert because of you, I will never desert you." Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, "Should it be necessary I die with you, I will not deny you." Then likewise said all the disciples.
Then Jesus came with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them,
"You all sit here while I go pray there." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and distressed, Then he said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; you all stay here, and stay awake with me." And going on a lite, he fell on the ground and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this up pass from me; nevertheless not what I want but what you do. Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, you all were not strong enough to stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you all may not come into the test; indeed, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again, for the second time, Jesus went away and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is not possible for this to pass lest I drink it, let your will be done." And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying those words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Sleep now and take your rest. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Woman is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is at hand."
While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came and with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I kiss is he; take him." At once he came up to Jesus and said, "Shalom, Rabbi!" and kissed him. Jesus said to him, "Friend, this is why you have come." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took him. Suddenly, someone with Jesus reached out with his hand, drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Return your sword to its place; for all who choose the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think I am not able to ask my Father, who will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? How then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must be thus?" At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Is it as for a bandit you all have come out with swords and clubs to seize me? Daily in the temple I sat teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has happened, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.