Today has a strange name. Do you know what it means?

Every Thursday before Easter, like today, is known in the church calendar as Maundy Thursday. It’s set aside in order to remember the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples.

The word “maundy” comes from the Latin word for “command.” At this supper, Jesus commanded his disciples to love and serve one another, and demonstrated it by washing their feet.

But keep in mind that for the disciples, this was Passover—when Jews were to remember that God rescued His people from Egypt, as described in the book of Exodus. At his Last Supper, Jesus revealed Himself as the fulfillment of that event. It’s His broken body and shed blood we are now to remember.

So here’s a question: Is Christianity about service or salvation? It’s a question that divides the church. But today reminds us, it’s both. On the same night, Jesus commands us to remember our rescue by his broken body and spilt blood, and to show our rescue by loving and serving each other.