The Towel, the Table, and the Trial

Reflecting on the Love, Humility, and Sacrifice of Jesus on the Eve of His Passion

Scripture Reference: – John 13:14-15

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you”

What Is Maundy Thursday?

The Thursday before Resurrection Sunday is traditionally known as Maundy Thursday—a sacred day that commemorates the Last Supper, where Jesus shared a final meal with His disciples before His arrest and crucifixion. The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin “mandatum,” meaning “command,” in reference to the new command Jesus gave that evening: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34).

On this night, Jesus not only broke bread and offered the cup, but He also stooped to wash His disciples’ feet, embodying the kind of selfless love and humility He was about to display in full on the cross.

🌿 "The Towel" refers to the act of Jesus washing His disciples' feet

On Maundy Thursday, before Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane, before He was arrested, beaten, and crowned with thorns, He did something shockingly humble:

“He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.”
— John 13:4 (KJV)

That towel was not symbolic of power or royalty—it was a servant’s tool. It was what the lowest house servant would use to wipe the dirt and filth off the feet of guests. Jesus wrapped it around His waist, knelt before His disciples—including Judas who would betray Him—and began to wash their feet one by one.

So when we say:

“Before the Thorns Came the Towel,” we mean that before Jesus endured the agony of the cross, He modeled the humility of service.

The towel represents His love, humility, and willingness to lower Himself for the sake of others. It's a foreshadowing of what He would soon do on the cross—washing not just their feet, but their very souls with His blood.

✝️ The Significance for Us Today

● The towel teaches us that no one is above serving others.

● It reminds us that true leadership begins with humility.

● It shows us that before great sacrifice comes great surrender.

● And it challenges us, especially in hardship (even in prison), to serve one another in love—even when no one sees, even when it's hard.

Introduction

Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, is one of the most sacred and sobering moments of Holy Week. It marks the final evening Jesus shared with His disciples before His crucifixion. On this night, in the upper room, eternity bent low to serve humanity. The King took up a towel. The Creator knelt before the created. The spotless Lamb washed the feet of sinners—including one who would betray Him, one who would deny Him, and all who would abandon Him.

It was a night of divine love, tender teaching, sacred communion, and humble service. But it was also a night of betrayal, sorrow, and spiritual agony in Gethsemane. Every moment of this day points to the heart of Jesus—a heart that came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

In this devotional, we pause to remember what Maundy Thursday means—and what it calls us to become: servants, worshipers, and followers who love like Christ, even when it costs everything.

Before the hammer struck the nails, before the lash tore His flesh, and before the crown pierced His brow, Jesus stooped.

On the Thursday before His crucifixion, Jesus gave His disciples more than a meal—He gave them an example. He washed their feet. This wasn’t just a kind gesture. It was a shocking, almost scandalous display of humility. In that culture, washing feet was the job of the lowest servant. But the Lord of Glory grabbed a towel and a basin and knelt before dusty, undeserving men.

And He tells us plainly: “I have given you an example.”

But Maundy Thursday is more than just about foot-washing. It’s about the mandate of love.

During his final hours with His disciples, our Savior instituted the Lord’s Supper—the first Communion—saying, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” He didn’t just give bread and wine—He gave Himself.

And as He left the upper room and entered the Garden of Gethsemane, He faced the crushing weight of sin’s cup. The perfect Son prayed in agony, sweat like drops of blood falling to the ground. He was not running from the cross—He was walking straight toward it. For you. For me. For sinners who could never earn it.

📖 Scripture Highlights for Maundy Thursday

● John 13 – Jesus washes the disciples’ feet and gives the new commandment

● Luke 22:19–20 – The institution of the Lord’s Supper

● Matthew 26:36–46 – Jesus in Gethsemane

● 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 – Paul’s reminder of the sacredness of the Lord’s Table

● Philippians 2:5–8 – Christ’s humility and obedience unto death

🔥 Final Thought for Prisoners

You may be in a place where people serve themselves, take advantage of others, or use power to hurt. But Christ calls you to something higher. He calls you to take up the towel, not the throne. He calls you to serve, not to dominate. You may not be able to kneel at someone’s feet behind prison walls, but you can forgive, listen, encourage, and love—just as Christ did for you.

This night before the crucifixion reminds us that true power is found in humility, and true love is found in sacrifice. Maundy Thursday is not just a history lesson—it’s a life pattern. Let us follow our Lord—not just to the table, but to the towel. Not just to the supper, but to the cross.

Gracious Savior,


On this sacred night, we remember Your love poured out, not just in words, but in action. You knelt. You washed. You served. You wept. And then You walked into the night, carrying the weight of the world on Your shoulders.

Forgive us for wanting the crown without the cross, the blessing without the burden. Teach us to love as You have loved us. Teach us to serve, even when it’s hard. Teach us to be faithful, even when others fail.

Help every heart behind prison walls know that You knelt for them. That You loved them to the end. May this Maundy Thursday stir something deep in our souls—a desire to follow You, to remember You, and to live like You.

In Your matchless name,
 Amen!

From: Fight the Good Fight of Faith / Life Journal: By Gregg Harris