Praise the Lord for
His wondrous grace and amazing love that He lavishes upon us every
day, every season. The Lord blessed us with a wonderful Wednesday evening
gathering of fellowship and study. I had a note from our daughter
Laureen, who lives in Washington, DC, who shared that she walked to see the
cherry blossoms in our nation's capital. She said the flowers are in full
bloom, luxuriant and stunning. Our Lord makes all things glorious and
colourful in His time. Yesterday I spent some time gazing at the spring
flowers and listening to the spring birds. It was all sweet and ethereal.
Praise the Lord for this Maundy Thursday. Maundy Thursday, also known as
“Holy Thursday,” is the Thursday of Passion Week, one day before Good Friday (the Friday before Easter).
Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the
Passover with His disciples. This Passover meal is commonly known as the
Last Supper. Two important events are the focus of Maundy Thursday.
First, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples and thereby instituted the Lord’s Supper, also called Communion (Luke 22:19-20). Some Christian churches observe a special Communion service on Maundy Thursday in memory of Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples. Second, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet as an act of humility and service, thereby setting an example that we should love and serve one another in humility (John 13:3-17). Some Christian churches observe a foot-washing ceremony on Maundy Thursday to commemorate Jesus’ washing of the disciples' feet.
First, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples and thereby instituted the Lord’s Supper, also called Communion (Luke 22:19-20). Some Christian churches observe a special Communion service on Maundy Thursday in memory of Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples. Second, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet as an act of humility and service, thereby setting an example that we should love and serve one another in humility (John 13:3-17). Some Christian churches observe a foot-washing ceremony on Maundy Thursday to commemorate Jesus’ washing of the disciples' feet.
The image of Jesus washing the feet of his
disciples is a very vivid one. John wrote, "Jesus, knowing
that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from
God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and
tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began
to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied
around him."
When we read such detail in a Gospel passage, we can really begin to picture the scene in our minds. Jesus' hands began taking the feet of his followers one by one -- each of them simple, uneducated folk, taking their dusty callused feet in his hands, pouring water over them, and then wiping them dry. How he must have loved each of them. How he must have agonized for them, because he knew that His time had come and His disciples still didn't understand. He knew that one of these disciples whose feet he had washed would later share the bread and wine of the meal and then betray Him.
In this incredibly poignant scene John understood that Jesus was teaching His followers, and ultimately each one of us, a very important lesson about our Christian witness -- about living the way God wants us to live. Jesus, the consummate teacher, was showing His disciples that hospitality is basic to leading a Christ-like life and that hospitality is a basic ingredient of true servanthood.
When we read such detail in a Gospel passage, we can really begin to picture the scene in our minds. Jesus' hands began taking the feet of his followers one by one -- each of them simple, uneducated folk, taking their dusty callused feet in his hands, pouring water over them, and then wiping them dry. How he must have loved each of them. How he must have agonized for them, because he knew that His time had come and His disciples still didn't understand. He knew that one of these disciples whose feet he had washed would later share the bread and wine of the meal and then betray Him.
In this incredibly poignant scene John understood that Jesus was teaching His followers, and ultimately each one of us, a very important lesson about our Christian witness -- about living the way God wants us to live. Jesus, the consummate teacher, was showing His disciples that hospitality is basic to leading a Christ-like life and that hospitality is a basic ingredient of true servanthood.
In
one way, Jesus' disciples would have understood what Jesus was doing when He
washed their feet since in the culture of that time, any good host would make
sure his guests' feet were washed by a servant when they entered the
house. It would have surprised the disciples, however, that Jesus, the
host, was washing their feet. That was part of Peter's objection to
Jesus' washing his feet, but Jesus was showing his disciples that true
hospitality goes much deeper than basic good manners. In washing even
Judas' feet, Jesus was extending hospitality and His acceptance even to the one
who would betray him. Even though Jesus crucifixion, Jesus didn't push
him out of the community. To the end, Jesus offered Judas a chance to
change.
Jesus told his disciples: I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Jesus says the same thing to each one of us, and if He could include Judas, shouldn't we think very seriously about those we find it all to easy to exclude?
Many feet walk into our lives every day - old, young, feet belonging to different races, the poor, children, the needy, the arrogant, the annoying, those whom we love and those whom we fear. Whose feet would we be willing to wash? Whose feet would we rather not touch at all?
Jesus showed by his example that we really don't have a choice in the matter.. Washing each other's feet can be an intimately loving act, but we must also remember that there are other consequences of that unconditional love. Though Judas didn't change his mind, Jesus generously offered His love to him, regardless. Jesus loved and gave of Himself to the very end. Today, Maundy Thursday, Jesus began His final way to the cross.
Jesus told his disciples: I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Jesus says the same thing to each one of us, and if He could include Judas, shouldn't we think very seriously about those we find it all to easy to exclude?
Many feet walk into our lives every day - old, young, feet belonging to different races, the poor, children, the needy, the arrogant, the annoying, those whom we love and those whom we fear. Whose feet would we be willing to wash? Whose feet would we rather not touch at all?
Jesus showed by his example that we really don't have a choice in the matter.. Washing each other's feet can be an intimately loving act, but we must also remember that there are other consequences of that unconditional love. Though Judas didn't change his mind, Jesus generously offered His love to him, regardless. Jesus loved and gave of Himself to the very end. Today, Maundy Thursday, Jesus began His final way to the cross.
In Christ,
Brown
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