Maundy Thursday
Theme: Full Extent of Love
Text: John 13:1-17
Introduction:
Maundy means commandment. Today is Commandment Thursday, Holy Thursday or Sheer Thursday, green Thursday in Germany, because of cleaning the penance of a new beginning (ref: Britannica). The following texts remind the mandate of God, such as Exodus 12:1-10, 11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17. The mandate is love and serve, “a new commandment I give to you” (John 13:34). Christ's "mandate" is commemorated today.
Three lessons we could arrive at from this passage: Greater love of Christ, greater humility of Jesus, and a greater commitment to God.
1. Jesus Exhibited greater Love (John 13:1-2)
Jesus commanded us to love God, and love others as we love ourselves. Jesus showed us what it looks like. We are commanded to love as we have been loved by Jesus. We are prompted that love is not a sign of weakness, rather than strength; love is about God’s mercy and grace, rather than any goodness of our own. Jesus exhibited love towards the disciples who will run away, betray, deny. Jesus loved the arrogant, proud disciples. Jesus loved the self-loving, and self-projecting followers. Jesus loved the disciples who were worried about their petty positions among themselves and fought for them. John says, "Beloved, let us love one another. For love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God..." (1 John 4:7-8).
On this night, we gathered as the enslaved Hebrews gathered in Egypt to share the lamb and celebrate God’s passing over them in mercy. We are amazed and humbled, to have the dust of our souls washed by the servant Messiah. I would like to ask you ‘have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?’ We gathered to share bread, and wine through the loved of Christ with friends and strangers. We are here to feast with God in midst of fears of death, sickness, wars in the world, in midst of poverty, scarcities, loneliness, despair, in the midst of racialism, religious hatred, political turmoil confusing and changing climatic conditions, and prevailing economic injustices, in the midst of disharmony. Jesus shares a table feast—pleasantly, with his unfaithful friends, with the traitor and the betrayed (Jacqueline K. Thompson, UMC Insight, 7.4.22).
The Last Supper was a Passover Seder, the feast of unleavened bread. Seder a ritual feast that marks the beginning of Passover and involves retelling the liberation story of Israelites enslaved in ancient Egypt. It is based on the Biblical verse commanding them to retell the story of the Exodus from Egypt: "You shall tell your child on that day, saying, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt" (Exodus 13:8). Jesus and the disciples ate unleavened bread. The LORD delivered a liberating love and the love Jesus commands is a liberating love. God loved us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8).
2. Jesus Exhibited Servant Leadership (John 13:3-17)
It's the ultimate act of "servant leadership." Jesus instructs his followers to love and serve with humility. In stooping to wash their feet, Jesus demonstrated service with a humble state. It is service among equals, where no one—not even Teacher and Lord—stands out. It is a service of hospitality. Jesus commands us “do as I have done to you, which Means wash one another’s feet, …” (John 13:14-15).
Jesus washed the feet of His disciples in an extraordinary display of humility. The action is simple, yet is revolutionary. We serve as we have been served by Jesus. Jesus shows us what a servant’s heart looks like. (Jacqueline K. Thompson, UMC Insight, 7.4.22). Jesus taught his disciples to humble themselves and to believe that no one is better than another. Jesus was trying to teach the "value of spiritual washing, and the cleansing of the soul from the pollutions of sin" (Bible Gateway).
Jesus was teaching His disciples to not only humble themselves and to serve but to also learn how to receive love. Indeed, it is nothing short of shocking that the one who comes from God and is going to God has done the menial task of a slave and set an example for us. Jesus takes the role of a slave and washes the dirty feet of his disciples, but even more astounding is the fact that he does so knowing full well that they will all fail him miserably in his hour of greatest need. That is the greatest love exhibited with the greatest servanthood.
In ancient days the Jewish Hosts used to offer water and basins to the Guests to wash their dirty feet before entering their houses. However, the host would not do the washing. In some cases, the host would have a slave wash the feet of his guests. But no free person would stoop to wash the feet of another free person. Hospitality meant offering water and perhaps the services of a slave. It does not mean doing the washing. But Christ excelled them all. Jesus does not act this out of weakness, but out of strength (ref: Working preacher).
A former Chief Minister of Punjab (India), was punished to clean the shoes of the devotees of the Golden Temple for allowing the Army to enter into the golden temple with boots while he was a Chief Minister. He had to sweep the entrance of the Gurudwara. He had to wash the vessels of the community kitchen. He had 18 days of self-punishment with an iron plate hanging on his neck with the inscription “I am a sinner; may God pardon me.” He had to recite non-stop the Gurbani for 11 days. But Christ has shown out of love.
3. Jesus Exhibited commitment till his death (John 13:26, Matthew 26:26-30)
The institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion, the Eucharist, and the Lord’s Supper signifies the Passover sacrifice by which atonement is made (1 Corinthians 5:7). This ordinance is to us the Passover supper, by which application is made, and commemoration celebrated, of a much greater deliverance than that of Israel out of Egypt (Matthew Henry).
We are repeatedly reminded of what He is to us through observing it. He enlists the services of the three senses of sight, taste, and touch for the vital truths of His gospel. “When we eat the bread and drink the wine. We personally participate in Christ, and receive Him into our lives, in order to profit by His grace” (Pulpit Commentary).
Salvation is a wonderful gift that protects us from the penalty that we deserve (Romans 6:23). The work of Christ imbues new life grants spiritual strength and motivates godly action in believers. The grace of God trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. Our great God and Savior Jesus Christ redeemed us from all lawlessness and made us zealous for good works." (Read: Titus 2:11-14).
Today is the day on which Jesus broke bread, prayed in the Garden, and yielded to his unjust arrest. His full surrender and commitment is exhibited.
Jesus begins a new relationship, a new covenant, a new agreement, a new deal with us. He spills his blood, offers up his body, and gives his life to cover our sins and offer us grace. He asks us to accept his sacrifice and trust that it pays our spiritual debts and makes us holy. He asks us to receive this grace and to live in thanks for it. He asks us to take his Supper and tell his story until he returns again (ref: heartlight.org).
Conclusion: Have you been to the cleansing of Jesus Christ? Exhibit the love, service with humility, and commitment.
