03-28-13 Maundy Thursday

Today is Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday.  The term 'Maundy' comes from a latin word meaning commandment (mandatum). 

Jesus demonstrated two commands on this evening before His Crucifixion.  One, to become humble servants to one another; and, two, to remember the Sacrifice He was soon to perform.  This was the  mandatum, meaning "commandment," Maundy refers to the commands Jesus gave his disciples at the Last Supper: to love with humility by serving one another and to remember His Sacrifice.

John 13-18:11

Before the Last Supper, Jesus washed the disciples feet.  Can you imagine walking with Jesus, hearing His teachings, believing He's the Messiah and the Son of God - and then He disrobes, puts a towel around Himself and commences to systematically wash the disciples feet?  Peter even objected this by saying "You shall never wash my feet".  Jesus came back with “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”  Peter changed his mind - repented.

I can't imagine washing Judas' feet knowing that he was about to betray Him. In my opinion, He regarded Jesus as Lord and Savior - as Who He says He was.  If He did, then he allowed greed to overshadow his beliefs to reveal his heart.  In these scriptures that I list above, they say that 'Jesus loved them until the end'.  This includes Judas.  He could have repented and turned back to Jesus and the love of God, the Father in Jesus would've forgiven him, but he didn't.

Jesus left them with this command after the foot washing - starting at 13:15 "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Judas soon gets up and hurries off to collect his money by betraying his friend.  We've all felt the pain of betrayal... Jesus did too.

Jesus lovingly looks at Peter and predicts his denial of knowing Him.  More betrayal, of which Peter absolutely did not believe he would do.... ever.

Jesus comforts the disciples in Chapter 14 of John.  He's going away, but He goes to prepare a place for them that will be unbelievably beautiful.  He tells them Who He is - that since they've seen Him, they've seen the Father and that He is the only way to the Father.  Then He promises to send back His Holy Spirit - HIS VERY SPIRIT to help and comfort and lead them.  Oh, and by the way, US!

The Last Supper represented the Sacrifice that Jesus knew He was about to make.  He broke the bread and said this is My Body broken for you, do this in remembrance of Me.  Then He took the cup and said, This is My Blood, the wine of my new covenant, whenever you do this remember Me.  The Body and Blood during communion that many of us take, whether it's a representation of Jesus' Body and Blood or is just a mystery - it has healing and restoring properties.

He prays for His disciples, encouraging them. Then He prays for all believers (including us).

John doesn't record going to the garden of Gethesame, but the other gospels do (Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22).  It was a time of great grief and preparing Himself for what was about to come.  He even asked a few of the disciples to come with Him and take watch.  They kept falling asleep.  His friends couldn't even stay with Him during this time of painful emotions.  But Father was, He was there listening, strengthening His Son.

Soon after, the crowd comes, led by Judas to take Him away.  Who knows all that He endured that night with a crowd revved up like they were.  Jesus knows - Father knows.

This was the beginning of the end... or was it the beginning of the beginning?