[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Thursday April 5, 2007

[Barry Ludwig]

Maundy Thursday- April 5, 2007

During this holiest week of the church year, we shall be looking at the
Gospel text for that day assigned by the historic lectionary (Scripture
readings) cycle of the church. May you use a moment each day to prepare for
the remembering of what Christ has done for you.

 

John 13: 1 - 9; 15 - 17 (NRSV)

 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that  his hour had come
to depart from this world and go to the  Father. Having loved his own who
were in the world, he loved  them to the end. The devil had already put it
into the heart of Judas son  of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during
supper 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. He came to Simon Peter, who said
to him, "Lord, are you  going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered, "You do not
know now what I am doing, but  later you will understand." Peter said to
him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus  answered, "Unless I wash you, you
have no share with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but
also  my hands and my head!" .. [Jesus said] For I have set you an example,
that you also should do as  I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you,
servants are not greater than their  master, nor are messengers greater than
the one who sent  them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do
them.

 

We usually associate the institution of Holy Communion and the betrayal of
Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane with Maundy Thursday.  The Gospel of John
adds another feature to this last night before the death of Jesus, the
foot-washing of his disciples. This model for Christian life is so important
that it gave its name to this day we call Maundy. The name Maundy comes from
the Latin, "mandatum" which means command.  In the foot-washing Jesus has
given us a new commandment, that we humbly love one another. Whose feet do
you need to wash today with forgiveness, compassion and a humble heart?  May
you follow the example of your Master and Lord, who is on his way to the
cross for all of us.

 

Pastor Barry 

 

P.S. I hope that wherever you are this day, you will be able to take an hour
and worship with other believers and once again enter into the passion of
your Christ.

 

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