Holy Week - Maundy Thursday - The Lord's Supper!

This is a re-post from April 1, 2010

Luke 22:14-20  

And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

What if you sat down to supper with your family and friends and you knew it would be the last time you would share a meal with them?  What would you say, especially if they didn't know what was fixing to happen to you...that you were facing death?

Would your advice to your family be simply to "love one another"?

Thursday of Holy Week is also called "Maundy Thursday".

The word "maundy" in Latin means "command".

Jesus' commandment to his disciples, those who were the closest to Him in His earthly journey, was for them to love one another.

To show His love for His disciples, do you remember what He did?

John 13:4-5  

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Several years ago, I helped with an Easter program.

I was in charge of getting people to play certain parts and for what music would be played, and/or sung, during specific times during the play. During this time, I truly felt God lay specific people on my heart to ask to play certain parts.  Some of the "it's not odd, it's God" things that happened were that nobody turned me down when asked....and we had the EXACT number of men we needed.....twelve.....to play the part of Jesus' disciples.

I still have pictures taken during practices of that program and I can still remember the faces of so many of the older men who sat at the table during "The Lord's Supper". After they had partaken of their meal, the one playing the part of Jesus came to the front of the stage and took a towel and knelt down over a basin, and one by one each of these men came by and allowed "Jesus" to wash their feet. I tear up just thinking about that scene. There's something about a reenactment of something to make it stick in our minds and have a truer meaning to us. I will never forget how humbling it was to see the one who was portraying Jesus washing the feet of those disciples. To know....this was the KING of KINGS....and He stooped down in humility to wash the dust from the feet of His friends.

In Jesus' time, sandals were worn, and walking was done on dusty, dirty roads. When you arrived at someone's home, a basin of water and a towel was provided for you to wash the dust from your feet. If there were servants in the home, then it was their responsibility to wash the feet of the guest.

Jesus took upon Himself the role of the servant by washing the feet of His disciples. He had just shared a meal with them....then....to show His love for each of them....took the time to wash the dust from their feet and to dry them off.

Do we...would we...will we...be available when called upon?

Or...do we more often than not...try to find excuses as to why we can't do something for someone else? If we do take the time for someone, do we expect something in return? Do we "brag" about what we do for others? I try to put myself in the place of one of those disciples....probably, Peter, since I seem to be able to relate to so many of Peter's weaknesses....and think about how I would feel if Jesus humbled himself before me....to wash my feet....which seems such a menial chore for someone as great as Jesus!!!

Would I be able to allow Him to do it?

How could I keep from shedding tears of gratitude and thankfulness that this amazing man....God Himself....would care enough for me, of all people, to wash my dirty, nasty feet.

But....Jesus took it an entire step further....He not only took water and washed the dust from dirty feet....

He shed His blood to wash away sins.

How can we explain that?

I know you've heard "how can you take red blood and cover black sins to wash them white as snow"?

I can't fully explain it.

I'm just so glad that I know that I know that I know!!!

Blessings to you!!!

In HIS Most Precious Love...and with mine!!!