Maundy Thursday
Maundy is a funny word that comes from the Latin word mandatum, which in English means mandate.
Thursday of Holy Week is called Maundy Thursday because that is when Jesus gave a new command.
John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The Greek word for love here is agape, which means one-way love, unselfish love, or self-giving love. It means loving another without an expectation of receiving love in return. That kind of love is hard because we always want to be loved in return; we expect it. This is the kind of love a parent has for a child, the love a grandparent has for their grandchildren; they love even when love is not returned.
That is the kind of love Jesus expects us to have for each other as Christians.
When society sees us loving each other deeply and sacrificially, they will flock to our church buildings to be loved. We say our vision is to LOVE20; let’s start loving our friends in the LOVE20 area as Jesus desires.
Will you obey Jesus’ new command and love one another that way?
If we don’t love unconditionally, the world will not know that we are Jesus’ disciples. The world does not know we are Jesus’ disciples; they think we are religious weirdos who hate them and don’t even like each other most of the time.
Let’s change that beginning today.
Just before Jesus gave the disciples this new commandment, He washed their feet. Jesus showed that He would take on the duty of the lowest servant and wash their dirty, sticky feet.
John 13:4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
It is time we started serving one another. Let’s humble ourselves this week and love each other enough to serve each other. Start with your spouse and family; expand to your co-workers and neighbors.
Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
What is one act of kindness you can do for the people around you without expecting something in return?
Jesus commands us to love and to serve.
That is why Jesus came; that is what Holy Week is all about.
Matthew 20:26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Christian, ask God to show you how to put His love into action today.
Be Great, Be a Servant.
Maundy is a funny word that comes from the Latin word mandatum, which in English means mandate.
Thursday of Holy Week is called Maundy Thursday because that is when Jesus gave a new command.
John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The Greek word for love here is agape, which means one-way love, unselfish love, or self-giving love. It means loving another without an expectation of receiving love in return. That kind of love is hard because we always want to be loved in return; we expect it. This is the kind of love a parent has for a child, the love a grandparent has for their grandchildren; they love even when love is not returned.
That is the kind of love Jesus expects us to have for each other as Christians.
When society sees us loving each other deeply and sacrificially, they will flock to our church buildings to be loved. We say our vision is to LOVE20; let’s start loving our friends in the LOVE20 area as Jesus desires.
Will you obey Jesus’ new command and love one another that way?
If we don’t love unconditionally, the world will not know that we are Jesus’ disciples. The world does not know we are Jesus’ disciples; they think we are religious weirdos who hate them and don’t even like each other most of the time.
Let’s change that beginning today.
Just before Jesus gave the disciples this new commandment, He washed their feet. Jesus showed that He would take on the duty of the lowest servant and wash their dirty, sticky feet.
John 13:4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
It is time we started serving one another. Let’s humble ourselves this week and love each other enough to serve each other. Start with your spouse and family; expand to your co-workers and neighbors.
Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
What is one act of kindness you can do for the people around you without expecting something in return?
Jesus commands us to love and to serve.
That is why Jesus came; that is what Holy Week is all about.
Matthew 20:26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Christian, ask God to show you how to put His love into action today.
Be Great, Be a Servant.
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