Maundy Thursday

Jesus' Day
"This day, Jesus took a normal Passover meal and changed it forever. All the arrangements had been made, but then the foot-washer didn't show up! The disciples came to dinner with dusty feet, and stood around asking who messed up the arrangements. It never dawned on them that maybe one of them could humble himself to do that for anybody else.
Jesus came, took off his robe, put a towel over his arm, filled a basin with water, then knelt down and started washing the disciples' feet.

They couldn't believe it! The Son of God, the Savior of the world—

and he had the humility to wash their feet." - Bill Hybels

Holy Scriptures
Matthew 26:17-75
Mark 14:12-72
Luke 22:7-65
John 13:1-18:26

Thoughts
Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday is the day that we remember Jesus having his last meal with his disciples. Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum (like mandate) and refers to John's account of Jesus giving the disciples a new commandment, a new order.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, you also ought to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. - John 13:34-35Jesus set an example of humility, service and love. "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet." - John 13:14
He also had the first communion with his disciples during that meal. (Matt. 26:26-29)

Reflection
What would it have been like to be in the room the night that Jesus washed feet and broke bread? Tonight as we sit down to our own Thursday evening meal, let us remember Jesus and tell the stories of his last meal with his disciples.

Prayer of the Day
Pray that God would make you a washer of feet and that our church body would be a people looking to wash each other's feet in service. May we humbly serve each other and those in our community as we follow Christ's example.