John 13:1-17:

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 decided that Judas son of Simon Iscariot would betray Jesus. 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 supper, 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 to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had reclined again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.  Very truly, I tell you, slaves 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.

John 13:31-35:

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.  If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’  I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Maundy Thursday Reflection

This evening as we remember the journey to the cross and the resurrection, we begin with the Last Supper. Maundy Thursday commemorates the Farewell Supper. It is Christ’s last time to be with his disciples. He knows that it is his last time to be with them, and so, he makes every minute count, and he cherishes the time with them.

 While the Gospel writers Matthew, Mark and Luke focus on the bread and cup, John’s focus in his presentation of the Last Supper is on Jesus’ washing the feet of his disciples. It’s an act of love and expression of his love for his disciples.

This chapter, John Chapter 13 is the beginning of Jesus’ “Farewell Discourse.” From Chapter 13 to Chapter 17, Jesus is saying goodbye. And he is leaving his disciples with his last teachings. So, over the next two days, if you would like to read some scripture, you might consider reading these last chapters from John’s Gospel.

Chapters 13 to 17 is the Farewell Discourse. And then, Chapter 18 is the betrayal, arrest, and trial. Chapter 19 is the torture, crucifixion, and burial. Chapter 20 is the resurrection. And Chapter 21 is Christ’s appearance to the disciples in Galilee. So that’s the last eight chapters of John. This would make for some wonderful devotional reading during the next few days.

The main point for this evening is to note that all through the Farewell Discourse, Jesus points to acts of love as the mark of discipleship. He begins by taking up a towel and washing his disciples’ feet. He wants to show them, by example, that love is expressed in service. Love is expressed as an act of service. And he leaves the disciples with this last commandment: to love one another.

Today, this Thursday before Easter, is called Maundy Thursday. “Maundy” is an interesting word, not to be confused with “maudlin.” I know sometimes this is the word association that people get. The words sound similar. But Maundy does not mean “maudlin.” The word “maundy” comes from the Latin “mandatum,” meaning “mandate” or commandment.

“Mandatum” is the first word of an ancient antiphon, a Gregorian chant from the “washing the feet” liturgy.

 Mandatum novum do vobis, ut diligatis invicem, sicut dilexi vos, dicit Dominus.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, says the Lord.”

Jesus introduces this new commandment by saying “Little children, I am with you only a little longer.”

You know, this is true for us right now, too. We never know. We never know who will be the next one to say goodbye. In a sense, we could say this to each other: “I am with you only a little longer. And I know that you are with me only a little longer.” We are only here for a little while.

And so, when we recognize this fact, when we really see that this might be our last time to be with each other, this can open the heart, so that we can see with the heart, and we can love each other, and cherish the time that we have together.

Jesus is giving us this example. It is for us, right now.

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Invitation to communion.