Maundy Thursday — Holy Week 2018
1-2Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end. It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal.
3-6Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Master, you wash my feet?”
7Jesus answered, “You don’t understand now what I’m doing, but it will be clear enough to you later.”
8Peter persisted, “You’re not going to wash my feet — ever!”
Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing.”
9“Master!” said Peter. “Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!”
10-12Jesus said, “If you’ve had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you’re clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you’re clean. But not every one of you.” (He knew who was betraying him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you.”) After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.
12-17Then he said, “Do you understand what I’ve done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That’s what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant isn’t ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it — and live a blessed life. …
31-32When Judas had left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is seen for who he is, and God seen for who he is in him. The moment God’s seen in him, God’s glory will be on display. In glorifying him, he himself is glorified — glory all around!
33“Children, I am with you for only a short time longer. You’re going to look high and low for me. But just as I told the Jews, I’m telling you: ‘Where I go, you’re not able to come.’
34-35“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you’re my disciples — when they see the love you have for each other.”
~~~
In the Love of the Three in One,
Br. Jack+, LC
~~~
1. Scripture quotations marked (MSG) taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Comments