INSPIRASUNS

The Thursday of Holy Week, also known as Maundy Thursday, well it was I guess you would say somber. This is the last time that Jesus will be with his disciples for a meal. This is the last time that Jesus will be with the disciples as a group, a family. He understands, but do they?

On Thursday, the day before He is to suffer incredibly, and is put to death, He sends Peter and John to Jerusalem to the Upper Room to prepare for the Passover Feast. It is here, in the upper room where Jesus demonstrates His love, and instructs His disciples, and His followers to remember His sacrifice with the Lord’s Supper or as we know it, Holy Communion.

Jesus washes the feet of His disciples that evening. This humble act shows the disciples first hand how we should love one another as Jesus and Father love us. Tonight at our church, like many others, we will practice this act of washing the feet of others. In my opinion, tonight’s service is truly one of the most meaningful in all of Holy Week.

After washing the feet, Jesus shares the feast of Passover and tells his disciples this will be His last meal. He will not eat again until “it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God”. He is sharing that He is freely giving his body and blood to be shed in sacrifice for us, freeing us from sin and death. Again, we recognize this sacrifice each Sunday in our communion liturgy.

Of course, later in the evening, Jesus leaves with his disciples to the garden of Gethsemane where He would be betrayed with a kiss by Judas. Before this, Jesus prays to Father. As Luke 22:42-44 says, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done”. An angel from Heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground”.

Not long after, Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss, and the events begin to unfold with his arrest and the council making their case against him. In the early morning hours of Friday, Peter denies knowing Jesus not once, but three times before the rooster crowed, just as Jesus predicted he would do.

Friends, as you ready yourself for the day, please stop and take just a little time with Father. The events of this day, while not as somber as Good Friday, the events are incredibly meaningful. He washed the feet of the disciples the day before he was crucified. He prayed to Father to not have to experience the events to come. And, Father sent him an Angel to give him the strength to finish it. To finish it for us. Yes, spend time with Father this morning before you begin your day, and remember the sacrifice.

Matthew 26:26-29
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”