Holy Week – Thursday – A Serving Savior

The Thursday before Easter is known as Maundy Thursday, which is derived from the Latin word for “command,” and refers to Jesus’ commandment to the disciples to “Love one another as I have loved you.”

On this night Jesus and His disciples celebrated the Passover meal together and it’s when Jesus explained and shared communion (The Lord’s Supper) with them; giving them a new commandment, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” This was something that Jesus had eagerly desired to do with His disciples before He suffered.

To be in that room watching Jesus interact with His beloved disciples, eating with them, talking with them, reclining with them, must have been a beautiful scene. Thursday, to me, is one the most touching and intimate days of Holy Week.

As they dined together and remembered the Passover from the Old Testament, there before them stood the Lamb of God that was promised. The One that would take away the sins of the world once and for all.

But before He explained the gift of communion, He demonstrated what it meant to be a servant of the Lord and humble yourself in the service of others.

Jesus got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  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.

Picture yourself in the scene. The Savior of the world, on His knees washing feet. What would you have done or said as He lifted your foot, poured water over it and began to wash it? How would you feel?

When Jesus had finished washing all their feet He asked them, “Do you understand what I have done for you?”  “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

Keep in mind that Jesus also washed Judas’ feet. In a few short minutes he would walk out of the upper room on those same clean feet, down to meet the religious leaders and betray the very One who would die for him.

What a powerful message for us! Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him and yet, He still served him with a Godly heart. How much more should we show grace to those who wrong us?

While washing feet was a humbling example of servanthood, an even larger display of His love was about to be lived out – laying down His life for a friend.

Communion is such a beautiful reminder of the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us. Close your eyes and imagine that while they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.  “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Every time we share communion it’s in remembrance of that night, when Jesus willingly chose to give His life for us. He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane as the sins of the world were laid upon Him. He showed us through His life what it means to be a servant.

How extreme is your love for others? What lengths are you willing to go for them?

If our Lord and Savior could humbly wash the feet of his friends and betrayer, who are we to pick and choose who we will serve? It was Jesus’ love for us that led Him to the cross to suffer and die in the most humiliating and painful deaths imaginable. One of His last commands was to “Love one another as I have loved you.”

What does that kind of love look like for us? It’s the kind of love that is available to others even when we would rather do other things. It’s the kind of love that cares more about what God thinks and how He sees us, than what the world thinks and expects. It’s the kind of love that befriends the outsiders and isn’t afraid of looking foolish when reaching out to others. It’s the kind of love that makes sure people know that they matter.

It’s the kind of love that remembers that Jesus has always been available for you. It’s the kind of love that loves you just as you are even when it knows all about you. It’s the kind of love that befriended you and called you His own. It’s the kind of love that suffered and died for you so that you would know just how much you matter to Him. Jesus is that kind of love.

Father, my heart is full just thinking about how much You love us. The lengths that You went to make sure we could have a relationship with You. Thank you for the examples and reminders that are written in Your word. Help us to love others as You love us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Go deeper with Passion Week Readings

• Peter & John prepare for Passover – Mark 14:12-16 Luke 22:7-13
• Passover meal – Matthew 26: 30 Luke 22: 14-16 John 13-16:1
• Jesus washes the disciples’ feet – John 13: 2-17
• Jesus identifies His betrayer – Matthew 26:21-25 Luke 22: 21-23 John 13: 18-30
• Lord’s Supper instituted – Matthew 26:26-29 Mark 14: 22-25 Luke 22: 15-20

Make It Personal

Who can you love like Jesus loved?

Take communion with a renewed heart for the sacrifice it represents.