Thursday, April 17, 2014

Maundy Thursday


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Maundy Thursday?
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What is "Maundy Thursday"? Why do we call it "Maundy"? Maundy, in Latin, means "command" or "commandment". This day could also be called "Holy Thursday", one day before Good Friday. 

Unlike the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke), almost 25% of the Gospel of John is focused on "Maundy Thursday" where Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples in the upper room, which was also known as the "Last Supper" (chapters 13-17). This was a very significant evening as "Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father." (John 13:1) I will be focusing on chapter 13 on this entry.
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Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
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When he knew his hour had come, he "loved [his own who were in the world] to the end." (John 13:1) It was on this day, Jesus demonstrated great humility as He washed his disciples feet, a duty that was not fitting for a Rabbi to do. 

Even Peter said, "You shall never wash my feet." This is not right. You should not be doing this! I should be the one washing your feet, Jesus. Peter did not understand. Peter's refusal has a strong connotation, which could also mean, "Never in this life will you do this to me!" Peter missed out on the deeper meaning of what Jesus was doing. "Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." 
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Spiritual Cleanness
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To have "no share" with Jesus means that one does not belong to him. The purpose of the washing of the feet has a tremendous gospel meaning. It symbolizes the washing necessary for the forgiveness of sins, in anticipation of Jesus’ death for his people, by which sins are washed away.

In Scripture, it is apparent that Jesus washed all of his disciples' feet, but only Judas, figuratively speaking, was not clean because Judas plotted to betray Jesus. Judas, apparently, had no share with Jesus, but I won't focus on him on this post.
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A Commandment And An Example
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After the washing of the feet, Jesus said, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." (John 13:7) What Jesus did signifies both a command and an example to follow because Jesus said, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." (John 13:14-15)

The disciples had a dispute on who is the "greatest" (Luke 22:24-30). Jesus' other purpose for the feet-washing was to establish a model for a servant love for each other - "let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves." (Luke 22:26) Furthermore, Jesus, later on, said, "a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35) "Just as" Jesus loved points back to John 13:1, the washing of the feet and teaching them the symbolic meaning to it. 
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Conclusion
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Jesus, in humility and love, laid down His life for sinners - His enemies (Romans 5:8).  It is an amazing lesson and commandment that we could take away from on "Maundy Thursday" - it is a "command/commandment" Thursday. It is a powerful reminder for followers of Jesus to love each other in humility because it is a testimony to the world that we are His disciples.

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