MAUNDY THURSDAY
Thursday,
March 20, 2008
John 13: 1-35
The New Commandment
Highlighted Verses:
John 13: 33-35 (NRSV)
33Little 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.’ 34I give you a new
commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you
also
should love one another. 35By
this everyone will know that you are
my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Today is
a special day. We call it Maundy Thursday and it is the day we remember
the Last Supper - which was the last meal that Jesus shared with the
disciples before he died.
During the Last Supper Jesus shared bread and wine with the disciples -
and he spoke the words that we repeat each week at communion. He also
did something that surprised some of the disciples. He washed their
feet.
Does that seem like a funny thing to do? Before we have supper we wash
our hands, but not usually our feet!
During that time many people wore sandals, and - because there were no
cars or busses, people mostly walked from place to place. So washing
your feet wasn't unusual, and when people had guests visit their homes
they often washed their feet - or even had a servant whose job
this was - as a way of showing their respect and friendship.
Now one of Jesus' disciples - Peter - was very surprised that Jesus
planned to do this for him. Jesus was Peter's teacher, and he didn't think it was
right for such a great man, the Son
of God, to be doing such a thing. Not for a person like him! He
told Jesus he would never let
him wash his dirty feet.
But Jesus used the chance to set an important example: that we should never act as though we are
better than others. Even Jesus was not too great to show
love and kindness - and respect - to others. And at the end of the Gospel story he
tells the disciples exactly what they can do to let the world know that
they are his followers. Can you guess what that is?
Jesus tells them to love one another. To love one another in exactly the same way that he has
loved them.
That might be Jesus' most important lesson to remember. Show love.
Will you show love this week? Show love to your parents - and to your
brothers and sisters. Show love to your friends and your neighbors -
and even to people you've never met. That's the way to show the world
that you've got the spirit of Jesus in your heart.
Will you pray with me?
Dear God,
Help us to follow the example of Jesus. Let us be loving, kind, and
respectful to those that we meet. Just as you have loved us, help us to
love one another.
Amen
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