Text: John 16:16-24, John 16:32-33, Matthew 26:17-75, Psalm 41:7-13, Zechariah 13:7
Today is the fifth day of the portion of the church calendar commonly known as Holy Week.
In the coming days, we will slow our pace, walking through the events that took place between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Rather than offer personal, written responses to each day’s Scripture reading, we’ve asked our friend, Pastor Russ Ramsey, to provide a real-time summary of the week’s events. Our prayer is that this more descriptive approach will usher you into the narrative and allow space for you to fully engage the beauty and ache of Holy Week.
Take this week slowly and reverently. It is a somber time, but let us never forget: Sunday is coming.
___
The Thursday prior to Jesus’ crucifixion fills many pages in Scripture.
It began with John and Peter securing the upper room (Matthew 26:17-19). There in that room, Jesus would wash His disciples’ feet, explaining He had come to make them clean (John 13:1-20). As they began to eat, Jesus told them that one of them was about to betray Him. Each disciple wondered if He meant them. Meanwhile, Jesus discreetly dispatched Judas to do what he intended (John 13:21-30).
During this last supper, Jesus set apart the Passover bread and cup and reassigned—or better, perfected—their meaning. The bread is His Body. The cup is His blood. This meal would no longer primarily remind them of how God delivered their forefathers from the external tyranny of Pharaoh. Now it would remind them of how Christ delivered them from the internal tyranny of their own guilt and sin against God (Luke 22:14-23).
Then Jesus prayed for them, His friends, and for those who would come to know Him through their testimony. He prayed that His Father would make them one (John 17). After praying, Jesus rose to His feet and asked His disciples to stand with Him to sing a doxology over their suspended, unfinished Passover meal. Jesus led them in the traditional Passover song, Psalm 118, about how the stone the builders rejected had become the cornerstone, and how the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever.
To pause and lead His disciples in a song like this, at this particular moment, shows the strength of Jesus’ resolve to face His impending arrest and crucifixion. The Gospel accounts tell us that He started that Last Supper overwhelmed with sorrow, and that later in Gethsemane His sweat became like drops of blood (John 13:21, Luke 22:44). In the middle of that tension, Jesus sang of the faithfulness of God.
Think about that for a moment: one of the things Jesus did on the night He was betrayed was sing (Matthew 26:30).
When they finished singing, Jesus led His disciples out to the Mount of Olives, to one of their regular meeting places—the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:26-32). But Jesus didn’t go there only to pray. He also went there to wait. Soon a line of torches snaked their way toward Him through the darkness (Mark 14:42-46). This was what He had been waiting for.
written by Russ Ramsey
adapted from Behold the King of Glory
I love how Russ said, Jesus perfected the Passover.
My Congregation has a Maundy Thursday Tenebrae service every year. I look forward to it, it is my favorite service of the year. It steps on my toes and physically reminds me of how much Jesus loves us. Thank you for this Lenten journey, beautifuky done again friends.
Your will be done.
Maundy Thursday. Maundy meaning “command,” drawn from Jesus ‘ words to “do this in remembrance of Me.” Thank you, Russ, for connecting the dots of Scripture so that we might remember all that occurred on that Thursday. The foot washing part always touches me. Probably because this is a tradition followed in a church I have attended. I seek the opportunity to participate each year. Foot washing certainly had to do with servanthood, but think of those whose feet He touched. They were His closest friends with whom He had devoted three years of teaching and performing miracles. Right. Before. Their. Very. Eyes. They were His ‘persons.’ He bent His back, stooped low and humbly washed the dust off their feet. Not a pleasant job. He did it because they were His friends – despite the fact that one would betray him for cold cash; one would vehemently deny him; and the other 10 would desert Him. Only one would eventually return to comfort His mother. They abandoned Him. He knew they would. Yet He washed their feet. Because that is what Love does. It bends the back and stoops low. I look around me and I see those who have offended me or done even worse… Do I care enough about their eternal destination to overlook their offense and wash their feet in Love? Do I forgive? Do I want them washed clean even as I have been washed clean? Will I humble myself and just do it today? Will I, in remembrance, and in honor, of Him? Lord, help me to say yes and pick up the towel.
Love your comment! I needed this today. Thank you!!
So beautifully and eloquently stated. Thank you. TtThank y
Yes. Thank you for these thoughts. Jesus example causes me to evaluate my own posture.
“…that’s what love does. It bends the back and stoops low.” For the offensive. For the sinful. For the bothersome. For the hurting. For the widows, the orphans, the homeless. Thank you Churchmouse for you comments today.
Beautifully said!! Thank you for your insight, churchmouse!
Such beautiful thoughts. Thank you for this reminder!
I love this…
What a comfort it is to me to read these comments from other women who are treasuring this story. I feel like almost everyone in my life has abandoned Christ for something more “acceptable”… They think the cross is offensive, and i am offensive for believing that there is only one right answer. Just reading these words from you all makes me remember that I am not humanly alone.
We are here together to sing.
Amen.. sing the song of LIFE.. Jesus is ever faithful and always so near. BEHOLD, He said, I Am making all things new! Sing a new song! Praise you Jesus!
For me…
That never really sunk in with me before that it was during this time that Jesus sang about God’s faithfulness. What an loving example to us to help us during our times of overwhelming trials. If Jesus could do that with what He was facing, I can do that also. It has been such a joy to walk through these weeks leading up to Easter with this study.
Praise God that even in the middle of chaos and utter disorder our Jesus could and did sing!
Amen, Sooz! Thanks for joining us today!
xoxo-Kaitlin