Holy Week: Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday commemorates the Lord’s Supper and Jesus’ betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus was “a man of many sorrows, acquainted with grief.” He knew not only the pain of loss and death but also that of betrayal and injustice. And He knew what it is to struggle to obey God, counting the cost before responding with obedience. We see all of these things play out on the night before Jesus’ crucifixion.

At the Passover Supper, Jesus communes with the disciples and serves them, even washing the feet of Judas. Knowing what is to come and surely feeling the fresh sting of betrayal, Jesus ministers to His followers. In the Garden, Jesus wrestles with God, struggling with all His being to find another way to accomplish His will. All the while His closest disciples slept, leaving Him to do this alone. Despite a fresh example of Jesus’ service, they fail to minister to Him in His hour of need.

We are all called to costly submission and to endure the pains that the world–and even our closest loved ones–cause us. Thank God we have a Savior who knows our struggles so intimately. Now, Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father and prays for us while we run our own race. As He does, each word is filled with power–but also shared experience.

Pray 

Jesus, You are the suffering savior. There is no humility like Yours. You who, though equal with God did not “count equality with God a thing to be grasped.” Thank you for the special nearness we share when I am suffering. Who is like You, God, the Commiserating King? You know all my struggles, the areas I strain to do what is right. I know you pray for me now. Please give me special grace to follow you in my weakness today. Please give me special healing from the wounds I receive in the world. Let me feel that special nearness in my pains and in my  areas of distinct brokenness today. Amen. 

Read

Matthew 26; John 15-17