Meditation
Maundy Thursday of Passion Week celebrates being in the Family of God. The night before Christ was betrayed, he gathered with his disciples for the Passover meal. The Old Testament lesson in Exodus teaches us the significance of the Passover celebration—the rejoicing of the passing over of the angel of death, which took the first born of those who didn’t have the sign of blood on the door posts—the final of the plagues which Pharaoh needed before accepting the liberation of the Israelites.
So Jesus, like all good Jews, was sitting down with his ‘family’ to share a Passover meal. Jesus knew—had been talking all week—about his upcoming death. The disciples remained clueless.
I posted both the New Testament Gospel Lesson of John, which related Jesus’ washing the feet of his disciples and the Epistle lesson of Corinthians, which established the new tradition of the Eucharist—the Lord’s Supper.
The lesson of the foot washing demonstrated servant leadership. The new Christian way was not by authoritarian office, but by loving servant missions. Jesus, the leader, washed the disciples feet which gave a clear visual, unless they were willing to be as Pope Francis said, ‘smelling like the flock’ they were not doing what a true servant of God was. That is, after all, what we truly are—servants of God. We are not God. Even though Jesus, as the Son of God, could claim he was Lord and their teacher, he got on his hands and knees, to wash their feet.
A demonstration of his love. A symbol of cleansing. He expected that all who washed were already ‘clean’ on the outside, but this symbol of cleansing allowed him to say that one of them (Judas) was not ‘clean’ inside.
His teaching was symbolic. Actions which symbolize servant behavior to each other are to be done. The Lord’s Supper took the Passover meal which symbolized or gave them a re-experience of the liberation of the Jews and made the meal a symbol for Christians. The bread and the wine represented Jesus’ body and blood, so that when we celebrate these, we re-experience the sacrifice of Jesus and physically experience the connection to Jesus. Whether one believes in the real presence, a physical change in the elements, a joint presence within the elements, or a symbolic recognition is not what this discussion is about. The key important was the fact that Jesus instituted this sacrament. And Jesus wanted us to remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for all who believe.
While a Navy chaplain, I invited a young man to communion service. He said he would come because he could write to his Baptist grandmother and it would please her. But, he added, he had been practicing witchcraft for the last few months.
I stood at the front of the standing room only chapel, when he arrived and had to make his way to the back and squeeze onto a pipe at the back. I distributed the elements and asked people to return to their seats before taking. Then, I spoke the words from I Corinthians. I also mentioned that we shouldn’t come unworthy to the table. “Take eat. Drink.”
The room lifted the bread to their mouths. I met the sailor’s eyes as he placed the bread on his tongue. Then he heaved as if to throw up. He closed his mouth, but he clearly hadn’t swallowed. His hands went to his throat as he appeared to choke. I was going to go back but he shook his head. I continued with the closing prayer and song. He continued to turn purple and look like he was choking. It looked as if he finally expelled it and he raced forward and out the hatch before I could finish the service.
My tradition believes that the Lord’s Supper is symbolic, but I learned that God is very serious about not taking the elements without confession and cleansing before partaking. The Lord’s Supper is about us connecting with God, acknowledging the sacrifice that Jesus, the Son of God made for us.
God is light and light cannot coexist with darkness. A small match can transform a dark room.
As we celebrate this day, let us confess our sins so that we don’t come to the table unworthily. Let us demonstrate our servant-ness to our churches, our communities and the world. I celebrate the servant-hood of “5n2″—a local group of Christians who bring healthy food to the hungry. They don’t preach. They serve. The first time they delivered to a group of needy, the criticisms came out—”What do they want?” “I don’t go to church.” “One of them crazies? I don’t want to participate.”—but now the tune is different. They are welcomed and have opportunity to chat with the recipients. True servants. Just as Jesus wanted his disciples to be.
May God bless them and all who seek to be servants, like Christ, in the community.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Click on the Scriptures for links to biblegateway.com, where many translations of the same text enhance the understanding the readings, which come from the (RCL) Revised Common Lectionary – Daily Lectionary
Readings. I add a Daily Prayer to bless you with God’s Favor.
Enjoy the Daily Encouragement and Bible Study and may you be inspired to be your best self for this Passion Week.
Passion Week Music
Yes I Know – The Mountain Anthem
Passover Meal – Jesus and the Disciples
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“The Last Supper” Stained glass window in All Saints’ church in St Andrews. Photo by Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P.; flickr
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Passion Week Art
Last Supper Wood Carving
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“Last Supper Woodcarving – Commissioned for the opening of The Upper Room Chapel in 1953, the woodcarving of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper sets the mood and theme of the chapel. Fifty craftspersons worked for fourteen months under the direction of sculptor Ernest Pellegrini to create the work. It was carved from linden (basswood) and walnut and is 17 ft. wide and 8 ft. high. Photo by Brent Moore; flickr
Thou Art the Way, to Thee Alone – St. Andrew’s Fullerton
Passion Week Bible Readings
Holy (Maundy)Thursday of Passion Week
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Psalm 118:24
King James Version (KJV)
24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Passion Week Music
My Song is Love Unknown — St Martin’s Church Choir
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“Jesus washes his disciples feet, Soham” Section of the east window in Soham Parish church. Photo by Steve Day; flickr
Single Bible Study chapter to study
King James Version (KJV)
13 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
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“Jesus washes St Peter’s Feet” Detail from a window in the church of SS Gervase & Protase in Paris. Photo by Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P.; flickr
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
King James Version (KJV)
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, We confess our sins. We feel the guilt, but don’t want to live in the shame. Thank you for cleansing us (as Jesus cleansed the feet) from all unrighteousness, when we confess. Prepare our hearts to be servants in a way that pleases you. In Jesus name, Amen
Passion Week Music
Break Thou the Bread of Life – Steven Tindle (Native American Flute)
Our Blest Redeemer, Ere He Breathed — Michael-Hubert Lamla
Passion Week Humor
A Servant’s Heart…Be Like Jesus
I hope you found a chance to encounter your Creator and experience the Love of God and the joy of Christ in this Passion Week.
Conclusion
Holy Thursday of Passion Week celebrates, even though we know that something painful is coming, the liberation of the Jews in the Passover meal that becomes the Lord’s Supper, the last supper Jesus had with his disciples before dying on the cross. He gave two very physical lessons to his followers. “Be servants. Servants are not better than the Master.” And he instituted the sacrament of the bread and wine (juice of the vine) being used to remember Jesus’ sacrifice. We must remember and not take it unworthily.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. Please like if it was meaningful. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
Please like if you are blessed and don’t hesitate to comment or contact me. I love hearing from you.