Maundy Thursday

SCRIPTURE

John 13:3-20: Loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments and, taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not everyone of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 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. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place, you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
John 13:34- “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.”

1 Corinthians 11:23-26- “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he also took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”

DEVOTION

While days like Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday,y and Good Friday are the most predominantly observed holidays, each day of Holy Week has a meaningful message to reflect on each year. Maundy Thursday is a day of calling for obedience, even just in its name. The word “maundy” comes from the Latin word that means “commandment.” The day is also called “The Mandatum,” which refers to the commandment given by Jesus to live a life as a servant leader in love. In order to grasp the weight of this calling, it is crucial to really know and understand the background of Jesus’ last days before His crucifixion. In John 13, Jesus does something shocking: He washes his disciples' feet. In that time period, washing someone's feet was the job of the lowest servant. Yet Jesus, the Son of God, knelt and served His disciples. Later that night, Jesus commanded them, “Love one another as I have loved you.”

As the disciples gathered together for a meal, which is now known as the Last Supper, Jesus showed the profundity of His love. During the meal, he took the  bread, gave thanks, and broke it, saying, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Jesus did this to represent His body given for them. He did the same with a cup and said that it represented His blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins. 

It is vital in one’s walk in faith to daily remember the love and sacrifices of Christ as a reminder for us to do the same. Being a servant leader or expressing other virtues does not make one saved, but shows evidence of one's salvation. Jesus led the disciples, performed miracles, changed lives, died on the cross, and ultimately resurrected for His beloved creation. It is a powerful idea to reflect upon, and it is hard to contain within oneself. As portrayed through artistic pieces, poems, and hymns, Jesus is the Way. The reason for Maundy Thursday is a way to set up a spiritual foundation for the days to come, with Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday, with intentionality in mind.

In a world with darkness and sin, Christ commanded us to shine through the darkness by serving and loving others. May we always point to Jesus in all we do to fulfill Jesus’ final wish on Earth. 

Prayer: 
Heavenly Father, we thank You for what You did for us. Thank You for giving us love and mercy every day, and thank You for showing us how to give love and mercy to others. Help us to always walk in Your ways, and to trust in Your goodness. Please help us love one another as You have loved us. 
In Jesus’ name, Amen

MUSIC

Lifted was He to die,
“It is finished,” was His cry;
Now in heav’n exalted high:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Interpretation: 
“Hallelujah, What a Savior!” is a classic hymn written in 1875 that focuses on Jesus Christ's substitutionary atonement. It suits Maundy Thursday very well when it emphasizes Jesus’ passion, when he took on the role of a servant and began his steps towards crucifixion. The song starts with “Man of Sorrows,” which aligns with Jesus’ emotional burden on the night he was betrayed in John 13. In the second stanza, the song says, “Bearing shame and scoffing rude, In my place condemned He stood,” which symbolizes Jesus’ acceptance of being crucified for us when he washes the disciples' feet. The song also highlights Jesus saying, “It is finished”. Though this points to the cross, it also represents the night of The Last Supper, when he knowingly embraces his ultimate sacrifice. This song, overall, connects to the theme of Maundy Thursday because it points to what Jesus experienced with his disciples at the Last Supper. He experiences betrayal from his friend while also feeling the weight of what he was about to face. 

POETRY

After Communion by Christina Rossetti

Why should I call Thee Lord, Who art my God? 
Why should I call Thee Friend, Who are my Love? 
Or King, Who art my very Spouse above? 
Or call Thy sceptre on my heart Thy rod? 
Lo now Thy banner over me is love, 
All heaven flies open to me at Thy nod: 
For Thou hast lit Thy flame in me a clod, 
Made me a nest for dwelling of Thy Dove. 
What wilt Thou call me in our home above, 
Who now hast called me friend? how will it be 
When Thou for good wine settest forth the best? 
Now Thou dost bid me come and sup with Thee, 
Now Thou dost make me lean upon Thy breast.
How will it be with me in time of love?

Interpretation:
Christina Rossetti uses an Italian-style sonnet to convey the personal and meaningful experience of partaking in the Lord’s Supper. The poet writes several rhetorical questions to convey the themes of remembrance of God in the means of a relationship with Him. She uses different ways to address God, each with a unique meaning. First, she uses the name of God as “Lord,” as He rules over all things and demonstrates the power of the Almighty God being remembered in glory when partaking in the Communion. She refers to Jesus as “friend,” portraying the personal side of having a relationship with God, showing His presence is available to anyone and everyone who seeks Him and has a heart for Christ. She calls Jesus “King” and “Spouse,” as a way to remember the covenant with God, allowing Him to die if we did not go through with our side of the deal. It reminds us of His love for us, as He sought our hearts individually and also the Church as a whole, as the Bride of Christ. The poem describes the longing to be with God in heaven as a recognition of some lack of faith by believers in this fallen world. She uses several poetic devices, such as metaphors. One line says, “Made me a nest of dwelling of Thy Dove”. This describes Jesus as the dove, and the nest allows people to interact and grow in a relationship with Christ. This poem is used to show the deep affection and love experienced in Communion when remembering Jesus’ death and resurrection, which was directly caused by His love.

ARTWORK

"Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci

Interpretation:
For the art section of our devotion, we chose the famous painting by Leonardo DaVinci called “The Last Supper”. The painting was started in 1494 and was finished four years later in 1498. This painting is the most famous depiction of Jesus’ last meal, and is widely regarded as one of DaVinci’s best works. We chose this painting because we think it represents our topic well, and is well recognized by most people. The moment captured in the painting is the moment when it was revealed that one of the disciples would betray Jesus in his final hours. We can see all the disciples arguing and pushing over each other, trying to figure out who it could be. Then we can see Judas (second to the left with his elbow resting on the table), looking at Jesus and holding a small bag to represent his later betrayal for the silver coins. We can see Peter right next to him, holding a knife in his hand. This detail foreshadows his violent act against the servant that Jesus condemns. In this painting, there is an overflow of different emotions by the different disciples, each depicting a different view of the Last Supper. In this painting, the clothes that the disciples wear all have meaning and portray different emotions. Judas, the betrayer, is wearing darker clothing and is centered around more chaotic colors, like green and yellow, foreshadowing his betrayal. Peter is painted as wearing red and blue to symbolize his fiery, impulsive nature. The interesting thing about all of their clothing is that the style that they are wearing in the painting is much more in the Roman style than the clothes they would've actually worn, when in reality they would've worn something more Greek.

Biographies:
Logan, Ethan, and Jabin are seniors attending Pusch Ridge Christian Academy and are all committed to attending Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. Logan will be pursuing a degree in Sports management, Ethan will pursue a degree in business, and Jabin will pursue a degree in Christian ministry.