By Dan Flynn
After Christ died and resurrected the early church set aside special moments to recall what Jesus did for us. These moments, Festivals or Holy Days, were established to push believers to constantly acknowledge the salvation that Christ offers us through his death and resurrection.
Maundy Thursday is one such Holy Day. Maundy comes from the Latin word, mandatum, which means “command.” So, Maundy Thursday is command Thursday. What does Jesus command on this Thursday evening of Passover? Jesus says in John 13:34, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
We are commanded by Jesus to love one another. Of course, our nature is not to love unless we receive something in return. We know by the power of the Holy Spirit that we are transformed into a “New Creation.” (II Cor. 5:17) We are then pushed into loving as Christ loves not by obligation, but by transformation.
We are then pushed into loving as Christ loves not by obligation, but by transformation.
So, on Maundy Thursday we recall what Christ did when he washed the disciple’s feet (even his betrayer, Judas), offered us Holy Communion, and was arrested. All done to serve us in humility and selflessness. All done for us.
At Living Water we will recall the events of Maundy Thursday by gathering in homes. We sign up on Sunday mornings at our Welcome Table or you can email me (dflynn@livingwatermi.org) to attend. We will eat together and do a short worship service with communion. We’ll remember in our own community Jesus’ command to “love one another.”
Please join us on April 17 at 6:30pm.
