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Riding with Jesus on Holy/Maundy Thursday

May be an image of 8 people
Picture by Michael Belk

Today visualize the things Jesus did today, pause and be reminded of His pure and unselfish love. What does Maundy mean? It is derived from the Latin word “command,” Jesus leaves His disciplines and us with commandments and teachings that will stay in this world forever. “Love one another as I have loved you.” At the Last Supper, The Holy Eucharist, this is my body, and this is my blood. “Do this in memory of me.” This is happening at Passover the festival that commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. Why did Jesus wash His disciple’s feet? In John chapter 13, Jesus teaches them and us to be servants and to love and to serve, no matter who you are we must be humble. Jesus tells the story that He will eat no more until the kingdom of God is fulfilled. Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, He falls to His knees, where His human emotions overwhelmed Him with sadness and anguish and cried out, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Nevertheless, let it be as You, not I, would have it.” “If this cup cannot pass by, but I must drink it, Your will be done!” (Matthew 26:42) Then Jesus came forward and confronted His arresters when Judas gave Him a kiss on the cheek to signal, He was the one. God’s will began.

Dear Lord, our Heavenly Father, You gave us Your only Son, He shared His humanness with us so we could learn from Him. Serving others even by washing their feet. Help us to continue to learn from His actions. Strengthen our hands and our wills to share Your love and be a servant to others. Teach us to simply trust and open our hearts to receive all you have for us. Help us to keep strong in our faith and ask for grace. Let us keep our eyes open even in the darkest times, knowing Christ will lead us, because He is the light of the world. Help us understand that power is not of worldly things, like money, titles, or what we own. Christ on the Cross, He was powerless but even today this example of His love brings us to our knees and we have learned through Him that the Trinity is our power, through the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is a free gift You have given us, only if we have the courage and the faith to trust! We ask for this courage! In your precious name of Christ who died for all of us. Amen!