Maundy Thursday
Yesterday was Maundy Thursday. That's a term that is used less often than Good Friday, or Easter Sunday, but it's important as well.
The term "maundy" comes from the Latin word "mandatum"...a mandate or commandment. It refers to Jesus' words in John 13:34, "A new commandment (mandatum) I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."
Understand where these words were spoken...
Jesus and his disciples are in the midst of the "Last Supper." They are gathered in the upper room of a homeowner in Jerusalem. This was Jesus' last meal and one of his last times as a free man. After the meal, he walked to the Garden of Gethsemane where he was arrested.
Jesus knew gathering at this meal was a last chance to teach and prepare his disciples. Jesus knew what was soon going to happen. The disciples with him at the Last Supper were knowledgeable of the commandments of the Old Testament law. There were the Ten Commandments. There were the many regulations laid down in the Scriptures. At the Last Supper, Jesus added another...love one another.
Here, Jesus used the Greek word agapao. He's referring to agape love. The type of love that is given without anything expected in return. It's easy to love someone who has showered love onto you. Yet, Jesus is commanding that we also love everyone, even those who are difficult to love. Or those who have flatly wronged us, or have hurt us. This is not easy. But, Jesus is telling, mandating, that we love others anyway.
Jesus also shows us an example, the example...his own life, death and resurrection that was imminent. Our to love, Jesus was about to pay for our sins. Although, without sin himself, our sins were about to have him beaten, pierced, and killed. Yet, he loved us anyway, so much, so as to go through with that plan of salvation.
On Maundy Thursday, Jesus commands us to love others like his example.
Good Friday
The morning after the Last Supper, Jesus was under arrest, being held as a prisoner. It was Friday.
Today is Good Friday. Often, the question arises, "What is 'good' about this day?"
It's a fair question on the surface. Jesus was wrongly arrested. And accused, and abandoned, and beaten, and mocked and ridiculed, and tortured, and publicly crucified, and abandoned by God. And he died. Nothing there seems good.
So, what's "good" about that day?
Jesus loves us so much that he did these things willingly. Jesus did all of these things to pay the price for our sins. My sins. Your sins. He did this out of love for me and for you. And, with his resurrection on Easter Sunday, he paid that price completely, so that we may be with him in Heaven. That is what is good about Good Friday.
Prayer
We all like sheep have gone astray, but the LORD has laid on him, the iniquity of us all. By his wounds, we are healed.
Amen.
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