Today marks the day in which Jesus celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread with his disciples.
It is a significant day of the year where the Jewish people would meet together in family groups over a meal, recognising the importance of the Passover lamb that was sacrificed so that the people of God could be saved.
During this meal, commonly referred to as the Last Supper today, according to the Gospel of John chapter 13 we see Jesus: Serving his disciples by way of washing their feet. Predicting His betrayal by Judas. And predicting Peter’s denial.
We also see an interesting exchange in which Jesus commands His disciples to love each other. A New Commandment that raised the definition of love to a new and higher standard. He challenged his disciples, and us, to show love to those who don’t appear to deserve it.
Yet as seemed to often be the case, His disciples may have missed the importance of what He was saying at the time. They have already been advised, a number of times, of his upcoming death. Yet they either forgot about it, or simply didn’t want to believe that it was possible so disregarded it completely. In this instance at least Peter asks the question where are you going. However notice the change of subject from what Jesus was talking about.
I wonder do we do the same in our day and age? We don’t want to believe that Jesus is who He says He is; we don’t want to believe that the story of Easter is for real, we don’t want to accept that Jesus came to save ALL people throughout the world, we don’t even want to believe that we are forgiven for the wrongs that we have done. We don’t want to believe in this thing called faith!
Jesus loved his disciples “to the end”, (John 13:1) when He had nothing to gain from them, He wanted to show them the extent of His love – so must we!
We must show His love to all that come across our paths. Not judging people who are queued ahead of us in the supermarket lines who appear to have grabbed more than their fair share, do we know their situation just by looking at their actions – No! And we need to stop complaining about others behind the anonymity of a computer screen via online platforms.
We need to show love! (Check out my Sermon Series on the theme of love)
As people of God, as people of all nations we need to not miss the profound truth that Jesus imparted to his disciples and us that our “love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
The thing is the gift of Salvation that Jesus provides for us through His journey to the cross and beyond, is not only a wonderful gift that protects us from the penalty that we deserve, (refer to Romans 6:23) the work of Christ also instills new life, grants spiritual strength, and motivates godly action in those who believe.
So as commemorate Maundy Thursday, (the remembrance of the Last Supper) the main question is; are we observing Christ’s new command to love – especially those who deserve it least?
As we meet together in family groups over a meal, (in our bubbles), let’s recognise the importance of the Son of God, Jesus who was sacrificed so that the people of God could be saved, and so that we could be loved.
The life and times of Perry... 