"On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives."
Matthew 26:17-30
Today marks Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday. The fifth day of Holy Week, truly a day of remembrance. Remembering Jesus' service and the way he prepared for that sacrifice.
Because, despite knowing he was going to suffer, despite knowing he was on his way to die, Jesus prepared for that sacrifice in the most unexpected ways.
By washing his disciples feet.
By breaking bread and sharing wine.
In service and in fellowship, with those closest to him.
We love the fellowship part. We still love to gather. To enjoy a meal together and to break bread. I grew up Baptist, and know that we so love the break bread part.
We need to remember the service too. Servants' hearts long to get back out and be a blessing to those around them, helping in any way they can.
Remember that feeling.
Just before the darkest hour of his life, Jesus valued service and fellowship above all. He spent time with those closest to him and showed them how much he cared for them by stooping down and washing their feet. He took care of his friends.
And in washing their feet, he showed the level of service that he deemed appropriate - by stooping down, by crouching low to wash their feet. Foot washing has its roots in ancient Near Eastern hospitality practices, particularly those cultures where sandals were worn. Walking in that region and time meant accumulating a lot of sand, dirt, debris, mud, or worse on your feet. And while you could remove your sandals at the entry to a person’s home, the open nature of sandals also meant that the all that debris would be on the foot as well. Foot washing then, was a sign of welcome into the home and a practical hygienic function. The host would make a bowl of water available and a servant to wash the feet.
And foot washing is a low position. It makes the washer crouch into a vulnerable position. The washer has all of the debris and gunk associated with the washee’s feet in their hands. It’s dirty, it’s small, it’s humble, it’s low.
If you ever needed proof Jesus was not concerned about status, this is a chief example. Peter’s response to the action speaks volumes to this. “No, you shall never wash my feet.” He thought it too insignificant, too lowly for Jesus to do. There again, Jesus disarms Peter, as he does us. “Unless I was you, you have no part with me.”
And in response for this humble act, we see Jesus one command, naming the day. “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” Again, the emphasis on how they treat and care for one another. None higher than the other, not one more important, but each submitting to the other in service.
Jesus carries this into the Lord’s Supper, with his command, for his request of how they respond to him.
He wants them to remember Him.
To remember him when they drank. To remember him when they ate. To remember him when they were gathered together.
For every time going forward, remember Him.
Remember His mission. Remember His life. Remember His service.
That's our duty today. To remember Him. To remember His sacrifice. Partake in your own Lord's Supper at home. Do it in remembrance of Him.
And then, serve in every way you can. Do that in remembrance of Him as well.
Serve in your local church body. Serve physically and remotely and virtually. Put that remembrance into action. Follow his new commandment, from which we get the word "maundy" (mandatum).
Make the day count. In remembrance of Him.
Of Thy Mystical supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of Thy Mystery to Thine enemies, neither will I give Thee a kiss like Judas. But like the Thief will I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy kingdom.
