April 17, 2025

ARE YOU WILLING TO SERVE OTHERS

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

John 13:34-35 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

Let’s look at the events of Maundy Thursday. This day gets its name from the Latin word, “mandatum” which means “mandate” or “commandment.” This is the day that Jesus gave a new commandment to “love each other.” This commandment is repeated many times throughout the New Testament epistles.

But this day was full of important events. I will break the day into five parts for our reflection. First, Jesus eats the Last Supper with His disciples. This was the traditional Passover meal. During this meal Jesus instituted what we refer to as the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion (Luke 22:19-20). 

It is during this meal that Jesus breaks bread and shares a glass of wine saying, “This is my body and this is my blood.” We are instructed in scripture that we are to celebrate communion as a reminder of Jesus’ sacrificial death for us.

At this meal Jesus also predicts His betrayal by one of the disciples.

Secondly, we witness Jesus washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17). In an act of total humility and service Jesus washes the feet of His disciples—even the feet of Judas who is going to betray Him. Jesus tells them this is an object lesson of how they are to serve each other. 

Third, Jesus gives a new commandment (John 13:34). Jesus had already declared the two greatest commandments were to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Now He drives home this truth commanding them to love one another. 

Fourth, following the dinner Jesus and the disciples go to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives to pray. We are told in this time of prayer Jesus experiences great anguish and prayed for God’s will to be done in-spite of the fact His flesh struggled with the pain ahead. The disciples didn’t understand the significance of the moment and kept falling asleep while Jesus prayed.

Finally, Jesus is betrayed and arrested in the garden. Judas arrives with a group of soldiers and betrays Jesus. They take Jesus to the high priest’s house for questioning.

This is a brief overview of a very active day. Jesus gives a lot of teaching in the process of the meal trying to warn the disciples of what is about to happen. They don’t understand. They are still planning for an earthly kingdom.

Perhaps we should ask ourselves are we willing to take a towel and serve others? Are we willing to sit at His table and remember His broken body and shed blood? Are we willing to pray during times when life doesn’t make sense?

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit help me to remember the humility of my Lord Jesus. Help me to practice loving others by being a servant. Help me to reflect on the sacrifice of His body and blood. Help me to faithful in my times of prayer. 

“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”