Maundy Thursday
Posted on March 28, 2024 by under
Scripture: St. John 13:1-15 (NKJV)
13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”
7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”
Devotion
On Maundy Thursday we celebrate the institution of the Lord’s Supper, in which Christ Jesus gives us His true Body and Blood in, with, and under the bread and wine. The mediator of the Old Covenant was Moses, who, while the Scripture credits him with being faithful, was a sinner like all of us. The mediator of the New Covenant is our Lord Jesus Christ, who is superior to Moses in every way. He is the sinless incarnate Son of God.
The Old Covenant was ratified by the blood of animals, but the New Covenant is ratified by the blood of the Son of God. The Sacrament is not the mere symbol of the sacrifice for sins. This cup of the New Covenant is filled with the divine blood that was shed on the cross.
The Old Covenant emphasized the need for God’s people to keep the Commandments. The blessing of the New Covenant is grace, righteousness, and eternal life based on the work of Christ the Mediator, accepted by faith. It is only His work that makes us alive in Him. He feeds us with His holy Feast, He washes us in Baptism, and He makes us part of His Body, the Church, because He is the Lamb who alone is worthy to accomplish these things!
Collect: O Lord God, Who hast left unto us in a wonderful Sacrament a memorial of Thy Passion: Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may so use this Sacrament of Thy Body and Blood, that the fruits of Thy redemption may continually be manifest in us; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
