Maundy Thursday
Posted on April 14, 2022 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
Foot washing is not something that we really understand. This was an oriental custom. Washing the feet was neither a Jewish ceremonial law, nor was it a tradition of the Pharisees. It was just a custom in the east, a custom of politeness and propriety. If someone came to supper at another person’s house, the first thing they would do would be to remove their sandals. And usually a slave, at that point, would wash the guest’s feet before he entered to the meal.
As Jesus and His disciples are reclining at their supper they were all reclining there with dirty feet. This must have become apparent to all who were there but, no one volunteered to take up the job. Unfortunately, as we can recall throughout the Gospels, the disciples are constantly competing for the position of greatest importance. Even though Jesus had taught them this lesson before, He now teaches them again, and this time as an object lesson. Jesus Himself shows them what greatness is. Jesus, who has all the power, authority, and honor of heaven and earth, shows them that greatness is expressed in self-sacrificial love. The role that the disciples loath to take, Jesus takes up gladly. If Jesus, who is the Lord of all, can take up the role of the slave, who are we that we think ourselves above that role?
Prayer: 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 the 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.
