Maundy Thursday, April 9^th

What was Jesus doing on Thursday of Holy Week?

The big event of the day is the Last Supper and Jesus and the disciples making their way to Gethsemane.

Note: In liturgical churches this day is known as Maundy Thursday. “Maundy” comes from the Latin word mandatum, or commandment, which reflects Jesus’ words, in John 13:34, “I give you a new commandment.”

Jesus Washes The Feet Of His Friends, John 13:1-17; 34-35

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”  Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

John 13:31–17:26 is a unit known as The Farewell Discourse, which are the final words and instructions of Jesus before He was arrested. If we were to reduce these chapters to two words, they would be assurance and comfort. Jesus prepares the Disciples for His death and the coming of the Holy Spirit. He speaks of the opposition between the ways of this world and them as His disciples, preparing them for the hardships to come.[1] He does this by showing them that this opposition will come from their union with Himself (e.g., abiding in Him, see John 15:4).

One of my VitalChurch colleagues made the observation that the Last Supper, with Jesus stooping to wash the feet of the disciples, is the most pivotal moment in all of human history. What we witness is the culmination of the Old Covenant (or Testament) and the launch of the New Covenant (or Testament). At the official inauguration of this new age, Jesus is modeling for us a new ethic and practice—humbly serving others (see Philippians 2:2-7). Jesus didn’t want this object lesson moment to be missed, we are to find our comfort, joy, and delight in being found “in Him” and from that assurance we are to humbly love and serve one another—and “the other,” through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Application: Two thoughts…

1. How is your assurance of salvation? Do you know that you know that you know that you are secure in God’s love and full acceptance? If not ask God to reveal to you what might be hindering that. Surrender afresh your whole life to Him and ask for that assurance to warm your heart.
2. How is your servant’s heart? If you do not live alone during this shelter-in-place moment, you are experiencing, CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS in a whole new way, where we’re in each other’s space more than usual. How’s it going? (I’ll leave it at that.)

Deeper Dive: Jesus and the Disciples Making Their Way to Gethsemane

After the Last Supper Jesus and the Disciples began to make their way through the streets of Jerusalem to Gethsemane. Along the way, in the moonlight, they would have seen small fires burning in the vineyards that shared the Mount of Olives with the olive groves. And keep in mind that the national emblem of Israel was a golden vine.

It is possible that Jesus spoke His John 15 words with a view of the vineyard fires in the background. What were the fires about? At the end of each day the vinedressers would stack the dead and fruitless branches into a pile every few rows and then burn them at dusk. Perhaps as Jesus spoke His words, the Disciples could see the fires burning from where they were standing (or walking)??

And then Jesus and the Disciples would need to cross the Kidron Valley on their way to Gethsemane. On the afternoon before the Passover Celebration in Jerusalem, which would have begun on Wednesday, the Temple Priests would have been sacrificing of the lambs on the altar of the temple. Theologians speculate that as many as a quarter-million lambs were slain in a typical Passover season, requiring hundreds of priests to carry out the task. There would be a tremendous amount of blood drained from 250,000 lambs along with the water used in the ritual cleansings. The water and blood would have been flowing down the Kidron Valley which separated Jerusalem from Gethsemane. The word, Kidron means “black brook” or “gloomy brook,” perhaps the name was in response to the continuous flood of blood and water from the Temple.

When Jesus and the Disciples walked through the Kidron Valley, it’s likely that Jesus couldn’t help but be moved by the biblical symbolism that the valley held in terms of sacrifices made “for sins,” the river of blood from those sacrificial lambs. Jesus knew that as “The Lamb of God” His blood would soon flow for the sins of the whole world—past, present, and future. His crossing the Kidron was a confirmation concerning “the cup” of the sins of the world that He was about to drink and die for. He came to die as God’s perfect Sacrificial Lamb for our sins that we might be restored to direct access to an intimate life-giving relationship with our Father God. He is, indeed, a good, good Father.

Application: The best, maybe the only legit, application is to worship. When you have a few minutes maybe slip out of the house and take a short walk. Reflect on the suffering that Jesus was about to endure. Thank Him and worship Him.

You can also gather your household and tell them the story I just told you. And here’s a link to a video from the Bible Project about sacrifice and atonement that you can share with your household…

https://bibleproject.com/explore/sacrifice-atonement/

[1] cf. Tolmie 1995:228-29.

Wednesday, April 8^th

What was happening on Wednesday of Holy Week?

The major event was Judas’ decision to betray Jesus.

One Of You Will Betray Me, Matthew 26:14-16

Then one of the twelve disciples—the one named Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What will you give me if I betray Jesus to you?” They counted out thirty silver coins and gave them to him. From then on Judas was looking for a good chance to hand Jesus over to them.

Based on the median income for a full-time wage or salary worker in 2019, the equivalent amount would be approximately $5,460—not nearly as much as we might have thought!

Someone once said, “Knowing what NOT to do is just as good as knowing what TO do.” So, what can we learn from Judas? At least two things…

1 For three-and-a-half years Jesus, the only perfect person who ever lived, provided the ultimate environment for incubating a dynamic faith, yet Judas still went sideways. Parents of prodigals, or pastors, or employers who have experienced loved ones making poor choices, walking away from the faith they were raised in, or employees not living up to their potential and needing to be let go can be overwhelmed with a strong sense of shame and guilt.

(It should be noted that there is legitimate shame and guilt that humbly acknowledges our failures and points us to the cross of Christ. Legitimate shame exposes our depravity. We should feel shame when we hurt someone because we violate our relationship with them and the Lord. Take care not to justify or deny your wrongdoing. Let legitimate shame do its work. If the Spirit of God lives in you, you will be nudged into the light of His presence and seared by His penetrating eyes. It is God’s kindness to orchestrate the events of our life so that our heart will be tested and then humbled.[1])

Certainly, we must acknowledge and own what we could have done differently—and apologize where necessary, yet in the end we cannot control the decisions of others.

Application: Own what you can own. Repent. Apologize wherever it is appropriate. Ask for the Holy Spirit to be released afresh on the person/people because God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

2 Seemingly “insignificant” and unconfessed sin can snowball into addictive, destructive, and lethal behaviors if not acknowledged and confessed. There are many kinds of addictions. There are ingestive addictions—like alcohol, drugs, nicotine, sugar, caffeine, and/or food. And there are also process addictions—things like illegitimate shame and guilt, a poor understanding of who we are in Christ, and other processes like pornography and masturbation, shopping, social media, binge watching digital content, religion, making money, and working out can even become an addiction—although most of us could use a little more time at the gym 🙂

Judas had been stealing from the collective money bag, and when he kept this sin secret, Satan gained more and more ground in his life. Judas made a deal with the chief priests and then sat down at our Lord’s table with known sins that he was unwilling to own and confess, and Satan entered even further into his life. Unconfessed sin always opens the door to Satan’s power in our lives.

John 13:27a: When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him…

Matthew 27:3-5: Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” 5 And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.

Application: Confess all know sin. Join a Community Group and seek out safe, challenging, and accountable relationships.

[1] Dan Allender. The Wounded Heart: Hope for Adult Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse, NavPress 1990: 63-66.

Tuesday, April 7^th

What was Jesus doing on Tuesday of Holy Week?

It’s important that, as we move through Holy Week, we begin to see and understand the resolute focus and intentionality of Jesus that is reflected back to us by the Gospel writers…

He, with the Disciples, Passed by The Barren Fig Tree: Matthew 21:19-22

This object lesson teaching of Jesus on faith and prayer emphasizes that the power of prayer lies not in the power of the person praying but, in the power and promises of God. Our freedom from doubt begins to arise from a growing awareness that something is truly God’s will. True faith receives what it asks for. True trust is not presumptive arrogance but submission to God’s will.

The Authority of Jesus is Challenged in the Temple: Matthew 21:23-27.

When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus was no stranger to controversy and conflict with the religious establishment. Most Jewish people (including the disciples of Jesus) held a fixed (but wrong) view of how the Messiah should come and what He would do. The demands of the chief priests and the elders emanated from a stubborn place and a desire for personal power and comfort rather than a heart that desired to know and do the will of God.

The Olivet Discourse: Matthew 24-25. Excerpt from 25:1-13

Leaving the Temple, Jesus and the Disciples walked up the Mount of Olives, probably to a place that overlooked the city. Matthew 24-25 are the last of Jesus’ five teaching discourses that make up the bulk of Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus is speaking to His disciples, giving them a prophetic overview of events to come in the near and distant future. Here’s how to outline the chapters…

• Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple (which happened in 70 A.D.). (24:1-3)
• The troubles before the destruction of Jerusalem. (24:4-28)
• Jesus foretells other signs and miseries. (24:29-41)
• Exhortations to watchfulness. (24:42-51)
• The parable of the ten virgins. (25:1-13)
• The parable of the talents. (25:14-30)
• The Second Coming and Judgement. (25:31-46)

 As we can see, Tuesday was a packed day of exhortation and instruction! A concise overview of the day’s focus would be:

• A pattern for personal prayer that it is not petitioning God to do our will, but a humble inquiring of God to share His will for us.
• The natural drift of the human heart is toward selfishness, personal comfort, and control. It is essential that we engage the Christian life as humble learners.
• Jesus will not take His followers around suffering, but through suffering—and we are to be watchful, prepared, and productive along the way—because judgement is coming.

Application:

• Consider your prayer life. Ask God to draw you after Him in a new and powerful way. “Draw me after you and let us run together!” –Song of Solomon 1:4a
• Where is personal preference, stubbornness, and control hindering your relationship with God and others? Get real.
• Where are you stuck in your longing for comfort in the midst of our call to stand firm for Jesus even when it means suffering?

Tim Keller and George Hebert on Prayer

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J7mwXUNkwo
• https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44371/prayer-i

The Christian’s Call to Suffer

• https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/called-suffer/