Maundy Thursday - The Transformative Power of Love

The Power of Love

On this Holy Week Maundy Thursday, we come to reflect on the Lord's Supper, a reminder of the transformative power of love. Through this sacred meal, we are reminded of the new commandment of love, as we are called to serve others as Christ served us.

In Exodus 12:1-14, we see a foundational understanding of love, as God commands the Israelites to prepare a meal that would signify their liberation from slavery. This meal would become a reminder of the love and deliverance that God had bestowed upon them. Similarly, in Psalm 116:12-19, we celebrate the lavish love of God, as the psalmist praises God for delivering him from his distress.

Jesus demonstrated love through service to others, as we see in John 13:1-17, where he humbly washes the disciples’ feet. This act of service not only symbolized Christ’s love for his followers but also revealed the depth of his humility and servanthood. In John 13:31-35, Jesus explains his new commandment of love, urging us to love one another as he has loved us.

The Lord's Supper calls us to love and serve others, as we see in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, where we are reminded of the self-giving love of Christ. Through his death on the cross, Jesus demonstrated the ultimate act of sacrificial love. Through the Lord's Supper, we are called to follow his example, to love and serve others selflessly.

As we partake of the Lord's Supper, let us remember the new commandment of love and strive to serve others in the same way Christ served us. Let us ask God to help us cultivate a servant heart, to be willing to lay down our lives for others, just as Jesus did. Let us pray that we may always remember the transformative power of love, and may it be reflected in every aspect of our lives.

May God bless us as we seek to serve him by serving others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.