Maunday Thursday 2024

Intro

Imagine what it would be like to know you’re about to die.

What emotions run through your mind and body?

What would your last days have been like, especially the night before?

What parting message would you want to leave with your loved ones? Your friends?

Imagine, sharing your heart, and knowing you had an enemy at the table at the same time as all your closest friends?

It’s because of him, the time has come. He’s spent years with you. You’ve shared some of your most treasured moments with him, and you’ve always known, he’s a snake.

He is the enemy now at your table.

What do you do when he’s eating that special last meal with you?

Tonight is Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday is a remembrance of Jesus’s last night with the disciples.

Maundy Thursday (from Lat. mandatum, “commandment”; Vulg. John 13:34) continues to be celebrated by many Christian communions as a time of penitence, preparation, and consecration in the midst of Holy Week.

John 13:34 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

We’ll be looking at this night from the words of the John’s Gospel chapter 13.

The Lord’s Supper and the institution of the Communion meal.

We won’t be having communion this evening but we will Sunday evening.

Our focus isn’t on the Communion remembrance of the Lord.

On display for us tonight is a contrast of love and betrayal.

An Enemy at the Table

Psalm 23:5 says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”

In the Psalm, this is a good word. It’s a time of celebration and promise of God’s goodness.

But on this night for Jesus, there is a table before his enemy. In fact his enemy is eating a meal with him.

As I began, what emotions do we think ran through His mind being aware of this?

Anger? Rage? Maybe even confusion if it were you and I.

He allowed him a seat at the table. In fact, we might even say he was an invited guest at the table.

He’s not the only enemy at the table though. Do you know that? We’ll get to that later.

I want you to think about how you’d feel having an enemy come to your table, and compare that to how Jesus handles the situation.

Scripture 1

John 13:1–11 ESV

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not 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, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Love

How does John begin the remembrance of the night for us?

Before the Passover: Jesus knew the hour had come.

“But for this purpose I have come to this hour.” John 12:27.

He’d loved His own, He loved them to the end.

Love is the key theme of John. He used the most dearest form of the word for love, Agapao, more than any other gospel writer, at about 44 times. And in his first letter, he used it 52 times.

Love on Display

During the supper… John points out Judas was there.

Again, how would you respond with your enemy at the table?

During the meal, Jesus...

John 13:4–6 ESV

rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”

Many of you are aware that this was a task for slaves only. No task for a teacher or someone of high esteem for sure.

Jesus starts with Peter. You ever wondered why?

Peter calls Him Lord.

He was floored that Jesus thought He was going to bow down and wash his dirty feet. This was no place for my Lord and Master.

Jesus understands Peter’s confusion. He can understand ours as well.

“No way will you EVER wash my feet.” - Peter

I can actually hear Jesus in this instance, kindly nudging Peter in the right understanding.

“If I don’t wash you, you have no share with me.”

This is a statement of true Salvation. Not that Peter wasn’t saved prior to this, (He states later you are clean already), but that unless we are washed by the Saviour’s blood, then we are not saved.

We cannot cleanse the filth of our own feet from where we have been.

Titus 3:3–7 ESV

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The prideful heart says, “No, I’ll do it myself.”

But to be cleansed, we need humble hearts to say, “I can’t do it, I need you to.”

“And you are clean, but not every one of you.”

How does love respond even when the enemy is at the table?

He washed his feet just as He did with every one else at the table.

Imagine what went through the mind of Judas as Jesus, the Master, was bowed down to him washing his dirty feet.

Pride? Remorse? Confusion?

Early on John had said, “During the supper, when the devil had already put into the heart of Judas.”

Judas had already gone to the chief priests and made the agreement to betray Jesus.

Jesus knew this no doubt, and He still washes his feet.

Could it have been an opportunity for Judas to repent? To this point, really his only crime was temptation.

Could he have not changed his mind in that instant and recognized he was going down the wrong path?

Whatever his motivation, and whatever his thoughts were, all we know is that he didn’t. He let Jesus wash his feet, and he made no repentance of what he had come to believe was his path.

I can relate with this. There have been times where I knew I was going to give into a sinful temptation, and I made no change in my direction. There was forethought and all, and I had plenty of opportunity to turn, and yet I felt I just had to go through with it.

There are two great truths I now know.

One, there is always a way out of the situation. I had my opportunities and so did Judas here I believe.

I believe that Jesus, washing Judas’s feet was a chance for Judas to repent.

Two: Jesus still gives us second chances.

Love Explained

English Standard Version Chapter 13

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, 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 also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Like a good teacher, after giving them the example, Jesus asks them, “Do you understand?”

You call me Teacher and Lord, that I am.

I just washed your feet even though I am your Lord and Master, and so you shall do the same for each other.

Again, think about who is at the table?

I also believe we see here this idea of equality. The Master has lowered Himself to a position even underneath these men at the table. He made Himself less than them in His example.

Maybe He was making them remember back to when James and John’s mother asked about them sitting in places of authority in the Kingdom.

Jesus then spoke of how the Gentiles had rank like this, and would “Lord it over others,” but He says,

Matthew 20:26–28 ESV

It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Again, think of who was at the table hearing this.

Some have said that Judas was a zealot, a group that wanted the Judeans to rise up against the Roman Empire, and that his betrayal of Jesus may have been an attempt to make Jesus and His followers rise up.

Jesus was saying, we are to love and serve one another, not rise up over them. How contrary this was to Judas if he was a zealot.

Maybe, this was the straw the settled it in Judas’s mind that he was on the right path, though Jesus was trying to show them a different way.

“It shall not be so among you. Blessed are you if you do these things I have shown you.”

What’s most important in your life? That you are served or that you are living a purpose that serves others?

The world tells us to get rich and get power so that we can be served. Jesus says, sell all you have, give to the poor, and follow me.”

His way was beyond what Judas could fathom. What even Peter could fathom.

A Lifted Heel

John 13:18–20 ESV

I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

One of many questions of the night for the disciples, if there was a pause in Jesus’s Words here, would have been, “Who is He not talking to?” “Who has He chosen?”

He hints back to His earlier words, “Not all of you are clean, so I’m not speaking to all of you.”

There’s an enemy at the table.

He quotes Psalm 41:9

Psalm 41:9 ESV

Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

This Psalm of David speaks to when David’s own son was seeking to grab the kingdom from his father.

Ahithophel was an advisor of Absalom and he gave Absalom some advice on how to gain a foothold of the kingdom.

It is to that situation that David penned the Psalm. Ahithophel was supposed to be his friend, and here he is betraying him.

Psalm 55:12–15 ESV

For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng. Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.

Jesus is making a clear indication that one who has eaten with Him will betray Him. It is someone close to Him.

We will come back to vs 20.

Is It I?

John 13:21–30 ESV

After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

Jesus was troubled - distressed

Again, think about who’s at the table. And all that Jesus had done up to this point.

Imagine you are sitting there and you’ve hinted at the fact the enemy is there and you know what he’s going to do.

Maybe Jesus was trying to get him to have the guts to stand up and say “it is I,” and then dart out the room.

I wouldn’t be able to hold it in. I’d just want to straight point him out and tell every one else!

So, I can see Jesus finally halfway giving into the temptation here, maybe even upset no one else has seemed to grasp what He had been trying to tell them about the enemy, and so He clearly yells out:

“One of YOU will betray me.”

John describes the scene as confusion. Every one wondering who it was.

The other Gospel writers...

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 13

“They were exceeding sorrowful” (Mt 26:22). (2) “They began to inquire among themselves which of them it was that should do this thing” (Lu 22:23). (3) “They began to say unto Him one by one, Is it I, and another, Is it I?” (Mk 14:19). Generous, simple hearts! They abhorred the thought, but, instead of putting it on others, each was only anxious to purge himself and know if he could be the wretch.

Judas responded last… to not draw suspicion.

How often might we look at ourselves and wonder, “Could it be I? Is this something I could do?”

Imagine Peter, who we have seen protest Jesus dying, Jesus’ serving him, and whom later will in fact find himself nearly as capable as his brother Judas.

Is it I? Am I capable?

Other than Jesus’s washing of their feet, I dare say this is the greatest scene of humility of those around the table.

We need to all be aware that yes, we are capable of doing evil, even great evil.

Was this another chance for Judas to come clean? To repent?

An Offer of Bread

Peter asks John to ask Jesus who it is, and so Jesus says it’s the one He will give this morsel of bread when “I have dipped it.”

At some point He gives it to Judas.

Some commentators say that to offer another bread at the table was an offer of friendship.

John D. Love Exchanged (13:18–30)

“Giving the morsel to Judas was an uncaught sign of recognition to John, but it was also the Lord’s final extension of grace to Judas. Hosts giving a morsel of bread to a guest was a sign of friendship. How ironic that Jesus’ act of friendship to Judas signaled Judas’ betrayal of friendship” (Blum, p. 321).

Grace. I can’t help but think of Jesus’s words earlier in John’s gospel:

John 6:35 ESV

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

One last time. One more offer of grace to my friend. Denied.

John B. Satan Entered into Him (13:27)

As Satan used the serpent in the Garden of Eden, now he used Judas—and in both instances, he worked in rebellion against God’s plan for the world.

Did Judas at any time wrestle within himself as he had already been paid the ransom before Jesus washed his feet?

Was there an inward tension against the sin he was about to commit?

He had the opportunity to turn back. The offer of bread was an act of friendship that could have been all he needed to heed the call.

Up to this point, Judas was given every opportunity to turn, repent, and follow his Lord.

How would it have been for you if you were the one at the table planning to sin against the Lord?

For Him to cleanse your feet?

For Him to offer you bread from His own hand?

The Mandatum

John 13:31–35 ESV

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Now…now it is about to happen. “I’m going somewhere you cannot go.” 3 times the disciples had heard this from Jesus. Each time confusion…and probably fear.

And here we receive the new commandment, the mandatum.

John 13:34–35 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

What does it mean to love one another? Jesus set the example for His disciples.

Love washes feet… even the dirtiest… even of the enemy.

Love tries to reconcile as best it can when wrong has been done.

Love calls us back from temptation and into salvation.

Love serves, love is humble, it is not proud or boastful.

Paul says:

Philippians 2:1–8 ESV

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

His Last Words

Jesus says:

John 13:35 ESV

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

This was the message of the night for Jesus. Though He was about to die, for His friends, He wanted to show them how to show the world love.

And that’s what you and I, as we claim Christ are to be about. Love.

The world will know us by our love.

John E. Love Extended (13:31–38)

“The measure in which Christian people fail in love to each other is the measure in which the world does not believe in them, or their Christianity. It is the final test of discipleship, according to Jesus” (Morgan, p. 241)

For you and I that is our work. That was the disciples work from that night on, but first, we’ve got a little unfinished business.

The Other Enemy

I told you I think there are two enemies at the table with Jesus.

One was clear… Judas.

The other shows itself a few times, and then makes it well know in the next few verses:

John 13:36–38 ESV

Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

Beware of Pride-fullness

Pride in your self, in your status, or even in the amount of faith you believe you have is an enemy.

Peter says he is ready to die with Jesus. Nope.

This story also shows us we have to be careful in thinking to highly of others in the faith.

Have you ever wondered what the other disciples thought about Judas? Maybe they thought his faith was stronger than theirs because, especially if he was a zealot, he was ready to fight for what he thought was right.

John D. Love Exchanged (13:18–30)

As far as the disciples knew, Judas was a follower of Jesus, as strong in his commitment as any of them. That is one reason why Jesus warned in Matthew 13 that we should be careful about trying to point out the difference between the wheat and the weeds.

Matthew 13:24–30 ESV

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

Humility is the way of the Lord. He should be the way we walk as well.

Humility in Our Salvation and in ourselves. We are saved by the Lord not our own doing.

Hope

Jesus never leaves His disciples without hope. He left them with words of encouragement.

John 14:1 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

If we have placed our faith in, given our lives to Jesus, we have received His gift of salvation.

John 14:6–7 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Which brings us back to verse 20.

English Standard Version Chapter 13

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

Jesus tells them He is sending that though He is leaving them, He will send the Helper (v.15-31).

He never leaves us alone. He is always with us.

The next three chapters continue this night for Jesus. He had lots to share with His disciples on His final night with them.

But I want to share a song of remembrance of this night with you before we sign off this evening. Following the song I’ll share some closing words with you.

Closing

Imagine, how we began the night at the table with our enemy, and all that you shared.

You shared your heart with your closest and dearest friends who have walked this great journey with you for 3 years.

But now indeed, things have been set into motion.

You showed and told them how you loved them.

You told them, they would receive comfort when the Advocate would come.

But now, you’re in the garden, in the dark, all alone.

The anxiety in every being of your body.

The time is near. The last fight of the adversary is about to come upon you.

This is the final fight pronounced in Genesis 3 when he deceived the first humans of all creation.

The one that set all of this into motion.

He’s not the only fight you have though.

It’s not him you really fear in this moment.

Right now, you’re about to feel the wrath of the Father against humanity.

The brunt of all of God’s anger toward sin upon yourself even though, you are innocent.

Close your eyes, all of you, and sit in that feeling. Sunday is coming, but first, it’s a brutal ending to the life of Love, and eventually the blackness of the grave.

Sit there, in that now...