Maundy Thursday 2024 (2)

1 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.

John narrates for us that Jesus showed his love for the disciples through:

serving them in footwashing

Serving them in a meal which represents his body and blood for the New Covenant

PEOPLE ARE MESSY

John 13:1–17 (ESV)

1 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. 2 During supper, when the devil had 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 back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 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. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 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.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 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.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 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.

Jesus cleans our mess and calls us to serve.

INTRO: People are messy.

illust. - babies, brothers.

This whole account happens because people are messy.

Actually, this whole account happens because of two things: people are messy, and Jesus cleans the mess.

Mess mangles relationships

John 13:8 ESV

8 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.”

Why does Peter NOT want Jesus to wash his feet?

He believes to follow Jesus Peter should be the one to serve, not Jesus

Doesn’t want Jesus to deal with his mess.

Why is footwashing awkward?

Our feet are often the dirtiest part of us (at least in summer time and especially in ANE)

You need to take the posture of a servant

– Jesus symbolizes the cleansing that is necessary to have a relationship with him. Jesus will cleanse the disciples spiritually through what he is about to do on the cross.

13:9-11 – Foot washing also shows that those who have been cleansed completely still and only need periodic cleaning.

Beyond symbolizing how he cleans our mess, Jesus uses this as an example to call his disciples to serve.

We have been cleaned so that we might engage the messiness of life.

How many of you really have dirty feet tonight? (How many washed their feet before coming tonight?)

It may be a bit awkward to touch someone else’s feet, but we don’t really understand the humility necessary for the disciples to enter into even their friend’s mess.

Tried to think of a modern equivalent, but there is none – we avoid mess and discomfort at all cost.

There is no equivalent example – only practical application.

We don’t enter into each other’s mess by washing each other’s feet, but we do when we serve one another.

Jesus:

knows

- He is not surprised by their mess.

- He knows all their dirt - Judas will betray him.

- What they should have done, but instead of complaining, he does it himself. He doesn’t consume - he produces.

We wait until things are neat or pretty before we serve.

How many times do we not want to know or want to know only to “pray.”

loves

- He has a heart for his disciples

- He loves them “to the end” or loves them completely – showing them the fullest extent of his love.

Service without love is duty.

serves

- He humbly serves instead of arrogantly demanding

- equally based on his love

even if it is unfruitful or misunderstood.

Service without love is unproven.

Jesus didn’t say, “C’mon guys, I’m about to die here and you want me to wash your feet?!"

Jesus cleans our mess and calls us to serve.

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A MEAL PREPARED

Introduction

The preparation of an event, meal, etc. is often the most important part of the event, meal, etc.

ILLUST - prepping a car for paint is the most important part of the paint job.

Luke 22:7–13 (ESV)

7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” 9 They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” 10 He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters 11 and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” 13 And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

Jesus prepares the meal for His people

Jesus and his disciples are in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration which sets off a seven-day celebration called the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Jesus sends two disciples (Peter and John) on ahead to “prepare” the Passover meal.

As it turns out, Jesus has already been preparing.

Enter the city and find a man carrying a jar of water

would have been unique and identifiable as men usually carried skins of water and women usually carried jars of water

Follow him to the house and tell the master of the house to show you where the room is.

Seems like Jesus had prepared ahead of time for this room

Perhaps so that Judas would not be able to betray Jesus earlier than Jesus intended. But Jesus would be in control of the story of redemption.

While the disciples believed they were to prepare the meal for Jesus, it seems as though Jesus was already preparing the meal.

In fact, Jesus has always been involved with preparing the Passover

Jude 5 (ESV)

5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.

Jesus was at the first Passover!!

Because of what we know about the Trinity, Jesus was involved in preparing the first Passover

Jesus was involved in preparing this Passover for his disciples as well.

That is because he wants to:

Jesus prepares His people at the meal

Luke (The Last Supper and Jesus’ Final Teaching (22:7–38))

During the celebration of God’s saving of Israel, Jesus will discuss his sacrifice on behalf of his disciples. It will be a meal to remember, not only because this event forms the basis of the Lord’s Supper but also because Jesus predicts a betrayal, defines true leadership, promises authority to the eleven, predicts Peter’s failure and warns of coming rejection. Even as he faces death, Jesus serves by preparing others for their task.

Luke 22:14–15 (ESV)

14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

Jesus earnestly desired to eat THIS Passover with his disciples.

such a pregnant phrase

Earnestly desired = hebrew idom translated into Greek which is literally “I have desired with desire”

THIS Passover is special. It’s different. The disciples at this point do not understand, but Jesus does.

Luke 22:16 (ESV)

16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

This will be Jesus’ last Passover during his earthly life.

Many scholars believe Jesus stopped the Passover meal at the third cup - the Cup of Redemption.

Many believe he didn’t drink the fourth cup - the Cup of Restoration.

Jesus prepared the meal of Passover so he could prepare his people for what they would face.

Even as he faces death, Jesus serves by preparing others for their task.

Jesus has prepared the Passover to prepare us. Without the Passover, we could not face all that is in front of us. Jesus was at the first Passover, he prepared the meal with his disciples to prepare them at that Passover, and now

We prepare ourselves for Jesus’ meal

Luke 22:16 (ESV)

16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 12:37 (ESV)

37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.

Revelation 19:6–9 (ESV)

6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

1 Corinthians 11:26 (ESV)

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

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