Lent 2026: Maundy Thursday

Introduction

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Self-care is overrated. There’s a lot of talk about self-care these days, and I don’t disagree with the idea or the advice of many professionals when they coach you on health, wellness, boundaries, fitness, rest, and more.

I think we all could learn more and find ways to improve our lifestyles and, therefore, our lives.

But I’ll be honest, self-care is a bit overrated, because it always starts with “you gotta.” Even if it’s good things like “you gotta take a break, you gotta take a vacation, you gotta step away, you gotta sleep and rest, you gotta just be and just breathe,”

it’s still just a lot of “you gotta’s.” It’s not wrong. It just still puts the impetus back on you. You. You gotta.

You know what’s not overrated? Being cared for. Being cared for is the best.

When someone says, “Hey I got this. I’ll do this. Here, have this. Don’t you worry about that. Just say the word, I’m here. I got you.”

Maybe you experience that when you go to visit mom or grandma.

Maybe when you’re a guest at the home of a really thoughtful host. Maybe when you’re at an all-inclusive resort.

Maybe when it’s your birthday, or mother’s day, or father’s day, and family is trying to show how much you mean to them.

Maybe when you’re with that friend who knows what you’re going through and is just going to be there for you, whatever you need.

As a pastor and his family, we’ve received so many meals, so many favors, so much help throughout the years, and we’ve needed it. It’s one of the reasons we love this church so much, because we are cared for just as much as we care for you.

And I wish that kind of care and support could be given to all of you, because you all are weary and heavy laden. You have many sorrows and troubles.

The pain of the past and the problems of the present, they’ve got you down, and it would be great if you had someone who was intentionally there for you, cared for you, coached you, corrected you when necessary, supported you and cheered you on always, gave time, energy, attention to you.

You can improve your self-care, but it’s better to be cared for.

Now, before you answer in bitterness that there is no one who will do that for you, I’m going to say, “What if there was? And what if it’s God’s plan for you and for his people? And what if God himself was at work to bring it about?”

Let’s spend some time with Jesus at the last supper:

John 13:3 ESV

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,

John 13:4 ESV

rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.

John 13:5 ESV

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.

Jesus cared for His disciples physically, even in the lowly task of washing their feet.

But he also cared for them spiritually, teaching them truth, leading them in his ways, even cleansing them of their sin. This cleansing of Jesus’ blood, this washing of holy baptism is foreshadowed in this event. That’s why we hear this exchange:

John 13:6 ESV

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”

John 17:7 ESV

Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.

John 13:8 ESV

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.”

And so we see that when Jesus cares for His people, His care is not just of their bodies, but also of their souls through the meal He is about to give to them.

After He feeds a crowd of 5000, look what Jesus says.

John 6:54 ESV

Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

John 6:55 ESV

For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.

John 6:56 ESV

Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

John 6:57 ESV

As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.

John 6:58 ESV

This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

So Jesus, the Bread of Life, is far greater than the manna they ate in the wilderness.

And Jesus, the Passover Lamb, who is about to head to the cross for the disciples, becomes Himself the meal.

And Jesus, our great God who took on flesh and blood in his incarnation, gives that body and blood to us that we might eat and drink and live.

And it is with deepest reverence, sincere repentance, and the most profound joy that we come to the Lord’s table at his invitation and receive what he gives.

We eat his Body and drink His blood. How is this possible? We don’t know. It is his miracle. He says it, we believe it.

Even me. Sinful me. Lowly me. Selfish, self-centered, broken, troubled, hurting me.

That night, on the night when he was betrayed, Jesus really and truly gave Himself to His disciples.

He gave himself in service when He washed their feet.

And He gave himself as food for body and soul in His Holy Supper.

What a lovely and powerful thing for Him to do when time was short, and the end was near, and His death was at hand, and it was time to fulfill all promises.

And Jesus continues to give Himself to us in His Holy Supper and in His loving care for our daily needs of body and soul. And in Jesus, every single one of us is loved, served, helped, and cared for.

Jesus cares for us in ways that are so good, so satisfying, so complete, that it allows us to be fully taken care for and extend that care to one another as Christian brothers and sister. In Christ and through His people, we are truly all cared for. And the care you receive and the care you give, will be a sign to all those around us, that you are truly the children of God.

He is listening to your cry. He is answering in his grace. He is by your side, every moment of every day, and in the long hours of the night. He will never leave you and never forsake you.

There is no more “You gotta,” only his care for you. Your sins are forgiven. Life is given. Heaven is yours. He’s got this, and he’s got you. Amen.

Application

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