Maundy Thursday (Remote)

Announcements

I have made the rounds, contacting our extended church family. From what I hear, at least so far Covid-19 has infected only one attender who is now healthy and back to work. THANK YOU GOD!!!

I continue to check and Marge and Naomi… all is well.

If you want to call and encourage someone, pick up the phone and do that… don’t wait for me.

Cis and the Food Bank are pushing very hard as numbers continue to increase. This week Lori Gardner and I a couple of others bagged, 300 bags of fresh fruit. She has a job for EVERYONE that wants to spend 2-3 hours. Call her.

Prayer Requests

I have heard and prayed for many requests this week. A couple times this week Jim Slinker and I come into the sanctuary and prayed for each one of you by name.

We need to pray for those on the frontlines of this health crisis here in the Valley.

Firefighters, Paramedics

Law Enforcement officers

Health Professions of all type - Medical Assistants, staff, nurses of all types , physician assistants, ARNP’s, Technicians of all types, Physicians

We need to pray for protection and health

We need to pray for our leaders in Government. All human government is God ordained (

Whether of not you agree politically… Donald Trump is our President and Jay Inslee is our Governor. We need to pray for them and they make difficult decisions affecting millions and millions of people.

This is Maundy Thursday

On Maundy Thursday, we remember Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples where he washed their feet, followed by final instructions to them and his high priestly prayer of

John 17:1–25 NIV84

1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. 6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.

John 17.1-

This is Christs’ final preparation for the ugly events that are upcoming… He is saying to His Father, Our God that he is returning but leaving this world in the hands of his followers, of us… to continue His mission

Amen...

This reminds me of

Our current fight with this Corona Virus. we are preparing for battle with our enemies. We taking a multitude of national, local and personal precautions. We have stockpiled everything we need… and a lot of things that we don’t need.

Together they serve as the tactical moves for the Lord’s last stand against his adversaries.

Now if you were preparing for battle with your enemies, wouldn’t you be padding the upper room, lower rooms and surrounding premises with sandbags while stockpiling ammunition? In contrast, Jesus prepares for his last stand with a family meal, a foot washing, a farewell discourse,[1] and intimate prayer to his Heavenly Father (See ). Given Jesus’ Passover sacrifice of himself that the church remembers on Good Friday to bring liberation from bondage in Egypt or Empire and his resurrection from the dead on Easter Sunday, what transpired in his last stand is everlasting. Thus, we are called to live into this everlasting kingdom reality signified by Maundy Thursday. What does it entail for us? This entry will provide an answer to the question.

In contrast, Jesus prepares for his last stand with a family meal, a foot washing, a farewell prayer.

This is Jesus and the disciples celebration of Last Supper, It is our “First Supper.” Jesus left the instructions and told us to remember him every time we do it.

We are being called to live into this everlasting kingdom signified by Maundy Thursday. What does it entail for us? This entry will provide an answer to the question.

We are being called to live into this everlasting kingdom reality signified by Maundy Thursday. What does it entail for us? This entry will provide an answer to the question.

The United States prizes autonomy and is a fast-food society. As a result, it is easy to discount family meals and hospitality. By this we may easily bypass what occurred on Maundy Thursday as nothing more the end to a perfect life, that finishes not in triumph but in service to others and the world. Maundy Thursday is of great importance to us, followers of Jesus.

When Jesus wanted to explain to his followers what coming death was about, he didn’t give them theory or theology he gave them a meal. Discipleship is vital and discipleship around a meal is vital.

Many people claim that the meal was the equivalent of the Passover Seder.[3] On this view, Jesus is the head of his family made up of his followers. The only difference is that this head of the home and rabbi offers his own body and blood as the sacrificial lamb, which is signified by the bread that he breaks and wine that he pours out at the meal.

John’s Gospel records the foot washing by Jesus. It is uncomfortable in our culture and likely would have NEVER been done by the leader or head of the house in the 1st Century. But Jesus did it. How far are we willing to go in service to our fellow man, to our brothers and sisters in Christ or our family and community? Should we plan footwashing in Discovery Park this summer?

John’s Gospel is the only canonical gospel account that does not record the institution of the Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday. John’s Gospel is also the only canonical gospel that records the foot washing. Most of us have never had someone wash our feet at a meal, and likely never by the head of the home or table. But just as Jesus offers himself as the Passover sacrifice (), so he washes his followers’ feet during the supper:

Jesus’ unassuming act was too much for Peter. At first, he refused to let Jesus wash his feet

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from 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 , 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 (; ESV).

Jesus removes his outer garments and kneels down to wash the disciples’ feet, summing up all that is to come in this act of divine humility, of loving redemption, of cleansing for service.

Jesus’ unassuming act was too much for Peter. At first, he refused to let Jesus wash his feet (, ). But given our culture of familiarity with the passage and our culture in which familiarity easily breeds contempt, we may not find the foot washing so radical and feel we are entitled to Jesus stooping low to tend to us. But it is radical and momentous. Again, here’s Wright:

Jesus calls on his followers to care for one another in the same manner. If we thought Jesus went too far with washing his disciples’ feet, we may think he went beyond the breaking point with calling them to care for one another in the same servant-like manner.

Within the gospels’ recounting of that ultimate Passover, one scene stands out with special poignancy and power. John’s gospel displays deft artistry and fathomless theology throughout, but especially in the footwashing scene in chapter 13. In a few lines we glimpse a tableau both intimate and touching and scary and dangerous. Having begun his gospel with the all-creative Word becoming flesh and revealing God’s glory, John begins the shorter second half with an acted parable of the same thing. Jesus removes his outer garments and kneels down to wash the disciples’ feet, summing up all that is to come in this act of divine humility, of loving redemption, of cleansing for service. For John, as indeed throughout the New Testament, Jesus’ vocation to rescue the world from its plight, and in so doing to reveal the divine glory in action, is focused, symbolized, encoded in an action simultaneously dramatic, fraught with cosmic significance, and gentle, tender with human emotion. If you want to understand the great mysteries of Christian theology, of Trinity, Incarnation, and atonement itself, you could do worse than spend time with this scene.[4]

This act of extreme service extends beyond the feet of Peter, but also he washes the feet of Judas, whom the Lord knew would betray him that very night.

Jesus calls on his followers to care for one another in the same manner (). If we thought Jesus went too far with washing his disciples’ feet, we may think he went beyond the breaking point with calling them to care for one another in the same servant-like manner. Even if we like the title of servant-leader or lead servant, we easily take offense if we’re not esteemed in ministry. My colleague Albert Baylis put it well when he remarked: we all want to be called servant leaders until someone treats us like one.

Jesus breaks bread with the very one who would hand him over to be broken and poured out in death. However, rather than protect himself, Jesus offers himself as a willing sacrifice in order to destroy hatred with love and bring new life.

The challenge to our sense of entitlement does not end there. Not only does Jesus wash Peter’s feet, but also he washes the feet of Judas, whom the Lord knew would betray him that very night. Jesus breaks bread with the very one who would hand him over to be broken and poured out in death. However, rather than protect himself, Jesus offers himself as a willing sacrifice in order to destroy hatred with love and bring new life.

If we had all of this Jesus stuff figured, his models humility, vulnerability, and the desire for intimacy that mark his kingdom glory would be part of our DNA as a individuals as a community of God and as vision for our lives as his kingdom community.

I do not have all of this figured out. Just when I think I have it… I’m distracted, I sin, I have to confess and bring myself back into relationship with God. But that’s all possible because of Maundy Thursday, of Jesus “Trial,” His “guilt,” His “punishment,” His “crucifixion” and ultimate defeat of satan on Easter Sunday morning.

Will we live into this new reality or go back to the way things used to be before Jesus’ last and everlasting stand? Do we fall back into legalism, constantly obeying laws that Jesus fulfilled on cross? Do we measure ourselves based on our performance for God? Are we constantly striving and working to show God how much we love him? The answer to ALL of those questions is NO!

It’s because of cross that we are no longer slaves to the law, we are no longer slaves to a standard of performance. He has provided the way of Grace and Mercy that answers all of those questions. Stop doing… are start being.

Jesus last stand opened the doors of the eternal kingdom to everyone who can perfectly obey the law in the Ten Commandments and the other 462 laws that have been added. NO! NO! NO!

Because of the events of the next 4 days, I am made whole by the blood of Jesus Christ shed on Calvary. The LAST of blood sacrifice that will ever have to be made.

Jesus last stand opened the doors of the eternal kingdom to everyone who can perfectly obey the law in the Ten Commandments and the other 462 laws that have been added. NO! NO! NO! The door of the eternal kingdom are opened to us by our simple faith in Jesus and understanding of the Gospel.

The door of the eternal kingdom are opened to us by our simple faith in Jesus and understanding of the Gospel.

Humility, vulnerability and relational intimacy win out in the end. Will we live into this reality or go back to the way things used to be before Jesus’ last and everlasting stand?

The Last Supper is derived from Jesus' Jewish heritage and his observance of a Jewish holiday. The Last Supper was a Passover Seder, the feast of unleavened bread.

If you grew up as a Catholic kid this was Holy Thursday. It is the day that I first received communion.

Christians today observe Maundy Thursday, which commemorates the Last Supper and Jesus washing the feet of his disciples.

Here are five important things to know about Maundy Thursday:

What does Maundy mean?

The Thursday before Easter is known as either Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday.

Jesus and the disciples are eating unleavened bread. Passover is the Jewish festival commemorating the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, when they left so quickly there was no time for the bread to rise.

Maundy is derived from the Latin word for "command," and refers to Jesus' commandment to the disciples to "Love one another as I have loved you."

What does it commemorate?

Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, which Christians consider the institution of Holy Eucharist, also known as the Lord's supper or communion.

What holiday was Jesus observing?

The Last Supper is derived from Jesus' Jewish heritage and his observance of a Jewish holiday. The Last Supper was a Passover Seder, the feast of unleavened bread. Jesus and the disciples are eating unleavened bread. Passover is the Jewish festival commemorating the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, when they left so quickly there was no time for the bread to rise.

Maundy Thursday is also associated with foot-washing. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, an act described in the Gospel of John, chapter 13, as Jesus teaching them to be servants. It's the ultimate act of "servant leadership." Jesus instructs his followers to love and to serve. Most Catholic churches will have a Mass tonight, with a Eucharistic celebration that includes the washing of feet..

Maundy Thursday has a dark side

Jesus foretells his death, saying he will eat no more until the kingdom of God is fulfilled. It also marks an act of betrayal. "One of you will betray me," Jesus says. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' 12 disciples, is pointed out by Jesus as the one who will betray him.

Scripture

I’m a Baptist… so course we are going to look at some scripture.

We are going to look at . Luke is the 3rd Gospel in the New Testament. It’s like 70 verses long we we are not going to do everyone… I promise.

Luke 22:1–3 NIV84

1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.

This was a time to preparation in the Jewish world. Many followers of Jesus would have been in Jerusalem, celebrating the Passover.

There is a Passover event that is going around on the internet. It shows pictures and text of people putting red ribbon or fabric around their doors to pray that the “virus” would Passover them.

The biblical Passover was instituted by God when the Jews were trying to escape from Egypt. During one of the Plagues, the first born sons would die. The Jews were instructed to paint around their doors with sheep blood… the allowed the Jews to be saved from the this plague of death.

The other significant event here is when Satan entered Judas… He would betray the Lord for 30 piece of silver and turn him over to the Romans for trial. Subsequently, He would die by suicide.

Luke 22:6–13 NIV84

6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. 7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” 9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. 10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there.” 13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

Luke 22:7–13 NIV84

7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” 9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. 10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there.” 13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

6

The Passover came as it had since the Jews had left Egypt. But this time it was different… The Passover Lamb was present. The sacrifice of all sacrifices was being made. This would end the need for any sacrifice in the Temple FOREVER!

The Jews sacrificed to be right with God… Jesus made that happen for them and for us… FOREVER! The payment required is simple… belief.

Luke 22:15 NIV84

15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

Jesus knew what was coming and who in fact among them would betray him. But still he eagerly pushed forward towards his ultimate destiny.

“Eagerly” - What has God called you do…?

Motherhood, Fatherhood, career, business, retirement, ministry, family… All of these things are good, everyone of them.

But ultimately if Jesus is the Lord and Savior of your life he is calling you to ALL OF THESE THINGS… but he throws over the top, living a life of being a servant, be being willing to wash the feet of your enemies, of putting the needs of everyone else ahead of the needs of yourself.

He is EAGERLY calling me to live a life in relationship with others, in submission to others and sacrificially to others. I’ll let that one sit for a minute.

He was not just instructing us… he was ready to live it out, are you?

Jesus needed to seal this deal, he needed to signal to his closet followers that his time was done.

[Now is the time to get your homemade elements of our communion together]

He did that calling them to the table and by declaring that it was his body and blood that was going to shed for them and all of mankind

I’d like you to take a quiet moment and confess any sin in your life to God and he will forgive you. To come to the table with unconfessed sin would make this meal just a piece of bread and a drink of juice

[Take your bread or cracker or whatever you are using tonight]

Luke 22:19 NIV84

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

By taking this bread we are remembering the once for all sacrifice of Christ. We are accepting that sacrifice as covering for all of our sin.

Luke 22:20 NIV84

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Take and drink the cup...

What is this new covenant that Jesus spoke about, It is in ? We will end tonight with than scripture. Let it sit, let it simmer and I pray that all of us will live in the NEW COVENANT

Jeremiah 31:31–34 NIV84

31 “The time is coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. 33 “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Jer 31.

Go now in the peace and love of God!

[Be with us on Easter Sunday Morning at 11AM on Facebook and on Zoom!}