Maundy Thursday – Sermon 299

• Maundy Thursday
• 7.30pm Holy Communion
• 18^th April 2019

Prayer to start      

May the words of my lips and the thoughts of our hearts be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord Jesus Christ

AMEN

INTRODUCTION

On the day before His death – when Jesus wanted to give His followers – His disciples – a way of understanding what was about to happen to Him – He didn’t teach them a Theory – He didn’t tell a parable –

He went straight into the practical – He gave them an act to perform – and a meal to share –

First Point   The Passover meal

It was the evening before the Passover – Jesus’ last meal with his disciples – the following day the Lambs would be slaughtered – and so would Jesus – on the cross –

As our OT Reading reminds us –

The Passover was the start of a new beginning – for the Jewish people – a new era – when God would take possession of them – and use them in His mission to the nations – 

It would signal the start of – the Jewish Nation – being freed from the clutches of the Egyptian rulers –

Each household – each family was to obtain a flawless lamb – or have access to one – and on the designated day and time – to kill it and smear its blood on the door posts of the houses – in which they would – then consume it.  

The lamb was to be roasted over a fire and eaten that same night – together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs – all must be eaten before the morning – and with urgency – and the people ready to leave – it was to be a meal to travel on.

‘It is the Passover of the Lord’ – God tells Moses – when God’s justice will be served – over the Land of Egypt – to put right a wrong –

The lamb’s blood – on the door posts of the Israelite homes – would protect those inside – and the Angel of death – would Passover them – without harming the firstborn of their family –

The protecting blood would be a sign that the sacrifice of another life has borne the people’s punishment – but for Egypt – the unrepentant jailer – it would be her own sacrifice –

God – commanded that the people celebrate this event – this festival – in praise of what He was doing for them – It is to be remembered – and celebrated – by future generations –

The Passover brings together the elements of blood – sacrifice – and a meal and reminds the people that – without the blood of the Lamb – there was no reason for celebration – and no means of salvation.

For Jesus this last meal was to be a significant – memory maker and had to be free from outside interruptions – everything therefore was prepared – in secret – the room – the meal – so as to avoid arousing the suspicions of His enemies –

Point 2        Jesus and his Passover Meal 

In our reading from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians we have the earliest written record of what happened in that Upper Room before Jesus was handed over to His death –

It was first and foremost a Passover meal – He had come to do for Israel and the whole world what God had done for Moses and Aaron in that first Exodus –

He took the loaf of bread – gave thanks – broke it – gave it them and said – this is my body that is for you – do this in remembrance of me –

He took the cup – saying – this cup is the new covenant in my blood – do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me –

Through these words and actions – Jesus demonstrates to His disciples – and to us  – that He is taking the place of the Passover Lamb –  He will go through suffering and death – so that we need not – giving up His body to be crucified – allowing His blood to be spilled – to protect us – so that God can take us forward to a new freedom – a freedom from sin and death –  

Through Jesus’ death and His death alone – our punishment has been paid – and we can journey to that new life in Christ – with Him –

Point 3         Foot-washing

But Jesus did more than provide the way to a new life and freedom – He also showed them what it will mean to live – that new life – in Christ –

In our Gospel reading – John tells us little about the meal – but instead concentrates on Jesus’ other words and actions –

John’s account is the only one that mentions Jesus washing the Disciples Feet –

The washing of feet was an everyday task in Jesus’ time.  Walking in open-toed sandals was the main mode of transport – and footwashing was necessary whenever they came in – from the dusty roads – and especially if they were having a communal meal.  Reclining at a low table as Jesus’ disciples would have done – would have made the condition of their feet very much in evidence –

Feet are basic things – not pretty – not ugly – but highly functional – without them we wouldn’t get very far – today most of us wash our feet – almost by accident as we shower or have a bath – but in those days it was usually done by slaves – or the guests themselves – if there no slaves were present

Jesus poured some water in a bowl – layed aside his garments – and kneeled to wash the feet of His disciples.  It must have been a real shock to them – seeing their master – and friend – the one they admired and loved so much – and who they had given up their lives for – fall to his knees and wash the dirt from between their toes –

Washing between someone else’s toes can be an intimate action – a moment of tenderness for both the person washing and the person being washed –

Peter knew this and he reacted strongly – “not my feet Lord” – and when Jesus insisted – Peter’s response was – “but not only my feet – my hands and my head as well” –

Peter’s pride got in the way – he also couldn’t bear to see a man he loved so much humble himself and carryout – the work of a servant – His outburst  reflected too – his objection to Jesus going to the cross –

But this is why Jesus did what He did – He wanted to get a reaction – so that the disciples would understand – the full implication of what was happening – and how they were to live in the future – what it felt like to be on the receiving end of God’s freely offered gift of love –

To have our feet washed by Jesus is to receive the full extent of His love – the full extent of His embrace –

Jesus is the one who has come from God and was going to God – and this laying aside of Himself – His self-emptying – to take on the role of a servant – to provide an intimate touch of His love – was to demonstrate what loving someone as He loves us – really means –  

Peter like so many of us was happy to see Jesus on high – in the mountain of the Transfiguration but shrinks from the closeness and the humbling experience of his foot washing –

Jesus’ reply to Peter – was to tell him that only his feet needs to be bathed – the rest of him is clean

This was to remind Him and us that we all need our feet washed by Him on a regular basis – that we all need to constantly ask of His forgiveness as we become – daily soiled by our everyday living –

When we come to Jesus – for the washing of our sins, we can be sure that it is permanent and complete. But we still need continual cleansing from the effects of living in the dust of this world

Ending

‘Unless I wash you – you have no share in me’ – says Jesus – and ‘If I your Lord and teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet’

Each one of us – no matter who we are – or who we might feel we should be – should be ready to kneel before others and offer our love and support to them – open ourselves to them – and wash their feet as Jesus did –

Jesus wants us to show God’s love to others in practical ways – to be willing to give when there’s a need – to let go of our pride – and be ready to do what others will not –

To love as Jesus loves us –

We must see other people’s dust on their feet as opportunities to serve and show God’s love and forgiveness.

Jesus gives us the simplest – and hardest commandment of them all – and describes it as a new commandment – to Love one another –

The newness is of course – the depth of love required – to love one another as Jesus has loved us –

Jesus is telling us to copy Him – but not as a slave – but with love – and this is the badge that the Christian must wear –

Ending

Unless we eat His body we are not one with Him

Unless we drink His blood we are not one with Him

Unless we learn to receive we are not one with Him –

Unless we are willing to love as Jesus loves we are not one with Him –

Lord in the quietness we feel your love

Washing over us, lifting the dust

To believe you are there washing our feet

makes us uncomfortable – its too great a gift

But with you the world’s values are turned upside down

You give the full extent of your love – to those whose love is always incomplete

In vain we search the heavens high above;

Only to realise the God of love is kneeling at our feet.’

Closing prayer

AMEN

Video of Sermon 299 on You Tube