Maundy Thursday

      Before He went to the cross, Jesus broke bread with His disciples in the Upper Room. There, He explained to them that the bread represented His body that was to be broken for them. The cup was the representation of His blood that was to be shed for them. Whenever they ate the bread and drank from the cup, they were remembering His death until the time that He was to return to this earth to restore all things. 

     During the time when Jesus instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion, He also washed the feet of His disciples. He was demonstrating for them that they were to serve and not to seek to be served. They were to live lives of service helping each other and helping others to know about Jesus and to have the best lives that they could have while on this earth. 

     Jesus said in John 13:34, "A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must also love one another." Jesus went to the cross and shed His blood because of His great love for us. He wanted to redeem us from our sins. He wanted us to have a relationship with Him that would last into all of eternity. 

    Jesus called us to love one another because love is what will allow us to be like Jesus in this world. When we love each other, we will want to share the good news of the message of Jesus with others. When we love each other, we will want to help to meet each others needs. We will reach out to the world in love so that others will be able to have a good life. 

    On Maundy Thursday, Jesus demonstrated loving service. He has called us to do the same as we live out our lives until He comes. Amen.