Maundy Thursday
March 29, 2018
By Frank J. Hernando
Scripture Text: John 13:1-35
1. It has long been I have not led a Maundy Thursday liturgy, I estimate it to be sixteen years and similarly with Good Friday service. Both liturgical events I have missed leading in Korea because the Presbyterian local churches we are connected with do not hold these services during the holy week but do not miss to hold Easter Day services. No holy week holidays here in Korea, like Maundy Thursday and Good Friday like what we have in the Philippines. These two important days in Lent are celebrated in the weekly or monthly Lord’s Supper liturgy.
2. Maundy Thursday as captured in the liturgical sequence is part of the Passion narratives in the Gospels. The events that takes place at the Jewish Passover feast which Jesus and his disciples observed took place in a place temporary leased for the occasion. In the Passover meal that Jesus and his disciples prepared resembled the established Jewish ritual meal which is comparable to the descriptions of the Passover meal in the book of Exodus. The narrative of the John provides the details of how Jesus dealt with the impending betrayal of Judas and how he directed the fluidity of emotional tide among the disciples. We can follow Jesus lead in the Passover meal and the post meal disclosures of Jesus with the disciples.
3. First, Jesus knew that on the night of the Passover Feast is the time when he willingly accept the reality of betrayal, violence and death that his betrayer and persecutors will do and inflict on him. There is that resolute resolve that his love for his people and humanity as whole outweighs the anxiety of separation from family and disciples and the pain of physical violence and the dying process that leaves a human person helpless and would rather choose to be shot by a bullet from a gun than from wounds that torture one until the last breath.
4. The extent of pain that humans endure can be unbearable. But when someone is there to assure us that after the experience of severe pain, the amount of pain is not like we think it to be. Our mental and psychological response to relational break ups, such those of lovers, or marriage partners, and other forms of social relations, all depends on how we are willing to go through and endure the pain for a greater goal or cause. This is very essence of John’s capture of Jesus resolve, “...knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself”(v.3-4). The inner predisposition has been put into action.
5. The intrinsic tendencies of betrayal in Judas and in everybody in that dining room were awakened and it looks like a bomb that can explode and destroy all that are in close proximity to it. Worse still is the characterization of intent to betray as the devil, a personification of a destroyer doing maniacal or one ready to do a frenzy killing spree. But first it must find a willing host.
6. In many ways, betrayal and malignant evil is nourished in the mind and unleashes its destructive force in an opportune time. That is the reason why Jesus has to counter the growing restiveness among the disciples when he hinted that one of them will betray him. The restiveness was one of witch hunt and a mixture of self blame for not doing much for the movement for the kingdom of God and self preservation as there was an impending threat from the Jewish and Roman authorities are spying on them and any time they could be arrested and jailed.
7. So Jesus started to wash his disciples’ feet as he intended. Aside from Peter all of them allowed their feet to be wash from the water that Jesus poured in a basin. Peter as one of the closest disciples refused the washing of his feet, but Jesus explained that he may understand the meaning of this act plainly, but he will, later. Water cleansing as symbolic of cleansing of impure intentions and desires is what Jesus indicated to Peter. The disciples were clean Jesus said, but one of them is not, referring to Judas betrayal.
8. While the foot washing ensued Jesus mentioned that one of them will betray him and this awakened discordant feeling toward and so Jesus made a hint, that at meal time when the disciple he loved asked, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” (Jn 13: 26-27).
9. A morsel of bread, a sop dipped in a dish and given to Judas was the act of identification of the betrayer. The act of dipping a sop in a liquid at dinner serving as a toast for an important guest joining the meal is an honorable gesture. The intent of giving Judas a sop dipped in wine or olive and honey was an expression of love and hospitality for the one who may be have desired death and destruction for Jesus and put into danger fellow disciples.After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” Judas left the place and in the dark of night pursued his intention to betray Jesus and received the payment for handing over Jesus to the Jewish and Roman authorities.
10. Maundy Thursday is significantly about the remembering the Last Supper Jesus celebrated with the disciples in Jerusalem on the Feast of the Passover. The other Gospel narrate about the words Jesus uttered during the meal, “For I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took the 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.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you. (Lk 22:19-20).
11. John’s Gospel emphasized the centrality of God’s unconditional love even for those who hated him and posed a threat to the disciples and followers. In the entire pericope of John 13, Jesus emphasized that God’s love is incomparable to the love humans have known. However, learning and living his commandment to love will somehow change their lives. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jn 13: 34-35). May God’s love in Jesus Christ reconcile us to God and to one another. Amen+++
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