Maundy Thursday

When we worship as God's people on Maundy Thursday, we remember the last evening Christ spent with his disciples in the upper room. On that night, Jesus did three things: he washed the feet of his disciples, he instituted The Lord's Supper, and he gave them the 'new' commandment to love one another. The name given to this day comes from the last of these. 'Maundy' comes from the Latin maundatum novum, referring to the 'new mandate' Jesus gave his disciples in John 13:34:

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.

What does Jesus say will happen if we do this?

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. (v.35)

Could it be true that our love for each other is the distinguishing mark of what it means to be a follower of Jesus? That's an astounding claim, when you think about it. Will you join me today in reflecting and meditating on what it might mean to join in Christ's mission of love?

Here is a prayer to that end:

Holy God, source of love, on the night of his betrayal Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment, to love one another as he loved them: write this commandment in our hearts, and give us the will to serve others in the same way as he was the servant of all, who gave his life and died for us, yet is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer source: A Prayer Book for Australia

contributed by Nelson