Holy Week: Maundy Thursday

New Commandment Thursday

Our celebration of the Holy Week of the Supernatural continues with Maundy Thursday, the traditional remembrance of The Last Supper.Maundy is derived from the first word in a Latin phrase that means, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you."  Jesus said this during The Last Supper. The first word in Latin is "Commandment." Today, we could easily call it "New Commandment Thursday."(For centuries, the universal language of the educated classes in the West was Latin, and the only Bible people could read was a Latin translation).In addition to this statement, Jesus taught on the giving of the Holy Spirit, washed his disciples' feet, and instituted the New Covenant and "the Lord's Table" or Communion. It was the last meal he shared with his disciples before being betrayed, arrested, tried, condemned, and executed.Here are some of my thoughts regarding those two teachings.

1. The New Covenant Be sure to read the comments, some of which offer correction and profound insight on the Covenant.
2. Taking the Lord's Table, or Communion.

The Paranormalest Act of Any Supper EVER

A lot of people try to live by the maxim, "Love others as you love yourself." And "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." This is the Golden Rule.But during the Last Supper, Jesus called his disciples to something higher:Do unto others as God has done to them. To love others as God loves. And to demonstrate this, the Maker of Heaven and Earth knelt in the dust and washed the dirty feet of his own followers. A lot is lost in translation. In their culture, this is the work of the lowest of low servants.  It horrified the disciples, but Jesus said this is what love looks like: serving others even in the most base ways.Can you imagine modern leaders scrubbing the toilets of their followers by hand?  Keep in mind, Jesus already knows he's going to be betrayed by his closest confidants, and still,  he washed their feet. Can you imagine the world's most powerful leaders doing the same to their political and existential enemies?And here is God, washing the feet of those who would betray him. What kind of love is this?It's the love we are called to.A couple years ago today, I donated a kidney to my friend. When people asked why, I reply, "It's what love does."Updated in April, 2019 to delete names of American political figures and to reference my kidney donation. Updated April 1, 2021 to call out the awesome comments.