Reflection on The Gospel of John 13: 1-17, 31b-35 Maundy Thursday April 17, 2025

The Gospel of John 13:1-17, 31b-35
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray him. And during supper Jesus, 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. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord–and you are right, for that is what I am. So, if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
“Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now, I say to you, `Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also shoud love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The Epistle for Maundy Thursday:1 Corinthians 11:23-26
I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, we thank You for the gift of Your body and blood, given for our redemption. As we partake in the bread and the cup, we remember Your great love and sacrifice for us. Help us to live in a way that honors Your covenant, proclaiming Your death and resurrection until You come again. May Your grace transform us, drawing us closer to You each day as we reflect on Your sacrifice, we are reminded of the depth of Your love and the price You paid for our sins. Forgive us when we fall short, and cleanse us so that we may partake in Your table with pure hearts. Renew our spirits and strengthen our faith, so that we may live as Your faithful disciples. Amen.
Today, the Lord’s Supper is when believers reflect upon Christ’s perfect sacrifice and know that, through our faith in receiving Him, we will be with Him forever.
This year’s Maundy Thursday’s lessons cover all three aspects associated with Maundy Thursday.
The first part is: The act of feet washing which shows that the Master can also be a server. A server who is the example of humbleness, love, forgiveness and commitment to those around him. During the Last Supper, Jesus taught the principles of servanthood and forgiveness as He washed His disciples’ feet. Asking “For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves” Again showing his humbleness.
The second part is: The serving of the Last Supper which is portrayed in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 and the words we use from the book of Common Prayer page 368.
“On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
The third part is: 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.” John 13: 34-35.
As you see, Maundy Thursday had 3 important aspects. The symbolization of His Body and Blood through Communion. Jesus taught the principles of servanthood and forgiveness, and a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you.
As we prepare for Easter this night should inspire us to consider: How can we follow Jesus’ example of humility and service in our daily lives? What does it mean to love others with the kind of radical love that Jesus has for us? It’s a reminder that our actions and attitude towards others reflect our faith and calling as His disciples.
Let us pray: We pray that every time we celebrate the Eucharist, we remember his passion and the sacred mysteries of his body and blood. Help us never through familiarity to allow the words and actions of our Communion make us apathetic to the true cost of his love and always to surprise us afresh each time we meet him at the Holy Table. We pray this in the Name of the Lamb of God, Jesus our Savior. Amen