There are 'Maundy Thursday' church services happening today all over the world, remembering the Passover meal where Jesus washed feet and instituted Holy Communion as the means of coming together in reflective worship for His followers from then on. Passover 2012 is on Saturday, so I'll talk about that then. 'Maundy' is derived from the Latin word 'mandatum', meaning 'commandment', it refers to the command Jesus gave his disciples at the Last Supper to love with humility by serving one another and to remember His sacrifice to bring forgiveness and freedom.
[1] BEFORE the Passover Feast began, Jesus knew (was fully aware) that the time had come for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. And as He had loved those who were His own in the world, He loved them to the last and to the highest degree. [2] So it was during supper, Satan having already put the thought of betraying Jesus in the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, [3] that Jesus, knowing (fully aware) that the Father had put everything into His hands, and that He had come from God and was [now] returning to God, [4] got up from supper, took off His garments, and taking a [servant's] towel, He fastened it around His waist.
[5] Then He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the [servant's] towel with which He was girded. [6] When He came to Simon Peter, Peter said to Him, "Lord, are my feet to be washed by You? (Is it for You to wash my feet?)"
[7] Jesus said to him, "You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later on.[8] Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!"
Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with [in] Me (you have no share in companionship with Me)." [9] Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, [wash] not only my feet, but my hands and my head too!" [10] Jesus said to him, "Anyone who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is clean all over. And you [My disciples] are clean, but not all of you." [11] For He knew who was going to betray Him; that was the reason He said, 'Not all of you are clean'.
[12] So when He had finished washing their feet and had put on His garments and had sat down again, He said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? [13] You call Me the Teacher (Master) and the Lord, and you are right in doing so, for that is what I am. [14] If I then, your Lord and Teacher (Master), have washed your feet, you ought (it is your duty, you are under obligation, you owe it) to wash one another's feet. [15] For I have given you this as an example, so that you should do [in your turn] what I have done to you. [16] I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, A servant is not greater than his master, and no one who is sent is superior to the one who sent him. [17] If you know these things, blessed and happy and to be envied are you if you practice them (if you act accordingly and really do them). [18] I am not speaking of and I do not mean all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats My bread with Me has raised up his heel against Me.' [19] I tell you this now before it occurs, so that when it does take place you may be persuaded and believe that I am He (Who I say I am-the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah). [20] I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who receives and welcomes and takes into his heart any messenger of Mine receives Me [in just that way]; and he who receives and welcomes and takes Me into his heart receives Him Who sent Me [in that same way]."
[21] After Jesus had said these things, He was troubled (disturbed, agitated) in spirit and said, "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, one of you will deliver Me up (one of you will be false to Me and betray Me)!"
[22] The disciples kept looking at one another, puzzled as to whom He could mean. [23] One of His disciples, whom Jesus...
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