A Prayer for Maundy Thursday
John 13:1, 34-35 (ESV)
Now before Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
“ A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Dear Lord Jesus, as I meditate and pray my way through these Scriptures, my heart is stunned, silenced and left in awe. What but the gift of faith can enable us to grasp the wonder of these words and the magnificence of this moment? What but the power of the gospel can free us, to believe and obey them? Grant us both, I pray, grant me both.
On our Holy Week calendar we call today Maundy, or “Mandate” Thursday. It’s a day in the history of redemption brimming over with glory and grace. Passover will soon become the Lord’s Supper—your supper. The promises of the Old Covenant are about to be fulfilled by the blood of the New Covenant—your life given as a ransom for us on the cross.
Having shared eternal glory with the Father, you now show measureless grace to your disciples. Having loved this ragtag bunch of broken men—who vied for positions of honor a few hours earlier (Mk. 10:35-45), and who would all scatter and deny you later that same evening—having loved them so well, you now show them the full extent of your love.
Your disrobing to wash their feet was with a full view to your being stripped naked to wash their hearts, and our hearts. What wondrous love is this indeed! How wide, long, high, and deep! (Eph. 3:14-19)
“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). This is the new and never-ending mandate you’ve given us as your disciples. The most obvious expression of our “getting” the gospel is our loving others as you have loved, and do love, us. Jesus, fill my heart with an even greater knowledge of your love, that I may love others, more spontaneously, sacrificially, and joyfully. We pray this in your triumphant and tender name, Jesus. Amen
Scripture Reading
The Last Supper- Luke 22:14-30 (ESV)
[14] And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. [15] And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. [16] For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” [17] And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. [18] For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” [19] And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” [20] And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. [21] But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. [22] For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” [23] And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
[24] A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. [25] And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. [26] But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. [27] For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
[28] “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, [29] and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, [30] that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Meditation
On Thursday evening, Jesus and his disciples make their way to the room that has been prepared for this occasion and begin to eat the Passover meal. As they are eating, Jesus makes a startling announcement: one of the Twelve, one of the men eating the Passover meal with him right then, is about to betray him. This is shocking and upsetting news to the disciples, who instantly begin trying to identify the betrayer by questioning each other (Luke 22: 23) and Jesus which one would betray their Master.
While they are eating, Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper. It was the “last supper” in a number of ways: the last meal that Jesus would eat with his disciples, the last meal that Jesus would eat in his pre-glorified body, and the final Passover meal of the old covenant. Jesus was likely looking forward to this meal so intensely because he knew that his upcoming death as the true Passover Lamb would bring a fulfillment to the long centuries of Passover celebrations that had pointed forward to the Messiah’s final sacrifice for the sins of his people. The true meaning of the Passover sacrifice would soon be revealed and realized. Jesus knows that he will not engage in this kind of celebration with food and wine again until the final messianic banquet when God’s people will experience eternal resurrection life in God’s new creation.
Prayer
Confession & awareness of our heart betrayal of Jesus
Confession of desire to be great instead of serving
Praise for Jesus' fulfillment of God's promises.
Prayer for affection and gratitude for Jesus' sacrifice.
Prayer for humility and desire to serve God & others gladly
Prayer for hopeful expectation for new creation and eternity with Jesus
Scripture Reading
Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet- John 13:1-20 (ESV)
[1] Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. [2] During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, [3] Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, [4] rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. [5] Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. [6] He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” [7] Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” [8] Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” [9] Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” [10] Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” [11] For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
[12] When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? [13] You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. [14] If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. [15] For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. [16] Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. [17] If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. [18] I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ [19] I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. [20] Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
Meditation
Jesus and the disciples find themselves in the middle of an embarrassing situation: there is apparently no servant to wash the feet of the guests (as would have been culturally appropriate and expected), and the disciples have neglected to do so or are too proud to engage in such a menial task. Thus, they have reclined to eat the Last Supper with dirty feet, filthy from traveling on Jerusalem’s dusty roads. Jesus perceives this situation as an opportunity to communicate two valuable lessons.
First, believers are “clean” (i.e., converted and regenerated) but still need continual spiritual cleansing (i.e., confession and forgiveness). Jesus makes this point in response to Peter’s misunderstanding of the situation (John 13: 6– 11). Peter and the other ten disciples were “clean” (though not yet regenerated) and only needed partial “cleansing,” in contrast to Judas, who was not “clean” and for whom temporary partial “cleansing” was not enough. Believers do not need to be “resaved” every day yet are in need of daily spiritual cleansing and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Second, Jesus’s example of washing his disciples’ feet teaches us the need for loving, self-sacrificial service to each other (Jn 13: 12– 17): “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (Jn 13:15).
The foot-washing episode foreshadows the crucifixion by displaying Jesus’s attitude of self-sacrifice, love, and service— attitudes that must characterize Jesus’s followers (see Phil. 2:1– 8). As an anticipatory commentary on the cross, the foot washing illumines the underlying motivation for the cross: God’s sacrificial love for the people he has made (John 3:16).
The name “Maundy Thursday” comes from the Latin mandatum novum, referring to the “new commandment” Jesus taught his disciples (John 13:34). In other words, this is “new commandment Thursday.”
Prayer
Confession of our unwillingness to serve others
Confession of our resistance to Jesus serving us
Prayer to receive Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf
Prayer to obey Jesus' new commandment of love & service of others.
Scripture Reading
Luke 22:39-46 (ESV)
[39] And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. [40] And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” [41] And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, [42] saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” [43] And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. [44] And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. [45] And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, [46] and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Closing Prayer
God of love, truly we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ, who offered himself in humble service to his disciples even on the night he was betrayed. Truly you shine in our hearts when we show your love to others in Christlike acts of service and fellowship. We leave this place eager to reflect the glory of Christ, our source of hope and life, our Teacher and Lord, who laid down his life so that we might live. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
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