03312021 – Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday offers to us a gospel that purposefully turns everything on its ear. And intentionally so.
The mandate, “the mandatory thing” Jesus tells us to do in this passage is this:
“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.”
It probably would not do well at the box office.
I would venture to say, even the Hallmark or the Disney Channel would have a difficult time with it.
It would not get Nielsen ratings.
The story would not soar to the top of the New York Times bestsellers list either.
It is a story that easily transcends all of those things.
Because it is THE BEGINNING of a story about what happens when the world does its “WORST through VIOLENCE, and HATRED, and FEAR”, and yet LOVE wins in the end.
It is a story of LOVE that was “REJECTED and BURIED,” and yet was still “too strong to stay IN THE GROUND.”
This is a message Christians NEED to hear. And NOT just during Holy Week.
More likely, most of us, could use a daily dose. A DAILY reminder. HOURLY reminders. Over and over again!
We don’t need to hide it behind “fancy– fifty-cent-theological-terms.
We do not need to just check it off as another night in holy week.
We need to HEAR and UNDERSTAND that this is HOW Jesus said other people would KNOW us: by HOW we love one another.
And of course, the question is, “DO WE?
DO WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER?
Do we really-truly-love one another…or do we just give this all “lip service?”
This is what love looks like: it NOTICES the other; it EMPHASIZES and SYMPATHIZES and RESPONDS to the NEED and to the SITUATION; it offers HELP APPROPRIATE to the situation – not just enough to get by, but a GRACIOUS AMOUNT and sometimes even an EXTRAVAGANT OUTPOURING OF CARE.
Think of the parable of the GOOD SAMARITAN.
It is not governed by station or race or class or any other worldly framework, but by OUR HEARTFELT DESIRE to EMBODY and show THE HEART of Jesus.
ON THIS THURSDAY EVENING: Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you know what I have done to you?”
He had JUST acted out a living sermon; he had acted out his new commandment; he has set an example before them…love one another as I love you.
Don’t just say it. Do it! Mean it. Show it!
YOU “BE THE EXAMPLE.”
Teach your children.
Teach your grandchildren.
Show them WHAT love is.
Show them HOW love responds.
Talk with them about LOVING OTHERS.
If YOU HAVE KNOWN the love of God through Jesus and you extend that love, that SERVICE, that HOSPITALITY, that WELCOME to others, you are blessed.
Pressing that little “CARE BUTTON” on Facebook is NOT the same thing as SHOWING that you care. It is not the same thing as loving.
Just to be clear, you won’t be rewarded with a gold star or three guaranteed answered prayers; that IS the blessing.
You are loving as Christ loves; that is the blessing.
You are following his commandment.
You are following his teaching.
You are simply doing what has been requested of you, all along.
The scriptures actually talk about the early Christian community…and how outsiders actually LOOKED AT the community…and said, SEE HOW THEY LOVE!
You could tell.
You could see it.
Something was different.
It was their actions.
It was not just lip service.
It was not just a “I’ll pray for you.”
They actually loved one another. They cared about one another. They were concerned for one another. It showed.
It mattered. It made a difference.
So, when it comes to loving others, as Jesus loved us…HOW YOU DOING?
Seriously, HOW YOU DOING? Amen.