Oh wait – that’s not what the Mamas & the Papas were singing?
Taking a break from the heaviness of the crucifixion scene in Isaiah, I thought it would be good to explore other facets to Holy Week
So – today is Maunday Thursday
say what?
Hopefully if you’ve been around the church you’ve heard this phrase. So what’s it all about? Let’s start with the name:
The word Maundy is derived through Middle English, and Old French mandé, from the Latin mandatum, the first word of the phrase "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you"), the statement by Jesus in the Gospel of John (13:34) by which Jesus explained to the Apostles the significance of his action of washing their feet.
Not bad for a non-liturgical, protestant evangelical, eh?
- actually...thank you Wikipedia
Before we get to the practical outworking of the “Mandatum Novum” let’s look at that Thursday.
Jesus and His disciples are in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover.
Quick refresher:
Passover is the celebration of God using Moses to lead God’s people out of 400 years of captivity and slavery in Egypt. Great story – book of Exodus.
God heard the groaning of His people under oppression and sent a deliverer.
Part of that deliverance included plagues that came upon the oppressors – the Egyptians. The last plague was the worst – the death of the firstborn. It happened the night before the Exodus began.
Through Moses, God gives the people many directions. Among which are these: they were to house a sheep or lamb without defect for a time and then sacrifice it, spreading its blood on the door frame. They then roast it and eat it along with bitter herbs and unleavened bread.
[Aside: I’m sure that many children and not a few adults would have at the very least grown fond of the lamb living with them and been saddened when sacrifice time came.]
The unleavened bread indicated that time was short – their deliverance came on God’s terms and timing, not theirs – there would be no time for the bread to rise before their journey began.
As the Hebrews trusted God to deliver them by observing these commands, the angel of death – the destroyer – passed over them, and this is where we get the name “Passover”. they then started their exodus out of Egypt to the promised land.
With these things in mind, Jesus celebrates the Passover with His disciples.
This is a feast of observance and remembrance celebrated by people who genuinely love each other; remembering the greatest deliverance their people have known. They’ve surely had their quibbles with each other – in fact they argue during the celebration - but they’ve spent the past 3 years following Jesus, seeing miracles and beginning to understand He is no ordinary prophet; beginning to see He just might be the long awaited Messiah – the One who will deliver them and make things right with God.
Jesus teaches them many things during the course of their night. (read John 13)
He takes the traditional elements of the Passover – the bread and the wine (which represented the lamb’s blood) and told them that these were now symbols of what He would do for them. That a greater covenant is being instituted, confirmed and sealed in his flesh and blood.
He prays for them – deep earnest prayers. (again, see John 13)
But what was the Mandatum Novum? The “Maundy” of this Thursday?
Were’ told in John 13:1 “Having loved his own who were in the world, he [Jesus] now showed them the full extent of his love.”
Before the meal, Jesus humbles himself and washes the disciples feet. You must realize that in 1st century culture this task was assigned to the lowest of servants. This would have been shocking to their sensibilities. Especially if they were beginning to get an inkling of Who Jesus was (and is). The Messiah… God in the flesh – stooping to wash the grime off of their stinking nasty feet.
What a picture of Who this God is! He is not some fickle, trigger-happy, overbearing, pugnacious overlord. Not only does He come to bear our sins on the cross, but He is a God who serves by humbling Himself to the point of the lowest of servants.
“…even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
Yes, but the Maunday? His Mandatum? His New Mandate (Commandment)?
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34)
Serve each other out of love. Wash feet. Not just the water and towel kind. Wash feet – bring refreshment to the souls of those you know. Be to them a blessing – not just because it’s commanded! To do so with a sense of ‘Obligatory love’ is an oxymoron. Love is compelled by the heart.
So let Christ wash the feet of your soul. Humbly welcome His demonstration of love. Don’t be like Peter thinking that surely God would not want to wash your feet – let Him.
And then, moved by His love, wash feet around you.
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