On that Thursday, 2000 years ago the disciples asked Jesus, "where will go to get ready for the Passover meal"? They had no idea that the arrest of Jesus was looming just hours away. No idea that The Sacrifice, toward which tens of thousands of animal sacrifices had pointed, was about to be offered.
Maunday, is a strange word to us, rooted in the Latin word for commandment: "mondatum". On that Thursday at the Passover meal, Jesus said to his disciples: "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, 35
As we move toward Good Friday and remember our Lord's suffering and death; his great sacrificial love; we pass first through Maunday Thursday. He calls us, no, He commands us to love our sisters and brothers with His kind of steadfast love. This He said, will be the distinguishing mark of we who are Jesus followers.
Many have made the point that too often other, negative qualities have been the most evident marks of Christians and the Christian community. As we enter this wonderful Easter weekend; as we offer our heartfelt thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for his sacrificial eternal love; may we renew our commitment to love all Christ followers; to love strongly, in word and action, so that we represent our Lord well.
This is His commandment, given on Maunday Thursday, 2000 years ago.
Maunday, is a strange word to us, rooted in the Latin word for commandment: "mondatum". On that Thursday at the Passover meal, Jesus said to his disciples: "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, 35
As we move toward Good Friday and remember our Lord's suffering and death; his great sacrificial love; we pass first through Maunday Thursday. He calls us, no, He commands us to love our sisters and brothers with His kind of steadfast love. This He said, will be the distinguishing mark of we who are Jesus followers.
Many have made the point that too often other, negative qualities have been the most evident marks of Christians and the Christian community. As we enter this wonderful Easter weekend; as we offer our heartfelt thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for his sacrificial eternal love; may we renew our commitment to love all Christ followers; to love strongly, in word and action, so that we represent our Lord well.
This is His commandment, given on Maunday Thursday, 2000 years ago.
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