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Sunday, March 24, 2013

Thursday of Holy Week



Holy/Maundy ThursdayMarch 28, 2013

Our tour through Holy Week takes a somber turn on Thursday.
From Bethany Jesus sent Peter and John ahead to the Upper Room in Jerusalem to make the preparations for the Passover Feast. That evening after sunset, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as they prepared to share in the Passover. By performing this humble act of service, Jesus demonstrated by example how they were to love one another. Today, many churches practice foot-washing ceremonies as a part of their Maundy Thursday services.
Then Jesus shared the feast of Passover with his disciples saying, "I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won't eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God." (Luke 22:15-16, NLT)
As the Lamb of God, Jesus was about to fulfill the meaning of the Passover by giving his body to be broken and his blood to be shed in sacrifice, freeing us from sin and death. During thisLast Supper, Jesus established the Lord's Supper, or Communion, instructing his followers to continually remember his sacrifice by sharing in the elements of bread and wine:
"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.' And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.' " (Luke 22:19-20, ESV)
Later Jesus and the disciples left the Upper Room and went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in agony to God the Father. Luke's Gospel says "his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:44, ESV)
Late that evening in Gethsemane, Jesus was betrayed with a kiss by Judas Iscariot and arrested by the Sanhedrin. He was taken to the home of Caiaphas, the High Priest, where the whole council had gathered to begin making their case against Jesus.
Meanwhile, in the early morning hours as Jesus' trial was getting underway, Peter denied knowing his Master three times before the rooster crowed.
Read More:
Holy/Maundy ThursdayMarch 28, 2013
Footwashing and shoes were given to
almost 400 homeless children, women, and men
at First United Methodist Church of Miami last year.
20th anniversary of this event will be held on March 24, 2012. 
Image:
"In the Cup of the New Covenant,"
Jan Richardson, 2012.
Click on Scripture
Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19Roman Catholic reading: Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18Episcopal reading (RCL): Psalm 116:1, 10-17United Methodist reading: Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19
John 13:1-17, 31b-35Roman Catholic reading: John 13:1-15

Reading and Studying the Text This Week

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