On the Christian calendar, today (Maundy Thursday) and tomorrow (Good Friday) represent some of the most challenging aspects of the Christian faith. On that Thursday, Jesus humbled himself before his disciples and washed their feet, including the feet of the disciple who would shortly thereafter depart with his freshly-cleaned feet to betray Jesus, condemning Jesus to death for 30 pieces of silver. Despite knowing he was about to be arrested, Jesus then gave his disciples a new command to love one another as he had loved them. Jesus would then be arrested, wrongly accused and convicted by a sham trial that lasted through the night, before finding himself before a man of political power who recognized Jesus’ innocence, yet still condemned him to die.
That Friday, Jesus would endure further humiliation, beatings, and scourging prior to being forced to carry his cross to the place of his execution. There, at Golgotha, Jesus would be nailed to his cross, lifted up for all to see, and suffer an excruciating and slow death. Yet as he neared the end of his life, even in the midst of unfathomable suffering, Jesus prayed for the forgiveness of his tormentors and executioners.
Humbly serving others. Loving others, even through betrayal. Being willing to lay down one’s life for others. These are core behaviors and characteristics of disciples of Jesus, if they are seeking to be like the one they proclaim as Lord. Unfortunately, those are characteristics that seem to be in short supply as we look around our nation today. Perhaps it is because we have spent too much time in the church focused on the events of Sunday and the empty tomb, instead of learning from the events that created the need for a tomb in the first place.
The purpose of learning history should not be merely to be educated, but also to be inspired. In the case of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, we should be inspired to do those things in the Christian faith that are hard. The world doesn’t need any more demonstrations of a watered-down Christianity that seeks out comfort, convenience, and abundance in the material world. Instead, it needs disciples who have placed following Christ above any measure of worldly health, willing to serve the unlovable, give beyond measure, and embrace what lies beyond the cross. The world needs Christians who will persevere through their own Maundy Thursdays and Good Fridays, because they know the glory of Resurrection Sunday is assured.
Spend some time today praying for those who have hurt you the worst. Tomorrow, Good Friday, come to the church at 2:30 for our Good Friday service. Take these next two days and examine your life against the last two days of Christ. Then come to the church at 10:00 am on Sunday, because even though we benefit greatly from better modeling our lives after the events of Thursday and Friday, it is the hope, joy, and promise of that glorious Sunday morning that ultimately gives us the faith to persevere to the end.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron