It’s Maundy Thursday, does anyone know what the word Maundy means?

It comes from a Latin word meaning “command”.

During the last supper, Jesus gave the disciples a new command.

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

But wait! That sounds pretty familiar. Matt 22:37-39 “Love the Lord, your God with all your heart… and love your neighbor as yourself”

So what’s so new about what Jesus said? Lets look at other things that Jesus commented on that were already established. In Matthew 5 Jesus addressed the Law and other ordinances. For example He says;

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself…’ But I tell you, love your enemies as well, and pray for those who persecute you,”

Maybe the “new” thing is a new perspective, or attitude. Jesus added the “how” which was “even as I have loved you”.

He demonstrated this when He washed the disciples feet. The King of the universe, God Himself, stooped down to clean the dirty feet of ordinary sinful men.

The law still exists. Jesus said he didn’t come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. It is no longer our focus. Jesus fulfilled the law for us and our focus is on him and his love flowing through us. We are still called to obedience, but it is no longer out of obligation or fear. But as Jesus did, with total dependance on His Father; with love, humility and sacrifice.

The Pharisees took pride in keeping the law perfectly but Jesus called them whitewashed tombs because their hearts were dead; without love. I think that is the message of Maundy Thursday. Not just to serve one another and imitate Jesus, but to have a change of perspective and heart. Love and serve “as I have loved you” which can only be done if He does it thru you, with total dependance on Him.