Maundy Thursday

April 1, 2021 at 6:30pm

Instructions: sit in your quarantine groups. These are people you’re comfortable sharing food with, hugging, and sharing conversation. We will participate in the Maundy Thursday story together not only in action but in conversation. To get us started, I invite you to go around your table (introduce yourself if needed) and share:

Table Talk: Describe the last supper scene in your mind

1. My favorite last supper painting. Accurate lamps, women & children involved. Everyone dressed like Jews.

Tell The Story: Matthew 26:17–29; Mark 14:12–25; Luke 22:7–38; John 13: 1-17 (I Corinthians 11:23–25)

Each of the Gospel accounts tell the story of Jesus’ last 48 hours a little differently. This is no surprise, since they have told the story of his ministry differently. John does not tell the story of the Last Supper. Instead, John tells the story of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet.  Even the remaining three gospels tell the story different from each other.

Jesus and his disciples prepare to celebrate the Passover. As Jewish men, they would have celebrated this every year as a child through adulthood.

When they were young, they took part in asking the questions about the special meal they ate and would hunt for the “afikomen” that the father would break and hide. The Passover reminds the Jewish people of God’s provision through the exodus from Egypt.

Jesus would have been involved in 30+ Passover meals as a Jewish man. Jesus and his disciples would have had 2 other Passover meals together from the previous years of ministry. This Passover meal was different. Jesus was teaching, like the “father” would normally do, but this time, he was changing the meaning of some of the items.

Though John’s gospel doesn’t specify the Passover meal in the Last Supper format that the other three did, John does say that “after the meal” Jesus got up from the table and took off his outer garments and took the place of a servant who washes feet.

During Jesus’ time, it was customary for the host to offer a foot washing to their guests to clean their feet from the dusty roads. It was an act of hospitality. A servant of the house would wash your feet as you were invited to get comfortable. I often wonder, why Jesus waited to wash their feet until this point?

Table Talk:  Here are a few more discussion questions for you and your table.

1. If Jesus “knew” what Judas would do, why did he invite judas to be a disciple?
2. What are ways we could be “washing feet” today?

The Practice: Now that we have discussed the story and considered different angles, we are going to engage in our own version of the washing and last supper. We will be doing these out of order for a more practical approach.

1. Washing Ceremony:
   1. Instructions: Wash the hands of your family/table members.
      1. During the season of COVID, we have been less self-conscious about the dirt on our feet and more focused on the germs on our hands. So, our washing ceremony will look different this year to fit our life experiences.
      1. We will go around the table and rub hand sanitizer onto our neighbor’s hands. Squirt it into their palm and gently rub it into their hands.
2. Communion:
   1. The last supper was an evening meal, but not a late-night snack. After the meal and lesson, Jesus and the disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.
   1. If you are anything like me, you may have pictured Jesus’ arrest on Friday morning. But as we dive into the passage, we see that Jesus was arrested on Thursday night, after the last Supper.
   1. Bless the elements together
      1. Pass the loaf of bread around and tear off a piece for yourself. Pass the juice around and pour a cup for yourself. As a table, say: “We do this in remembrance of Jesus.”

Closing Prayer

Matthew 26: 17-29¹⁷ On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?” ¹⁸ He replied, “Go into the city, to a certain man, and say, ‘The teacher says, “My time is near. I’m going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.”’” ¹⁹ The disciples did just as Jesus instructed them. They prepared the Passover. ²⁰ That evening he took his place at the table with the twelve disciples. ²¹ As they were eating he said, “I assure you that one of you will betray me.” ²² Deeply saddened, each one said to him, “I’m not the one, am I, Lord?” ²³ He replied, “The one who will betray me is the one who dips his hand with me into this bowl. ²⁴ The Human One^[b] goes to his death just as it is written about him. But how terrible it is for that person who betrays the Human One!^[c] It would have been better for him if he had never been born.” ²⁵ Now Judas, who would betray him, replied, “It’s not me, is it, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You said it.” ²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take and eat. This is my body.” ²⁷ He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from this, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many so that their sins may be forgiven. ²⁹ I tell you, I won’t drink wine again until that day when I drink it in a new way with you in my Father’s kingdom.” ³⁰ Then, after singing songs of praise, they went to the Mount of Olives.

Mark 14:12-25 ¹⁰ Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to give Jesus up to them. ¹¹ When they heard it, they were delighted and promised to give him money. So he started looking for an opportunity to turn him in. ¹² On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was sacrificed, the disciples said to Jesus, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?” ¹³ He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city. A man carrying a water jar will meet you. Follow him. ¹⁴ Wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The teacher asks, “Where is my guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?”’ ¹⁵ He will show you a large room upstairs already furnished. Prepare for us there.” ¹⁶ The disciples left, came into the city, found everything just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal. ¹⁷ That evening, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. ¹⁸ During the meal, Jesus said, “I assure you that one of you will betray me—someone eating with me.” ¹⁹ Deeply saddened, they asked him, one by one, “It’s not me, is it?” ²⁰ Jesus answered, “It’s one of the Twelve, one who is dipping bread with me into this bowl. ²¹ The Human One^[b] goes to his death just as it is written about him. But how terrible it is for that person who betrays the Human One!^[c] It would have been better for him if he had never been born.” ²² While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” ²³ He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. ²⁴ He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. ²⁵ I assure you that I won’t drink wine again until that day when I drink it in a new way in God’s kingdom.” ²⁶ After singing songs of praise, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Luke 22: 7-38

⁷ The Day of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover had to be sacrificed. ⁸ Jesus sent Peter and John with this task: “Go and prepare for us to eat the Passover meal.” ⁹ They said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?” ¹⁰ Jesus replied, “When you go into the city, a man carrying a water jar will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters. ¹¹ Say to the owner of the house, ‘The teacher says to you, “Where is the guestroom where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?” ’ ¹² He will show you a large upstairs room, already furnished. Make preparations there.” ¹³ They went and found everything just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.  ¹⁴ When the time came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles joined him. ¹⁵ He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ I tell you, I won’t eat it until it is fulfilled in God’s kingdom.” ¹⁷ After taking a cup and giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. ¹⁸ I tell you that from now on I won’t drink from the fruit of the vine until God’s kingdom has come.” ¹⁹ After taking the bread and giving 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.” ²⁰ In the same way, he took the cup after the meal and said, “This cup is the new covenant by my blood, which is poured out for you. ²¹ “But look! My betrayer is with me; his hand is on this table. ²² The Human One^[a] goes just as it has been determined. But how terrible it is for that person who betrays him.” ²³ They began to argue among themselves about which of them it could possibly be who would do this. ²⁴ An argument broke out among the disciples over which one of them should be regarded as the greatest. ²⁵ But Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles rule over their subjects, and those in authority over them are called ‘friends of the people.’ ²⁶ But that’s not the way it will be with you. Instead, the greatest among you must become like a person of lower status and the leader like a servant. ²⁷ So which one is greater, the one who is seated at the table or the one who serves at the table? Isn’t it the one who is seated at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. ²⁸ “You are the ones who have continued with me in my trials. ²⁹ And I confer royal power on you just as my Father granted royal power to me. ³⁰ Thus you will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones overseeing the twelve tribes of Israel. ³¹ “Simon, Simon, look! Satan has asserted the right to sift you all like wheat. ³² However, I have prayed for you that your faith won’t fail. When you have returned, strengthen your brothers and sisters.” ³³ Peter responded, “Lord, I’m ready to go with you, both to prison and to death!” ³⁴ Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster won’t crow today before you have denied three times that you know me.” ³⁵ Jesus said to them, “When I sent you out without a wallet, bag, or sandals, you didn’t lack anything, did you?” They said, “Nothing.” ³⁶ Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a wallet must take it, and likewise a bag. And those who don’t own a sword must sell their clothes and buy one. ³⁷  I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in relation to me: And he was counted among criminals.^[b]Indeed, what’s written about me is nearing completion.” ³⁸ They said to him, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” He replied, “Enough of that!” ³⁹ Jesus left and made his way to the Mount of Olives, as was his custom, and the disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ When he arrived, he said to them, “Pray that you won’t give in to temptation.” ⁴¹ He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed. ⁴² He said, “Father, if it’s your will, take this cup of suffering away from me. However, not my will but your will must be done.” ⁴³ Then a heavenly angel appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ He was in anguish and prayed even more earnestly. His sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. ⁴⁵ When he got up from praying, he went to the disciples. He found them asleep, overcome by grief. ⁴⁶ He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation.”

John 13:1-17 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ² The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. ⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” ⁷ Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” ⁸ “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” ⁹ “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” ¹⁰ Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. ¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.