Maundy Thursday

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 92: Today, I am grateful for Maundy Thursday. 

It was Passover week. From Palm Sunday to Thursday, the community climate around Jesus changed. From waving palms to the coming betrayals, his heart must have been so heavy. 

And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” - Matthew 20:17-20

He pressed into the Passover celebrations. He even planned for the Passover meal with his disciples that we now call "The Last Supper." Would they have described his mood as pensive? He was deep in thought and determined to follow through with washing their feet before sharing the meal. 

Peter resisted. Jesus won. 

"When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?" -John 13:12

What were the men thinking? Jesus had repeatedly told them of what was to come, but they did not seem to process His words. Was it too unthinkable? For three years, he had masterfully escaped the challenges from the temple priests when they tried to set him up. The traitor would come from within. He was successful because... "now was the time." 

Maundy Thursday was monumental in the historical context. Nothing was accidental. Everything that was to pass was allowed by the hand of the Father and according to His purpose. The plan for the execution was executed. 

Jesus knew it. What did He do? He gathered them, fed them, and explained the new covenant... after he washed their feet. Kings are known to be demanding and unreasonable. Jesus served first. He healed those broken by sin and circumstance. Our little ones at church sing a song to the tune of "What Do you Do with a Drunkin' Sailor?" 

We have a King with a bowl and towel (x3), Servant King is Jesus!
Jesus the King is Risen (x3), Early in the morning.

How do our hearts respond to this Servant King? Eternity hangs on the question. 

Today, I am grateful for Maundy Thursday. 

No One Is Good

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 91: Today, I am grateful for the humbling reminder that no one is good. 

In Jesus's last days before the crucifixion it must have felt like everyone was pressing in on him. The Jewish king, Herod, wanted to see a miracle like Jesus was some type of a magician. The disciples were fighting over who would sit next to him in Heaven. The Father was giving no sign that he would be spared the cross. His emotions were deep, real, and... human. 

The "modern" world and culture was full of religions and other gods that were held up in high esteem. Humans felt very enlightened while missing the Messiah that had come 33 years ago. They missed seeing the many ways Jesus fulfilled the prophecies they had heard for many centuries. 

Religion became something they did, but it was not rooted in their hearts. It was more of a clubhouse than a house of worship. Many went on the appointed days, but they did not keep the Word of the Lord in their hearts. Perhaps some kept the traditions honoring parents, but did not wholly invest in their faith. They were taught the commandments and the covenants, but to many, it was "outdated." 

The people were many years out of Egypt, morning manna, and the desert days. Many did what was right in their own eyes. They had lost their sense of awe when it came to God. 

"The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none that does good." -Psalm 14:1

The Psalm of David was as relevant then as it is now. It is much easier to judge others than it is to see our own sins reflected in the mirror. Jesus spoke these words to the disciples at his last meal with the disciples before he was arrested. It was their Passover meal. 

"But behold the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of man goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it was that would do this." -Luke 22:21-23

They all would remember His words at different moments at the time of the crucifixion and beyond the resurrection. They were beloved, chosen, forgiven, and redeemed... but they were not "good." 

Today, I am grateful for the humbling reminder that no one is good.