Greetings to you…loved, redeemed, forgiven, and restored…in the beautiful, powerful, and wonderful name of Jesus Christ – THE Risen Savior! Happy April 1st, and a chilly one it is! However, it is still the day that the Lord has made and we can still rejoice and be glad in it. Now, I must tell you that I have it on good authority…there are better days coming our way!! I trust that you are having a good week as you prepare for Easter 2021…I know that there are special blessings awaiting us this year – God always has ‘something’ up his sleeve for us. Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to let His wrap-around presence quiet you…may He release healing, hope, and courage…may He calm your anxious thoughts…may He share His peace with you.
Today is Maundy Thursday and we have reached the final steps of our Lenten journey. This is the day when Jesus releases a new commandment which He demonstrates to the disciples. I am sure that we have read John 13 – Jesus washing the feet of his disciples…every one of them, even the power hungry James and John and the doubting Thomas and the impetuous Peter and the betraying Judas. After that Jesus gives us a ‘mandatum’…a command: So I give you now a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you. For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers. John 13:34-35 TPT.
On the surface it seems rather…simple and obvious. However, as you and I have came to understand- “loving one another” the way Jesus was showing isn’t easy at all. Loving people enough to be a servant to them goes against the grain, it challenges our human nature, disrupts our pride, demands profound humility.
I wonder what the atmosphere was like in the room when Jesus issued this ‘new commandment’ for his “dear friends” – v33. If you read the passage, Peter doesn’t get it…or doesn’t want to get it, for he changes the subject quickly. However the ‘new commandment’ is sitting there in their midst and continues to challenge His followers…even today!
I have a sense that to really get into the Easter story and fully experience its power…we have to begin with surrendering to and obeying this new commandment – “love one another”.
Something to ponder…have a blessed day!