Maundy Thursday

      Maundy Thursday--the day we remember Jesus and His disciples sharing the Last Supper together in the Upper Room.  The last night of the earthly life of the Son of God, the Creator of the Universe... and He chose to spend it kneeling in the dust, washing filthy feet.
      It's thursday evening right now.  After a long, busy day, I finally can sit down for a few moments and reflect. Sure, I've had a lot to do today, but can it compare to walking miles along dusty roads while teaching, healing, forgiving, loving, rebuking... all the while walking inexorably to the cross?  No, my day suddenly comes into clearer focus and I realize I have no room to complain.  Indeed, when should we ever have room for anything but gratitude?
      But what if I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that these next few hours would be my last here on this earth, with my family, with my friends--what would I say?  What would I do?
     We know what Jesus said and did. "Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. (John 13:1).
     He loved.  
     And He loved to the very end, loved to the "uttermost," some translations read, by removing His outer garment, picking up a towel, and slowly, lovingly cradling grime-encrusted feet in His soon-to-be pierced hands and washed.  Is that what I would choose to do?  To serve rather than to be served?  To wash rather than to be waited upon? To kneel rather than to know peace and comfort?  To be abased like a lowly servant rather than to be applauded and appreciated as someone superior?  
     It's easy to forget to love in the midst of busyness and accomplishing and hurrying and pushing.  But if we're not loving, then we're not following the Savior's leading.  And if we're not loving, well, we're missing it... and missing Him.  Because He will be wherever costly love is being extended.
     The term "Maundy" comes from a Latin root that means "commandment."  "Commandment Thursday" we might call this day.  And the Lord Jesus makes His commandment crystal clear on this night of Maundy Thursday: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35)
     A new commandment--to love.  And love is service.  Love is willing to be inconvenienced.  Love is happy to get dirty and messy and tired and uncomfortable.  Love is sacrifice.  Love is action.
     Love is following the Savior, for love is the Savior.  Love holds out it's hands and willingly takes the nails.  Love says, "I forgive you... even when you don't deserve it and can never earn it."  Love takes the initiative and extends grace and mercy... even to the ungracious and unmerciful.  For such were we.
     So Lord, on this Maundy Thursday, we wonder and rejoice as we remember a Sovereign washing and a King kneeling, and a Savior loving all the way to the end... from a cradle to a cross to a crown.  Help us to love as Jesus loved.  It's just that simple--love as He loved, serve as He served, forgive as He forgave.  To God be the glory.