Maundy Thursday: A New Commandment, Manilla Conference, and a Pastoral Model
On Thursday of Holy Week, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples. It is traditionally known as “Maundy Thursday.” The word “Maundy” is derived from the Latin “mandatum,” which refers to the “commandment” that our Lord gave to His disciples, to love one another.”
“My children…A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
We see Jesus' tenderness displayed as he addresses his disciples as his children. For Jesus, they belonged in his kingdom. Therefore, our Lord had to protect them from what was ahead, which only Jesus could undergo.
“Where I am going, you cannot come,” Jesus said.
The Lord gives them this new commandment to hold on to as they continue kingdom work. But why is this a new commandment? Didn’t Moses already give us this imperative in Leviticus 19:18 when he said, “To love your neighbor as yourself?” Indeed. However, this new commandment is unlike Leviticus. In John’s Gospel, Jesus says, “Love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” The difference is that God became flesh and loved his disciples for three years.
The disciples now have God in the flesh as an example of what love truly looks like. Yes, it is a new commandment: Love one another. But when Jesus says, “Do this,” he has already demonstrated what it looks like.
Love is the center of Christian discipleship. How will the world know who we are? It should not be because of our intellectual expertise or professional accomplishments but because of our love for one another at our tables, living rooms, workplaces, and places of worship.
Christian history triumphed because God has loved us in his Son, and Christians have reacted to that love by loving one another. Without love, there is no Christian faith; without love, we are noise-makers, clanging cymbals, and self-delusional religionists, but when we obey this new commandment, the world sees us, and they will know that we are disciples of the Crucified King, Jesus Christ.
Prayer: O Lord, of heaven and earth, we are undeserving of such love, yet, you love us still without hesitation. We are your disciples and pray that your love would overflow in our hearts so that we might display this love to those around us by listening, cherishing, serving, and encouraging our neighbor in the Name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notations
If you love Tolkien and Malcolm Guite, those worlds come together here in an interview with Ben Shapiro. These are beautiful 20 minutes. I have been contemplating what to read in all the airport lounges and flights; I think Tolkien will return to the repertoire.
Pastoral Model
My take on John 13 is that Jesus is setting a model for pastoral ministry. Ministry is full of betrayals and denials, but the only sustaining models are sacramental, Baptism and the Supper. The foot-washing is a mini-baptism rooted in the priestly language of Exodus 28-29 (garments, basins, water, feet), and washing gives access to the Table. Water precedes war against traitors.
Faith and Religion #85
I was pleased to receive a note this morning that I am the 85th most-read Substack under the category of Faith and Religion. Thanks for the readership!
Encountering God in His Processional
Nuntium
I will be in Manila, Philippines, in mid-May. I am eager to meet these faithful pastors seeking the reformation of worship in their home country:
A blessed Maundy Thursday to you,
Uriesou T. Brito
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