HUMBLE SERVICE AND A COMMAND TO LOVE (MAUNDY THURSDAY REFLECTION)

HUMBLE SERVICE AND A COMMAND TO LOVE

SCRIPTURE READINGS

EXODUS 12:1-14
1 CORINTHIANS 11: 23-26
JOHN 13:1-17, 31-35

REFLECTION

The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin word “Mandatum,” which means a “commandment.” On Maundy Thursday, we remember the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested. On that same night, He gave His followers a very important command about love and service. The theme of our reflection is “HUMBLE SERVICE AND A COMMAND TO LOVE.”

To understand this theme, we must define three key words. Humility means putting others before yourself and not being proud. Service is the act of helping others selflessly. Love is the deep, unconditional care Jesus has for our well-being and salvation. From this theme, we learn two main lessons. First, Jesus is the new Passover Lamb who shows us the greatest love through His sacrifice. Second, we cannot be true followers of Jesus unless we serve others with a humble heart.

The scriptures for today show us a journey. It begins in the Old Testament with the first Passover in Egypt. It then moves to the New Testament, where Jesus turns that ancient meal into a new promise of love and service through His own body and blood.

Jesus, Our Humble Passover Lamb

The first lesson is that Jesus shows us His humility and love by becoming our new Passover Lamb. In Exodus 12:7, 11-13, God gave instructions to the Israelites to save them from death in Egypt. He said, “Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs… It is the Lord’s Passover. On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals… The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” Just as the blood of the lamb saved the Israelites from physical death, Jesus’ blood saves us from the slavery of sin and eternal death. In our second Scripture reading, we see how Jesus gives a deeper and spiritual meaning to the Passover meal beyond its exitential and historical significance in Egypt. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 tells us, “The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’” Jesus did not have to die for us, but His love was so great that He chose to serve us by giving His life. He showed us that the highest form of service is to sacrifice yourself for others. As it says in Philippians 2:8, “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

The Command to Serve Others

The second lesson is that we must follow Jesus’ example to be His true disciples. We see this clearly in our third Scripture reading in John 13:1-17. Jesus, who is the Lord of all, did the job of a lowly servant by washing His disciples’ feet. When Peter tried to stop Him, Jesus said in John 13:8, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” This means that if we are not willing to accept Jesus’ humble service and do the same for others, we are not truly His.

Jesus then gave us a clear command in John 13:14-15: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” He also added in John 13:34, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

In our daily lives, “washing feet” means looking for ways to help people who are often ignored. For example, it could mean visiting someone who is sick, helping a poor neighbour with their shopping, or praying for those in prison. Sometimes, the people who need our help might be difficult to love or have “unclean” lives due to poverty or mistakes. However, Jesus commands us not to pick and choose. We must serve everyone with the same love He showed us. As we read in Matthew 25:34-36, “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes, and you clothed me, I was sick, and you looked after me, I was in prison, and you came to visit me.’ (Matthew 25:34-36)

Conclusion

In summary, Maundy Thursday reminds us that we are saved because Jesus was humble enough to serve us and die for us. He is our true Passover Lamb. Because of this, we are called to live differently. We are commanded to love others and serve them without pride.

My call to action for you today is this: do not let this season pass without changing how you treat others. Look for someone you can serve this week. Let your actions show the world that you are a disciple of Jesus. When we serve the “least” in our society, we are serving Christ Himself. Let us choose to love, not just in words, but in humble actions.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your great love and for being the Lamb who was sacrificed for our sins. We thank You for the example of humility You showed by washing the feet of Your disciples. Please give us the strength and the heart to serve others as You served us. Help us to obey Your command to love one another every day as You have loved us. Amen.