The Night Before the Cross
There are a lot of people who celebrate Easter. For some, it is just another time to gather family and friends for a holiday meal and share some wonderful moments with children and grandchildren gathering eggs and looking sharp in their new spring wardrobes. For others, it is one of the two most important celebrations in the church calendar. The resurrection of Jesus changes everything for everyone forever. And some of us, while focusing on the Resurrection, also enjoy the festivities of family gatherings.
If you are on a church staff or volunteer at your church, you know the busyness of this weekend. Many churches have special services on Thursday to participate in the Eucharist or Lord’s Supper. Some have Good Friday services. And of course, Easter morning includes sunrise services and multiple morning worship services throughout the world.
Today is Thursday, so for many of us we are rushing to prepare for our family gatherings and the many ways we will serve and welcome others to celebrate the Resurrection. In scripture, the Thursday of Holy Week was also very busy. In Matthew 26:17-75, we find a good summary of what Jesus and his disciples experienced on the day before Jesus went to the cross for us.
Today, I will challenge you to join me in forcing ourselves to not rush past the events of what many believers call Maundy Thursday. Take time to slowly read how this day unfolded for Jesus and his disciples. Stop and meditate on each section.
Take a moment and consider the preparation the disciples made ahead of the Passover meal. Jesus gave the disciples a task. He told them what to expect, and things unfolded just as Jesus said they would. What has Jesus told us to expect? How willing are we to trust in his promises and his providence?
Later, Jesus reclined at the table with his disciples and told them that one of them would betray him. They asked each other, trying to figure out if they were the guilty one that Jesus was talking about. Judas then asked Jesus directly, “Is it I?”
Take a moment and consider that we daily fall short of who Christ has called us to be. Except for the sacrifice of Jesus, we could not stand before him at all. In this season, we can ask Jesus to reveal to us the areas in our lives that are out of line with his will. Our focus in this moment should be less about others and their sins and more about confessing ours.
Read the passage and consider that Jesus asks us to remember him when we gather at his table. What a blessing to be invited to the Lord’s table and to dine with him.
Then consider the walk to Gethsemane. I wonder what hymn they sang. How heavy was the moment they shared as they learned that another would deny Jesus? Peter protested but learned that no matter how strong the protest, he would soon falter. But what a blessing that even when we do falter in similar ways, our Lord meets us with arms open wide, forgives us, renews us, and calls to be a part of his kingdom.
We will soon celebrate. It will be glorious. But allow yourself the gift of remembering what happened on Thursday.
Father, fill us with the courage to walk through Maundy Thursday with you. Our hearts are filled with sorrow over our sin and the price you paid for us. We are so eager for the Resurrection, but help us to embrace the price you paid. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Matthew 26:17-75 ESV
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