Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” John 13:8
Thought for the Day: Holy Communion and the Cross by the Rev. Matt Fenlon
In the prayer for Maundy Thursday you will say below, we remember the institution of the Lord’s Supper by Jesus Christ. This prayer echoes the words of the invitation given by the celebrant before people come forward to receive communion. Both that invitation and the prayer for Maundy Thursday give us the encouragement to receive the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in faith with thanksgiving in the remembrance of Jesus Christ because this sacrament is a pledge of eternal life.
Jesus’ institution of the Lord’s Supper occurs in a private home inside the walls of Jerusalem immediately before he crosses the Kidron Valley with his disciples to enter the Garden of Gethsemane, where he is betrayed by Judas Iscariot.
At his final meal with his disciples, Jesus instructs them how he is to be remembered in the Sacrament of Holy Communion and what the receiving by faith of his body and blood in the bread and wine means. Then he leaves and offers those very things for the sins of the world.
When we, his twenty-first century disciples, celebrate Holy Communion, we are not just going through the motions to recreate what Jesus did with the disciples in the upper room. What we are doing is to remember and receive by faith in a tangible, creaturely manner, a summary of all of what Christ did for us in his passion.
Today’s reading recalls a significant theme of the Book of Hebrews, quoted in Sunday’s theme for the week. That theme is that Jesus is well acquainted with the sufferings of humanity through his own suffering. In the Garden of Gethsemane he experiences Judas’ betrayal through an unjust arrest. Jesus is questioned by the Jewish High Priest and accused of being an insolent liar. At this point begins Jesus’ physical abuse, being struck by an officer. Afterwards he is denied by Peter, disowned by the apostle on whose confession he is building his church. Finally Jesus is questioned by Pilate and is judged by a person without faith who has been given the power of life and death over the Word of God, the Son who is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit and through whom the world and all creation came into being.
In all of these things Jesus responded according to the perfect plan and will of his Father. When betrayed and arrested, Jesus boldly proclaimed who he was and displayed the power of God dwelling in him. Those who came with Judas to arrest him were bowled over and fell to the ground when Jesus revealed his identity. He healed Malchus’ ear that Peter struck with the sword. He looked with compassion as Peter denied him. He silently endured beatings he did not deserve but knew fulfilled the prophecy that the guilty would be freed by the chastisement of the innocent. When questioned by the pagan Pontius Pilate, Jesus proclaimed the truth and was found innocent of any wrong doing. Yet, being persuaded by the rebellious crowd, Pilate set a guilty Barabbas free and condemned Jesus to death on a cross after being flogged and tortured.
Jesus is well acquainted with suffering. Yet in all of these things Jesus did not sin but willingly endured the one-time process of offering himself once for all on the cross as the ultimate and final sacrifice for the sins of the world. This is what we celebrate when we gather around the Lord’s Table to share Holy Communion.
We know that God is good and gracious when we celebrate this holy meal because it retells the story of the grave need we have to be saved by Jesus’ sacrificial death and the grace we receive of new hearts and new lives through the imputed righteousness of Christ.
Self-examination, repentance, prayer, and worship:
Before you pray, take some time to reflect on your sins. Perhaps there is one in particular about which you are concerned. Tell the Lord you are sorry, ask him to help you stop this sin, and then pray a prayer like the following:
Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Spend further time in prayer and worship before studying the Gospel of John below.
Study: John 18, Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
1When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" 5They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. 7So he asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."8Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go." 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one." 10Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?"
Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas
12So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. 13First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
Peter Denies Jesus
15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, "You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." 18Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
The High Priest Questions Jesus
19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said." 22When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" 23Jesus answered him, "If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?" 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter Denies Jesus Again
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You also are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." 26One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" 27Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
Jesus Before Pilate
28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" 30They answered him, "If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you." 31Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death." 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
My Kingdom Is Not of This World
33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 34Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?" 35Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?" 36Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." 37Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world— to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." 38Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him. 39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" 40They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.
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