Throwback Thursday Beyond Compare
I don’t see people using #TBT too much any more. For a while, it was a social media trend when people used it to share old photos of themselves or texts for nostalgia and memories.
Please forgive me for this analogy which almost seems irreverant, but this is a day of monumental importance and should be remembered. Today we celebrate the initiation of Holy Communion when Jesus first shared a Passover meal with His disciples. That meal invoked “The Lord’s Supper” aka Holy Communion (Luke 22:19-20). We hear His words: “As often as you do this, you do it in memory of Me!” There you go — of all memories, this one should be remembered the most. As precious are the looks on children’s faces when they get Easter surprises along with an Easter egg hunt and we want to capture them with photos to remember, it pales in comparison to the memories of all that Christ taught us and did for us during this Holy Week.
Happy Holy Thursday! Today is the anniversary of Christ’s commandment: “A new command I give you: ‘Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.’” (John 13:34) That’s a tall order, isn’t it? But that command is one that can change everything in our own lives AND the world if we would take it seriously to heart, and act on it. This was the night that Jesus set the greatest example of what it is to be a Servant Leader. Jesus — the greatest of ALL, was the servant of ALL, as He washed His disciples’ dry, dirty, calloused, and cracked feet after they had walked for miles in their sandals. He, with the towel and basin, the KING of the universe with the same hands that shaped the earth, the stars, and the moon, washed away grime and filth. He wanted His disciples to know how much He loved them.
Jesus knew they were about to betray and deny Him, yet He loved and served them. Such extravagant love – such excessive service. The disciples had been hand-selected by Jesus from the crowds but He didn’t call them so that they would enjoy an “elite” status. He called them to serve, to carry on His ministry of loving and caring for people.
Christ not only talked the talk — He walked the WALK. He led by example. Jesus prepared His disciples to carry on. I think that’s Jesus’ message to you and me, too. Surely there are those that cause irritation in our lives. In fact, like Jesus, they may have denied us, deceived us, rejected us, spoke evil against us, and completely disappointed us. Doesn’t it cause us to have a sense of awareness that He Who was perfect and knew no sin, could set the example for us on how to deal with those honorary folks in our lives?
It makes me ask the question: “Am I a devoted follower of Christ, even to the cross to bear witness of Him and His love for me?” I pray the same words of Peter to Jesus: “Lord, wash me, cleanse me, purify me so that I too may be presented as a vessel of honor to You.” What an incredible flow of mercy, love, forgiveness, servitude, and sacrifice that flowed from Jesus then, and continues to flow to us today. Oh Lord, may we be your servants today — to follow, serve and love You, and others, as You served and loved.