Maundy Thursday
Today is Maundy Thursday, join us for Divine Service at 6pm.
On this day, Jesus celebrated His last supper with His disciples.
He ate the Passover meal with them, fulfilling the promises of the Old Testament, as the Lamb who would save His people by His blood and deliver them out of bondage to sin, death, and the power of the devil. That meal being ended, He then gave them something new: His own Body and Blood to eat and to drink for the forgiveness of sins.
He also washed their feet, and commanded them to love one another as He loved them. He foretold His betrayal by Jesus, and that all of them, even Peter, would fall away before the night was over.
He went to the Garden of Gethsemane and prayed for His disciples and for you. He prayed "Not my will, but Thy will be done." He prayed "Sanctify them in truth. Your Word is truth." The disciples could not stay awake, but Jesus stayed awake, sweating drops of blood praying and preparing for what the next twelve hours were about to bring.
Judas came and betrayed Him, leading those who came to arrest Him. Jesus healed the ear of the soldier whom Peter struck with the sword. Jesus was led away to trial while His disciples fled and Peter swore he did not know Him while the rooster crowed.
He was falsely accused and lied about and opened not His mouth, except to confess that He was the Son of Man. He was mocked, spit upon, beaten.
Yet, He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. With this Body broken we are made whole. By His blood that was poured forth, our sins are washed away. By the stripes lashed into His back, we are healed.