The Events of a Thursday night, recent and far.

Tonight we did something a little different. Usually in the middle of rehearsal we stop for a short time of devotion/study. Recently, while researching something else, I came across information about the Passion Week, which got me thinking. What was it like for Jesus during His last week prior to His crucifixion? I looked at the triumphant entry into Jerusalem celebrated on Palm Sunday up to the crucifixion, which led us to celebrate the cross during church last Sunday. Then, I focused on Thursday. What got me thinking was that we were having our final Easter rehearsal on the day traditionally viewed as the night of the last supper. Rather than the usual time of teaching, something needed to be different.

After we finished the rehearsal, rather simply teaching, we sat everyone in two rows of chairs, facing each other. Starting with the first person on each row, we symbolically washed each other’s feet, telling them we loved them with the love of the Lord. Now, some people might think this silly or not take it seriously, but the imagery was incredible. Acknowledging our love for each other in Christ, our willingness to serve each other and put each other ahead of ourselves, it drove home in my heart the way Christ did that for us, not only in washing His disciples’ feet, but in the ultimate act of placing others ahead of Himself when He died on the cross. It was a gesture not just of servanthood and humility, but of the sacrifice Christ was about to make for all of us.

When we were done, we took a loaf of bread, and, in following Scripture, broke it, blessed it, and passed it to each other, each person tearing off a piece of the loaf to eat in remembrance of Jesus’ body being broken for us. I wish I could paint you a picture of what that looked like. First, breaking the loaf apart – Jesus’ body was broken for us. Then, the tearing off of pieces – I could see the whips tearing into Jesus’ back and body, shredding the skin, the agony He suffered for us. As people ate the piece of bread they tore off it struck me how Christ’s body was consumed in the payment for my sin. (As we celebrate Easter we must always remember that Resurrection Sunday always follows Crucifixion Day.)

Next in the story Jesus passed the cup, after He blessed it, stating that it was His blood poured out in a new covenant. While we didn’t want to pass one cup around for all to drink out of, we gave everyone a small cup. I held in my hands a bottle of grape juice, red liquid, and as we prayed I couldn’t help but think of the fact that we were about to pour out the juice just as Christ’s blood was poured out for us. It was hard to speak for a moment as that thought overwhelmed me. Then, to see each person pouring out the juice into their cups, realizing that Jesus had poured out His blood for each one of them, it was almost as it I could see His blood being applied to each life.

It was a reminder of how costly our salvation really is. God came to earth and died for us. It isn’t something that we can ever take lightly, but a very serious charge given to us to live up to. And, just as we passed the bread and the juice, so to must we take this incredible gift of grace and share it with all around us. We can’t keep it to ourselves. We must all be lights shining the truth of the hope of the gospel to everyone we meet, sharing with them the love and grace that God has so freely given to us. Amazing what washing feet and passing around bread and juice can show a person.

Carry with you the image of Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf. Ponder it as you think of the crucifixion. Allow your heart to overflow with rejoicing when realizing that Jesus didn’t stay in the tomb but rose again and is alive today, sitting at God’s right hand, speaking for us. Allow God to reveal more of what He’s done for you to your heart as you live out a life worthy of the sacrifice made to set you free. Then, when we get together on Sunday morning to celebrate, we truly do celebrate the greatness of our God with hearts overflowing in worship and adoration of Him.