Jim Brunner Ministries, Tucson AZ: Kenya, Ematsayi Mission, Kumasi Bible School, Caribbean Outreach. Christian Support Needed.

April 1

Arrows of the Almighty

Logo

 Maundy Thursday

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.” (Phil. 2:5-6)   The church calls today, Maundy Thursday. Maundy comes from the Latin for " commandment" taken from the words of Jesus, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." (John 13:34) So it is on this day before Jesus goes to the cross that in the evening He performs a parable of the cross as He washes the dirt from between those twisted dirty toes of the disciples. The disciples cannot see the full impact of this act of servant love, not now, but they will. The full explanation for why Jesus washed their feet would only become clear after the substitutionary atonement of the Savior the next day. They would look back and understand the act of deep humility in the cross that brought us a once-for-all, head-to-toe, cleansing from our sin.
   When Jesus washed the disciple’s feet, He lowered himself to the action of a lowest-of-the-low slave; on His knees He served these disciples whom He loved so much. Here He is preparing to die the dehumanizing death of a slave and this is the call Paul gives to all disciples of Jesus in the above verse. Let the mind of Christ drive your life and actions.  
   Humble yourself before the Lord. Jesus deliberately challenged and scrubbed away the personal and religious hypocrisies of His day. Examine yourself before Christ, no other standard is worthy of you. He is the touchstone for all our judgment of self and others. Let the Spirit of God work in you that mentality of servanthood that will drop you to your knees and serve God by serving those around you. 
   And most importantly, never allow yourself to forget that your Lord and Master came as a slave, washing feet, freeing us from the dirt of sin and opening the way for us to enjoy and delight in God’s Presence now and forever. 
   Never forget these words of our Master, “Whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28) 